Oft-times, war has showcased both the best and the worst of humanity, so it is no wonder that war makes such a popular subject for films. However, while some wars come up in films again and again, other wars are unremembered, which is a shame when they can provide us with just as much insight into the human condition as their counterparts. Here are five war films that still need to be made:
Sicilian Expedition
The Greeks’ success in fending off Xerxes in the Second Persian War led to the emergence of Athens and Sparta as rival powers at the head of their respective allies, which soon led to the Peloponnesian War to see which would be the master of the Greek world. One of the most infamous moments of the war came when Athens sent an expedition against the Sicilian city of Syracuse, which was regarded as a potential threat in spite of the fact that it had remained uninvolved up to that point in time. As a result, the Athenians lost two hundred ships as well as thousands and thousands of soldiers in the meaningless conflict during an active war with a peer opponent, thus ensuring their ultimate defeat.
Social War
A generation before Caesar, a Roman senator named Drusus sought to legislate Roman citizenship for their Italian allies, which had been fighting in Roman wars for centuries while seeing no more than a minimal share in the rewards. It was unpopular, but he came so close to success that his enemies led by his one-time best friend, Caepio, had to kill him to stop him. As a result, the Italian allies rose in rebellion under the leadership of Drusus’s friend Silo and other Italian notables. Silo managed to kill Caepio in revenge but was killed by Drusus’s brother towards the end of the war, which had lost momentum because of Roman concessions to the Italian allies.
War of the Austrian Succession
There are two perfect protagonists for the War of the Australian Succession. One would be Frederick II of Prussia, the man of culture turned great general who laid the foundations for the state of Prussia and thus the German Empire. The other would be Maria Theresa of Austria, who had to protect her inheritance from all of the European powers who sought to capitalize on the fact that her father had never managed to sire a son.
Battle of Valmy
The French Revolution led to massive bloodshed, but it cannot be denied that it shook the monarchies of Europe to their foundations. Nowhere can this be seen better than in the Battle of Valmy, which saw a core of French veterans complemented by enthusiastic volunteers beating the famous Prussians. Although the battle was no more than a small victory, it came as vindication for the French revolutionaries, thus prompting the formal end of the French monarchy as well as the founding of the First French Republic.
Battle of Kursk
For people who love a spectacle, the Battle of Kursk is famous for being the biggest tank battle in history. However, history enthusiasts might be more interested in how the German spear thrust was blunted upon the Soviet Union’s prepared positions before being shattered by Soviet reserves who had been mustered for that precise purpose. As a result, the Battle of Kursk can be considered the moment when initiative shifted from the Nazis to the Soviets, which in turn, made it a critical part of the Eastern Front.
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