History quiz

[d'Arthez]

Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov ?

Battle of Stalingrad

[Pannonian]

Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov ?

Battle of Stalingrad

He's the one.

After the Soviet forces retreated in the face of the German attack, Vasily Chuikov was appointed the commander of the 62nd Army which defended Stalingrad proper. When asked what he saw his goal to be, his answer was to hold the city or die in the attempt. Already somewhat battered and understrength, the 62nd Army would not receive any significant reinforcements for the duration of the battle, and at its low point was split into several pockets and holding territory a hundred feet deep. By any sane standards, this was a destroyed army, but it held on long enough for a great counterattack, named Operation Uranus, to be launched - the 62nd Army's role was to draw the German 6th Army as deep as possible into Stalingrad and thus allow Soviet operations on the flank to encircle it. The battle ended with the encirclement and destruction of 6th Army. In recognition of the great Soviet achievement at Stalingrad, Britain made a sword commemorating its defenders, which was presented to Stalin at Yalta.

After Stalingrad, Chuikov's command was renamed the 8th Guards Army and shown special favour. It proved to be as dynamic in attack as it was stubborn in defence, spearheading its section of Operation Bagration. It also led Zhukov's attack on Berlin, and Chuikov took the surrender of the remaining German forces in the city, becoming the first Soviet commander to learn of Hitler's death.

Chuikov died in 1982, and became the first Soviet Marshal to be buried outside Moscow. He is buried in the hill overlooking the city of Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad), a hill topped by a statue of a woman holding a sword, symbolising the Soviet Union's struggle in the Great Patriotic War.

Your turn.

[d'Arthez]

I'll forfeit my turn.

I am really not good coming up with questions. Sorry.

[Geoffrey S]

After this question, everyone should go and read up on that battle. You can't say you're interested in military history if you know so little about it.

Who said they were?

[Pannonian]

Who said they were?

We all are, that's why we're in the Monastery.

[Geoffrey S]

We all are, that's why we're in the Monastery.

Oh, I missed that part. But I suppose that the characteristics of military history lend themselves to the history quiz most easily.

[Pannonian]

Oh, I missed that part. But I suppose that the characteristics of military history lend themselves to the history quiz most easily.

Military history and rulers and such is what the quiz mostly consists of, which I suppose is predictable for a history forum in a Total War forum. I tried a question in the RTR forums a while back about William McGonagall, but no-one knew anything about old "poets".

[Motep]

This Greek mercenary general was employed in a battle deep within Persia, where he proved that without balanced support fom light infantry and cavalry, a phalanx unit is almost worthless at deriving a strategic victory against a mixed army. However, they can make a sound retreat when aided by a river and night cover.

This isnt much info for someone who does not intimately know the battle, so if you need help, just let me knwo.

[the tokai]

My first thought was Clearchos of Sparta, but it doesn't seem quite right and I wouldn't know about the retreat either.

Also Pannonian, there were two epic wars in the twentieth century, both with multiple epic battles in them. The fact that you consider WW2 and Stalingrad the most epic doesn't mean that everybody does.

[Geoffrey S]

Xenophon, I presume?

[Conradus]

Xenophon?

Since Geoffrey already said that, I'll change it to Memnon.

Should've posted before I went to eat :d

[Motep]

The Tokai had it right. In this battle of Cunaxa, Clearchus was in command over Xenophon, and though Xenophon brought the revelation to greece, Clearchus proved it. (Xenophon did however prove that with the support of light infantry and skirmishers, a phalanx unit can make an even more phenominal retreat)

So yes, the first thought was right.

[the tokai]

Heh, my high school English teacher always told me never to change my answers on a test when guessing, because nine out of ten times the first guess is correct. Maybe he was right after all.

Anyway, next question is for me I suppose.

The man I'm looking for is considered by many people to be the greatest genius of the Western world. A man who, according to Sigmund Freud, poured his sexual energy into his art. A man who worked for the man who inspired the patron-saint of CEO's. A man who left many notes and plans, though he didn't get to see most of them in action. In short, a universal man.

Seriously, I suck at making questions so this one will probably be either insanely easy or insanely difficult.

[rajpoot]

Leonardo Da Vinci

[the tokai]

Leonardo Da Vinci

I knew it was going to be to easy. Well, the floor is yours.

[seireikhaan]

nevermind, wrong thing...

[rajpoot]

Not to hard not too easy.
Who I want is a man, who was the uncle of a king whose father was one of the most controversial ruler of his times. This man rose to great heights during his nephew's 'rule'. His death though, was tragic affair, as he was executed for treason by his political rivals. He is immortalised is a book, about the adventures of his nephew.

[Quintus.JC]

Is the chap English? I can think of Edward Seymour and John Dudley of Northumberland, either one could be right, I'll research into that.

[Quintus.JC]

It's probably Edward Seymour, he fits the bill.

[rajpoot]

Edward Seymour it is
Your turn.

[Quintus.JC]

I'll pass the oppertunity, can't think of anything good at the movement. Next poster feel free to ask the question.

[Quintus.JC]

I'll pass the oppertunity, can't think of anything good at the movement. Next poster feel free to ask the question.

Fine I'll do it myself.

An easy one then:

The man I’m looking for was considered to be one of the most popular monarchs of his country, both before and after his death. Born during the time of religious wars, he displayed an unusual religious tolerance for the time and showed great care for the welfare of his subjects, helped by his faithful right-hand man his was able to achieve greatness for his kingdom and his people. But this still could not save him as he was assassinated during his travels, and this was not the first attempt made on his life.

[rajpoot]

Sounds very much like Frederick Barbarossa, but I don't think that's it is it?

[Geoffrey S]

I'm going to go for Henry IV, with the right-hand man being the duke of Sully.

[Conradus]

Sounds very much like Frederick Barbarossa, but I don't think that's it is it?

Barbarossa wasn't assassinated, but died on the Third Crusade, he probably suffered a heart attack whilst bathing.

[Quintus.JC]

I'm going to go for Henry IV, with the right-hand man being the duke of Sully.

That's the man, Henry IV of France. Born during the time of religious struggles between the Huguenots and Catholics, and religious conflict between the two were common at the time. Henry himself was baptized a Catholic but rised up as a Calvinist, when he became king he changed his faith from Calvinism to Catholicism to better serve his country. Guided by Maximilien de Béthune, duke of Sully, he was able to achived greatness for his kingdom. Although Henry heself was a man of kindness, compassion, and good humor, and was much loved by his people, he was the subject of many murder attempts. After surviving many attemps he was eventually assassinated in Paris by a fanatically passionate Catholic, François Ravaillac, who stabbed the king to death while he travelled in his coach on his way to visit the Duke of Sully.

All yours Geff.

[Geoffrey S]

My goal was clear: to make my nation great once more. Where most men would use iron to conquer new lands through violent means, I would use it to extend our reach in a more peaceful manner. Others were less patient. The first time I was told I was no longer needed the men of violence led my people to disaster, and I was asked to return to salvage the situation; I did so. The second time they were not so fortunate, and I lived long enough to see the beginning of the end.

Who am I?

[AggonyDuck]

Talleyrand?

[Motep]

If that's not it, I would hazard a guess (cause I just dot know...)
Somebody who did some good for his nation and was deposed, generally peaceful, and became laeder again... Juan Perón?

[Geoffrey S]

I started as a businessman, later serving my country under a father and his son.