전쟁사 좋아하는 사람 모여라~~

In the late 11th century, the political landscape of Western Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean was undergoing significant changes. As the Seljuk Turks expanded their influence into Asia Minor, the Byzantine Empire faced military pressure, prompting Emperor Alexios I to request aid from Western Europe. In 1095, Pope Urban II, at the Council of Clermont, called for an expedition to recapture the holy city of Jerusalem and assist Eastern Christians. Following his speech, not only knights and nobles but also commoners were eager to join the crusade. The participants' motivations were not solely religious; some hoped for the remission of sins, while knights and nobles sought land, wealth, and glory. This convergence of various social strata led to the First Crusade. The Pope's appeal simultaneously ignited the religious fervor and political rivalries of European society at the time. For the knightly class, in particular, the Crusade was an opportunity to practice their faith while also enhancing their social standing and reputation. The fact that people with such diverse objectives gathered for a single expedition was a key characteristic of the First Crusade.

The tide of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War shifted significantly again with the onset of World War II. In 1940, when Italy declared war on Britain, battles also broke out between British and Italian forces in East Africa. The British forces collaborated with Ethiopian resistance groups, and Emperor Haile Selassie, who was abroad, returned to Ethiopia to push for the restoration of independence. In early 1941, British and Ethiopian troops attacked Italian East Africa from multiple directions. Although the Italian forces resisted in battles like the Battle of Keren, they gradually lost key strongholds. In April 1941, the Italian forces abandoned Addis Ababa, and on May 5th, Haile Selassie returned to the capital. Although some Italian troops continued to resist afterward, their colonial rule collapsed as they were defeated in major battles. By the end of 1941, Italy's control over East Africa had effectively ended, and Ethiopia regained its independence. This war, which began with Italy's colonial ambitions, concluded amidst the unfolding of World War II with Italy's defeat and Ethiopia's restoration of independence.

In May 1936, as the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa came under direct threat from Italian forces, Emperor Haile Selassie departed overseas to appeal for support at the League of Nations. On May 5th, Italian troops entered Addis Ababa, making it virtually impossible for the Ethiopian regular army to maintain organized resistance. Mussolini declared the conquest of Ethiopia and established Italian East Africa. Eritrea, Italian Somaliland, and Ethiopia were unified under a single colonial system, granting Italy extensive territory in East Africa. However, the fall of the capital did not mean the complete end of Ethiopian resistance. Armed resistance movements were active in various regions, and the Italian army implemented oppressive policies to maintain control over occupied territories. Notably, in 1937, following an assassination attempt on the Italian governor-general in Addis Ababa, a large-scale reprisal occurred, resulting in many civilian casualties. Resistance against Italy continued in various parts of Ethiopia thereafter.

In early 1936, the Ethiopian army launched several counterattacks on the northern front to halt the Italian advance. However, Italy utilized aircraft and artillery to strike Ethiopian troop concentrations and supply lines. Notably, the Italian forces employed chemical weapons, a highly controversial act under international law, which the Ethiopian side repeatedly protested to the League of Nations. In the Battle of Maychew, fought from February to March 1936, Emperor Haile Selassie personally led his troops against the Italians but suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat. The Italian army rapidly advanced southward from the north, while in the south, Graziani's forces pushed back the Ethiopian army. The Ethiopians attempted to utilize mountainous terrain and guerrilla tactics, but struggled to counter Italian air support and mechanized forces. Ultimately, the strength of the regular army capable of defending the capital, Addis Ababa, was significantly weakened. As the Italian advance continued, the Ethiopian government had to prepare for the potential fall of the capital. Civilian casualties mounted, further intensifying the horrors of the war.

In October 1935, when the Italian army invaded Ethiopia, forces led by Emilio De Bono advanced south from Eritrea in the north, while Rodolfo Graziani pushed forward from Somaliland in the south. Italy deployed modern weaponry on a large scale, including tanks, aircraft, and heavy artillery, to pressure the Ethiopian army's defensive lines. Although the Ethiopian army was substantial in terms of troop numbers, they lacked sufficient weapons, ammunition, and communication equipment, and their command structure was not fully unified. The League of Nations designated Italy's invasion as an act of aggression and decided on economic sanctions, but these had limitations in effectiveness, such as excluding oil from the sanctions list. Britain and France, also concerned about worsening relations with Italy, did not take strong military action. As the war progressed, Italy expanded its attacks simultaneously from the north and south, and the Ethiopian army gradually faced difficulties in defense. The larger the scale of the war became, the more pronounced the difference in military power between the two nations became.

In the 1930s, Benito Mussolini, who led Italy's Fascist regime, sought to expand new colonies in Africa. Italy already controlled Eritrea and Somaliland, but aimed to reconquer Ethiopia, which had maintained its independence after a defeat at Adwa in 1896. Mussolini saw this as an opportunity to showcase Italy's national strength and empire. When the Walwal Incident occurred on the border between Ethiopia and Italian Somaliland in December 1934, Italy used it as a pretext for invasion. Ethiopia appealed to the League of Nations about the threat from Italy, but the situation was not easily resolved. Italy amassed large numbers of troops and equipment in Eritrea and Somaliland, preparing for war. By the summer of 1935, the deployment of troops and military supplies was virtually complete, and Italy's invasion was imminent. Finally, on October 3, 1935, the Italian army invaded Ethiopia from the directions of Eritrea and Somaliland, marking the beginning of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

In 1781, the American Revolutionary War entered a decisive phase. British General Charles Cornwallis stationed his troops in Yorktown, Virginia, but they were surrounded by American and French forces led by George Washington. The French fleet blocked British naval reinforcements from entering the Chesapeake Bay, making it difficult for Cornwallis's army to receive outside support. Ultimately, on October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered, and the Battle of Yorktown became a decisive victory in the American Revolutionary War. Although fighting continued in some areas after the battle, the British government felt a significant burden to continue the war. The United States and Great Britain entered into peace negotiations, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Britain officially recognized American independence, and the United States secured its status as an independent nation internationally. The Revolutionary War, which began with colonial resistance, led to the establishment of a new nation, the United States, and profoundly influenced its political system and international relations thereafter.

A crucial turning point in the American Revolutionary War was France's intervention. While fighting against Britain, the Americans engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure French support, and after the American forces defeated the British at the Battle of Saratoga, French assistance expanded further. In 1778, France formed an alliance with the United States and declared war on Britain. France not only provided weapons and supplies to the U.S. but also dispatched troops and fleets to fight directly against Britain. Subsequently, Spain and the Netherlands also went to war with Britain, expanding the American Revolutionary War from a North American conflict into an international one. Britain had to fight simultaneously in various regions including Europe, the Caribbean, and India, increasing its military burden. The American forces were also able to sustain the war thanks to French support. Notably, the French navy played a critical role in the final decisive battle.

As the war between the colonies and Britain continued in 1776, calls for independence grew louder. On July 4th, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson and others, proclaiming the independence of the 13 colonies from Britain. The Declaration emphasized the equality of all men and their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and laid out the principle that people have the right to change a government that infringes upon these rights. However, the announcement of the Declaration of Independence did not end the war. Instead, Britain deployed large forces to reclaim the colonies. The Continental Army, led by Washington, faced difficulties in battles like the Battle of New York and suffered from shortages of troops and supplies. Nevertheless, Washington maintained his forces and continued a long war, while resistance against Britain persisted in various parts of the colonies. Having declared independence, the United States now faced the challenge of securing actual independence through war.

The British government strengthened its military presence, particularly in Massachusetts, to suppress the colonial resistance. In April 1775, British troops marched to Concord to seize weapons and ammunition stored by the colonial militia. However, the British forces clashed with the colonial militia in Lexington, and an armed conflict began with the outbreak of gunfire. Although the British advanced to Concord, they suffered heavy casualties from attacks by the colonial militia on their return. This event is considered the start of the American Revolutionary War. Afterward, colonial militias gathered around Boston, surrounding the British forces, and both sides entered into full-scale war. In June of the same year, the Battle of Bunker Hill took place, where the British army gained control of the battlefield but sustained significant losses. The Continental Congress appointed George Washington as the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, attempting to unify the armies of the various colonies under a single command structure.