Alhocol Leading/Effecting Anything Ever ?

**LeftEyeNine** · 03-14-2006, 12:13

I need your help. One of my friend has been given a homework about historical incidents where alcohol was included and has somehow an effect in the occurence. I have very limited time until tomorrow, so it would be even helpful if you wrote down briefly, or even the titles.

Thanks in advance.

**Beirut** · 03-14-2006, 12:53

There were a few battles in WWI where the men in trenches were very drunk at the time of battle. At the Somme, some units got double rum rations by mistake (others got none). Many did not eat before going into battle for fear of being shot in the stomach while full. So, early morning, scared, no food and a double shot of very strong rum and you have yourself a drunk soldier. There were reports of some units being too drunk to go over the top.

How did it affect the battle? Not sure. But I'm also not sure anything could have been any worse than that first day at the Somme.

**matteus the inbred** · 03-14-2006, 13:17

supposedly one of the Roman Consuls at Cannae was drunk...can't find any evidence for this though.

Napoleon's army looted vodka stores throughout the Russian campaign and lost many men by doing this, particularly on the way back. check MacDonnell 'Napoleon and His Marshals' for details, although there's loads of more detailed works on this.
The British army's barbaric sacking of both Badajoz and San Sebastian in 1812 and 1813 respectively were undoubtedly fuelled by the drinking before and during the assault, as was common in Wellington's army.

this page has a list of famous alcohol related deaths, including several heads of state.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...hrough_alcohol

**Kagemusha** · 03-14-2006, 13:29

There were many occasions in Winter War when Soviet forces was spotted that they were heavily on Vodka,attacking Finish defence lines.But there were usually also machine guns positioned behind the attacking force.Those Soviets sure knew how to motivate their troops.
About decision making.The Finnish commander in chief Marshall C.G.E Mannerheim still fallowed old Aristocratic dining etiquette.And i have read that through and the amount you have consumed alcohol during dining would put me personally pretty drunk before dinner time.

**Franconicus** · 03-14-2006, 13:30

General Grant! First one I thought of. Wasn't he blamed of being drunk all the time?

**matteus the inbred** · 03-14-2006, 13:37

General Grant! First one I thought of. Wasn't he blamed of being drunk all the time?

he was an alcoholic at one point in his life! not sure whether it ever affected his battlefield performance though, there's no evidence i can find that he was drunk at Shiloh, for example. i think he was more or less 'dry' by the time he came to command, and got round it by smoking cigars.