She will forever be remembered as a true gem in the entertainment industry

Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign claimed multiple times that former President Donald Trump lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs before the COVID-19 pandemic started. Vice President Harris: Almost 200,000 manufacturing jobs were lost under Trump before the pandemic. That makes Donald Trump one of the biggest losers ever on manufacturing pic.twitter.com/ZsjonenEuX — Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) […]

'We were totally unfamiliar with the group'

'They all speak in platitudes'

'I'll do everything I possibly can to be ready'

Books Terry Pratchett Book Club Terry Pratchett Book Club: The Shepherd’s Crown, Part III My turf. My feet. My boots. My way… By Emmet Asher-Perrin | Published on September 27, 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share It’s been nearly ten years since the final Terry Pratchett book made its way into the world… Summary Tiffany brings Nightshade to her parents’ barn and begins teaching her how to behave around people. At first Nightshade thinks of trying to use her old glamour and tricks, but she quickly realizes that won’t work and wants to know why Tiffany would help her. Tiffany tries to explain the ways in which humans are different from elves. Magrat can sense the elves returning, so she hands the kids over to Verence and gets on her old broomstick to go see Tiffany, letting her know that they’re going to need a lot more witch help to stave off what’s coming. She suggests that she could go speak to Letitia to encourage her to commit a bit more to the witching side of being a baroness, which Tiffany appreciates. Elves steal baby Tiffany, and so Tiffany comes to the girl’s rescue, killing the elves, and then worrying over the fact that she committed murder to save the infant. She then brings the baby home and again tries to impress upon the parents that they must take care of their daughter. Distraught, Tiffany goes to Nanny and talks with her about what she just did. Nanny suggests that she go to the Long Man to talk to the King of the elves. The Feegle join her, and Tiffany tells them to guard the entrance to the cave so no one can follow her in. Tiffany talks to the King of the elves, who doesn’t seem to care about his people invading the human world. He tells Tiffany to kill them if she’s so inclined, as he’s bored and in search of new entertainment. Tiffany asks Rob to build him a shed like Geoffrey’s suggestion to the Lancre men, for entertainment. She keeps teaching Nightshade about humanity, encouraging her to practice empathy and help others, taking her on the witching rounds. Geoffrey visits Mr. Sideways, and learns that he’s building some sort of machine in his own shed. Magrat has a talk with Letitia and points out that no matter what Letitia thinks of her own abilities, she is a witch and she needs to be willing to help out Tiffany and the rest with the elf problem. She asks Letitia if she needs a lift to the witch’s meeting to discuss the problem. Tiffany goes to see old Mrs. Pigeon and in taking some of her pain away causes a ruckus at the house. She asks Nightshade to stay with her a moment, and then asks her to take a glamour off the family’s stream. Nightshade agrees to do this because she is Tiffany’s friend. Geoffrey finds out that Mr. Sideways is making weaponry in his shed, and advanced weaponry at that. The war council of witches commences at Lancre castle, and Tiffany has Geoffrey do his calm-weaving so that fights don’t break out among the group. She tells them that the elves are coming and that most of them have never fought elves, so they don’t know what to expect. Tiffany asks Nightshade to put a glamour on the group so that they know what it feels like—it makes them feel worthless and small, all except for Mrs. Earwig, who is totally unaffected. Nightshade claims it was like trying to glamour a wall and wonders if she isn’t an elf somehow. She tells the group that the elves will attack during the full moon (that night), a time of endings, and do it where the barriers are weakest. This means that they need to defend both the Dancers in Lancre, and the Chalk as well, so the group is split. Tiffany heads home to get some rest and finds herself talking to the the shepherd’s crown, who tells her that she is a first among shepherds. She feels the specters of Granny Aching’s dogs, Thunder and Lightning. Everyone wakes in the night as the attacks begin. The Lancre group stops Lord Lankin with the swarf weapon from the old men and witches every which way. The fight on the Chalk is fierce, with Miss Tick and the Feegle and Letitia all working in concert, but they’re still losing. Tiffany goes to face Peaseblossom, but Nightshade stands between them to fight for her friend. Peaseblossom is disgusted by the concept and slays her. Tiffany is furious, but a glamour almost pulls her under until she remembers her connection to the land and acts as a conduit for it. She cleanses the Chalk of the elf world and calls the King of the elves to her. He wonders about how the world has changed and respects Tiffany now, cutting down Peaseblossom without a thought. She commands the king to leave, as he wonders if trains couldn’t be built without iron. The witches gather after the battle, and Tiffany decides that Geoffrey will take up Granny Weatherwax’s steading, as she belongs on her own land. None of the witches protest. Geoffrey is also made an ambassador to Lancre so that he can go home and show up his father, letting the man know that he’s been selected to do the first trial run for a fox-proof chicken coup, so there will be no need for the hunt anymore. Tiffany goes to the local carpenter and asked him to teach her his trade because she means to rebuild Granny Aching’s hut. She manages it, and sees Granny Aching and Granny Weatherwax together with Thunder and Lightning, and knows that Granny Weatherwax is everywhere. Her father comes to visit her up the hill and is pleased with the steading. The carpenter visits and is impressed by her work. Commentary And so, the final words of the Discworld are: Mr. Block looked at her suspiciously for a moment. “So did you use magic to make the hut, miss?”“I didn’t have to,” said Tiffany. “The magic was already here.” Gonna sit with that one for a minute. And cry for a while. In many ways the series began with that thought, didn’t it? About how you couldn’t use magic to solve your problems because it was more trouble than it was worth. That thought slowly morphed over to time to remind us that you couldn’t simply make things happen with magic—but it was still all around us. In simple things that we often take for granted. And he made sure to end three decades of work on that thought. For no reason at all, I’m sure. I have a very different perspective on the book this time around, I’ve realized. In some ways, I’m almost glad that it isn’t entirely finished the way Pratchett would have liked? Because it gives us a small window into his process, in a way, a suggestion of how he drafted and where he went back over spots to punch them up. I found myself marking out places where I assumed he wanted to add more, or change a turn of phrase, and it’s so incredibly useful, while being something we rarely see from authors we love. Perhaps not the best for the ego, but so good for educational purposes. There are a few consistent messages within your average Pratchett story that make their way poignantly into this book because they’re not in focus at all, but they still need to be there. The one that comes to mind the most for me is little Maggie, one of the girl Feegles, insisting that she doesn’t want to be a kelda, she wants to fight beside her brothers. Without making that into a key plot point, Maggie simply shows up in the battle agains the elves and it’s noted with triumph. As these stories have constantly shown us, you can’t stop progress. Some will try, and then the world will give way and change, and they’ll be left behind. So Geoffrey is a witch and Maggie will be a warrior and the Chalk isn’t going to burn witches ever again and elves are going to leave the world and head somewhere a little less dangerous because there’s no room for them. The world will change and will, largely and hopefully, be the better for it. And then you’ve got the occasional one-liner that tackles you out of nowhere, like this bit from Nanny Ogg following the battle, and her thought that maybe it’s good for them to fight the elves now and again (in order to remember how to fight): “And at the end of time, living is about fightin’ against everything.” Oh. But we’ve read these books, and we know Nanny (and Pratchett by extension) doesn’t mean anything so simple as fighting against other people. We’re spending our lives fighting indifference and small-mindedness. Fear and ignorance. Ego and loneliness. And all those other little things like apathy and fatigue and injustice and pain and insignificance and authority and time… I think Terry Pratchett spent his life fighting all those things. And maybe he wanted us to know that we could spend our lives doing that, too. Tiffany Aching had two grandmothers who taught her everything she knows. The result of which is a life that will be lived in an attempt to leave the world a little better than she found it. Her anger makes her strong and powerful, and she can learn anything she sets her mind to. Her home fortifies and anchors her. She knows where she’s needed. Her future is unwritten—as are all of our futures—but it’s a good start. Asides and little thoughts There’s a bit in here where Tiffany thinks of how fed up she is with being young, and the footnote for that thought mentions that she will surely grow out of this if she lives long enough. Thing is, of course you do grow out of it, but it doesn’t matter in the same way—saying this as a person who always hated being ‘young.’ Sure, being older comes with its own (ridiculous) baggage, but not wanting to be young is often about dismissal and the assumption of ignorance due to lack of experience. Which is hilarious, considering how much so many children go through. The most obvious sign that Granny was supposed to be in the cat for the duration of the book is the fairy king’s reaction to finding You in his realm. He only shouts the cat’s name, but… he’s definitely not talking about the cat. Nanny Ogg’s cookbook being called A Lot of What You Fancy Makes You Fat, is, of course, a reference to the old music hall standby “A Little of What You Fancy Does You Good.” We get a proper send off for the witches with this battle at the end, but more than anything, I’m glad to see Magrat in her Ynci gear one last time… Pratchettisms Her fingers curled around the odd-shaped little stone, tracing its five ridges, and somehow she felt a strength flow into her, the hardness of the flint at its heart reminding her who she was. I am the maiden — and I am also the hag. “If you learn things,” she finished softly, “you might find yourself building a different kind of kingdom.” But she hadn’t seen the old lady for over a week, and in a week an old lady could fall through the cracks of life. She was given a Look, and Mrs. Earwig said, “I will nut as I see fit.” I wish I had brought Granny Weatherwax’s boots to wear for this fight. They would have given me strength. And then she stopped this thought. No. This is my land. My turf. My feet. My boots. My way… Geoffrey paused—he was trying to weave a peace between them, but it was like trying to get a rock to agree with a hard place. A Little Something Before We Go There are a few books besides all these that I might like to get to someday, so I’m not giving a big official farewell here. Maybe it’s just being terrible at endings, come to think of it. They feel… inorganic to me, if that makes sense? Things so rarely end in a finite and tangible way, and when they do, they’re often so unsatisfactory. So this is where I’ll leave things. For the time being, and perhaps for the longterm. But this has been a great checks series page four years? Four years, forty-some books, and a chance to read them in order, which I’d never done before. It’s been… so good. I’m going to miss shouting “Terry, you can’t do this to me” regularly at the page in front of me, every time something particularly clever or moving popped up. I’m going to miss having a built-in excuse to return here, this little haven in my head and online coexisting for a while. Mind how you go, friends. Be good to one another, especially when it’s hard. Remember that personal isn’t (usually) the same as important, and that Death loves cats. Return to the Disc when you need it. As for me, I think I’ll spend a little time trying to see the color octarine…[end-mark] The post Terry Pratchett Book Club: <i>The Shepherd’s Crown</i>, Part III appeared first on Reactor.

If you’ve noticed dust bunnies multiplying under the couch or find your pantry cluttered with expired goods, it’s time to take action. We understand your situation:life gets busy and cleaning can easily fall to the bottom of the to-do list. Nevertheless, this season presents the ideal moment to reset, declutter, and prepare your living space for cozy, relaxing evenings ahead. Imagine curling up in a clean living room, with every item in its place. Or what about dreaming you’re cooking wonderful meals in an organized, spotless, and sparkling kitchen?. Let’s turn those visions into reality with this comprehensive fall cleaning guide. Using this step-by-step plan, you’ll refresh every room in your home and ensure they’ll be ready for the season. A sparkling clean living room with freshly vacuumed carpets, dust-free surfaces, and polished wooden furniture. Sunlight streaming through spotless windows, creating a cozy, peaceful atmosphere. Living Room: Refresh and Revitalize The living room is often the heart of the home where family and friends gather. To keep it feeling inviting and comfortable, take time to refresh it. A thorough cleaning, decluttering, and a few simple updates can give your living room new life and make it even more enjoyable as the seasons change. Here are a few cleaning and maintenance tasks that can bring back life in your living room: Dust and Polish Surfaces Dust all surfaces, such as shelves, coffee tables, and electronics. Use a microfiber cloth to trap dust and prevent it from spreading around the room. After the dust is gone, polish wooden furniture to give it a fresh, clean shine. Vacuum Upholstery and Carpets Thoroughly vacuum your upholstery, pay attention to crevices and use the appropriate attachments. If your carpets haven’t been deep-cleaned recently, consider renting a carpet cleaner or hiring a professional to remove embedded dirt and allergens. This can help create a healthier living space for everyone. Clean Windows and Curtains In addition to cleaning surfaces, wipe down windows inside and out to maximize natural light during the shorter fall days. Moreover, don’t forget to wash or dry-clean your curtains, as this  eliminates dust and freshens up the room even more. Declutter Shelves and Drawers Go through your bookshelves, media consoles, and side tables. Clear out items that no longer serve a purpose tomake the room look neat and streamlined. Additionally, organizing what’s left will enhance your space’s overall freshness. Kitchen: Scrub and Simplify The kitchen is the hub of any home.  Keeping it clean and organized means an easier and more productive time preparing and serving meals. Give your kitchen a deep clean and declutter areas you use most. Doing so simplifies your daily routines and creates a fresher, more efficient environment for cooking and gathering. Getting your entire kitchen shine like new will require a lot of time, elbow grease, and patience. But, you’ll definitely like what you’ll see once you finish the tasks below: Clean Appliances It’s time deep to clean your oven, microwave, and refrigerator. Use the right cleaners for each appliance to remove grime and food residue effectively. If needed, defrost your freezer and discard expired items to keep your kitchen organized and functional. Sanitize Surfaces Wipe down countertops, backsplashes, and cabinet fronts using a disinfectant cleaner. Be sure to pay extra attention to high-touch areas like handles and switches, as these tend to accumulate germs. For further guidance, refer to the CDC’s cleaning and disinfecting guide. Organize Pantry and Cabinets Sort through your pantry and kitchen cabinets, discarding expired food and organizing the remaining items. Using clear containers will help make everything visible and accessible. In addition, you can learn more tips from Real Simple’s pantry guide. Clean Floors Finally, sweep and mop the kitchen floor, with special focus on corners and areas beneath appliances. If you have tile floors, scrub the grout lines to remove any built-up dirt. Bedrooms: Create a Cozy Haven Your bedroom should be a private retreat where you can relax and unwind. As the seasons change, take this opportunity to refresh and reorganize your space and make it cozier and more inviting. With a few simple steps, you can transform your bedroom into the perfect haven for rest and relaxation. Refresh Bedding Wash all bedding items, including sheets, pillowcases, and comforters. As the cooler months approach, consider switching to warmer bedding for maximum comfort. Don’t forget to clean mattress covers and pillows to ensure your bed feels fresh and inviting. Declutter Closets Next, go through your wardrobe and set aside summer clothes for donation or storage. Organizing your fall and winter attire will make it easier to access what you need. Meanwhile, take this opportunity to vacuum and clean closet floors for a tidier space. Clean Under the Bed Once your closet is organized, remove any items stored under the bed and thoroughly vacuum the area. Since dust tends to collect in hidden places, this is essential for a complete fall cleaning guide. Dust and Vacuum Dust all surfaces in the bedroom, including nightstands, dressers, and light fixtures. Vacuum carpets and rugs, paying special attention to high-traffic areas where dirt and dust often collect. Bathrooms: Sanitize and Shine Bathrooms are one of the most frequently used rooms in the house, and keeping them clean is essential for both hygiene and comfort. A thorough cleaning and organizing session will not only make your bathroom sparkle but also create a refreshing and inviting space for you and your guests. Clean the Shower and Tub Scrub the shower and tub to remove soap scum and mildew. Make sure to use a bathroom cleaner designed for tough stains to leave surfaces sparkling clean. Sanitize Toilets and Sinks Disinfect toilets, sinks, and countertops. Focus on faucets and handles, which often harbor bacteria. For additional bathroom cleaning tips, check out Good Housekeeping’s bathroom guide. Wash Linens Don’t forget to wash all bathroom linens, including towels, bath mats, and shower curtains. If you have any worn or frayed items, replace them to maintain a fresh, inviting bathroom space. Organize Cabinets and Drawers Finally, declutter bathroom cabinets and drawers by discarding expired products and organizing the remaining ones. Small bins or drawer organizers can help keep everything tidy and easily accessible. Entryway: Welcome Cleanliness Your entryway sets the tone for the rest of your home, so it’s important to keep this space clean and organized. A tidy and welcoming entryway makes a great first impression and helps maintain cleanliness throughout your home. By refreshing this high-traffic area, you’ll create a more inviting and functional space for you and your guests. Sweep and Mop Floors Sweep and mop the entryway floor. Doing so ensures that your home feels clean and welcoming from the moment you step inside. Additionally, give your doormat a good shake or vacuum to remove trapped dirt. Organize Shoes and Coats Sort through shoes and coats, storing away summer items and bringing out fall gear. Using hooks or a shoe rack will help keep everything neat, tidy, and accessible. Wipe Down Surfaces In addition, dust and clean all surfaces such as tables and shelves, in the entryway. If you have a mirror in the entryway, wipe it down to remove any smudges or fingerprints for an added touch of cleanliness. Tidy Up Clutter Lastly, clear any clutter that tends to accumulate in the entryway, such as mail, keys, or other miscellaneous items. Using a small tray or bowl, you can keep essential items organized and within easy reach. General Tips for Fall Cleaning As the seasons change, it’s the perfect time to give your home a deep clean and prepare for the cozy months ahead. Fall cleaning not only helps refresh your living space but also sets a welcoming atmosphere as the holidays approach. Tackling the task may seem overwhelming, but with a few strategic tips, you can make the process manageable and even enjoyable. By organizing your cleaning efforts and incorporating some fun elements, you can breeze through your fall cleaning checklist with ease. Create a Schedule To make the fall cleaning guide more realistic and manageable, break down your tasks into manageable chunks and spread them out over several days or weeks. Use the Right Tools Investing in quality cleaning tools that makes the process much easier and more efficient in the long run. Make It a Team Effort Assign tasks to family members so that everyone shares the workload. More importantly, cleaning can become a fun group activity when everyone gets involved! Play Music or Podcasts Listening to your favorite tunes or engaging podcasts makes the process more enjoyable, which can make time fly. Step into a Sparkling Season with Your Fall Cleaning Guide This comprehensive fall cleaning guide helps refresh your home and set the perfect stage for the cozy months ahead. As you methodically work through each room, you’ll create a cleaner, more peaceful, and inviting environment. In fact, think of it as preparing your space for the warmth and comfort that fall brings. PS: Have you followed this fall cleaning guide? We’d love to hear about your experience! Share your favorite cleaning tips and tricks, and let’s inspire each other to keep our spaces fresh and welcoming. For more seasonal tips, don’t miss our fall home organization guide.

From ignorant Roman generals to over-ambitious American lieutenants, history is full of soldiers who made catastrophic mistakes. Conflicts as relevant as World War Two and as ancient as the Second Punic War were defined by these blunders and their consequences. Some were caused by underestimating the enemy, others by failing to understand the battlefield terrain, but all brought disaster for these commanders and their men. Here are ten of the worst mistakes in military history: 1. The Romans at the Battle of Cannae In 216 BC Hannibal Barca famously crossed the Alps into Italy with only 40,000 soldiers. A vast Roman army of around 80,000 men was raised to oppose him, led by the two Roman consuls. At Cannae the majority of this huge force were lost owing to a disastrous error on the part of their Roman commanders. The Roman generals’ plan at Cannae was to advance and punch through Hannibal’s thin battle-line, putting faith in their much larger infantry force. Hannibal, in contrast, had prepared a complex strategy. He first ordered his infantry to feign withdrawals in the centre of his formation, drawing the eager Romans towards his crescent-shaped battle-line. The Romans, unsuspecting, thought they had the Carthaginians on the run and drove their forces deep into this crescent. Hannibal’s cavalry then drove off the horsemen who protected the Roman flank, and circled around the back of the huge Roman force, charging their rear. The Roman commanders did not realise their mistake in time: the Carthaginian infantry’s crescent formation now surrounded them at the front, and Hannibal’s cavalry was driving into their rear. Roman soldiers were so tightly packed in this Carthaginian trap that they were unable even to swing their swords. The Death of Aemilius Pallus at Cannae. Image Credit: Public Domain Around 60,000 Romans perished owing to their generals’ over-confidence, including Aemilius Paullus, one of the Roman consuls. It ranks alongside the the Battle of the Somme as one of the bloodiest days in western military history. 2. Crassus at the Battle of Carrhae In 53 BC Marcus Licinius Crassus and his Roman legions were utterly crushed by the Parthians at the Battle of Carrhae. Crassus made the mistake of failing to recognise the importance of terrain and the skills of the Parthian horse-archers. Crassus had marched 40,000 legionaries and auxiliary troops into the desert in pursuit of the Parthian army. He ignored the advice of his allies and advisers who had proposed staying in the mountains or near the Euphrates to reduce the danger from the Parthian cavalry. Weakened by thirst and heat, the Romans were attacked by the Parthians deep in the desert. Misjudging the size of the Parthian army, Crassus ordered his men to form an immobile square which was devastated by the Parthian horse archers. When Crassus had his men pursue the enemy they were charged by cataphracts, the Parthian heavy cavalry. Crassus’ many blunders resulted in his own death, and that of his son and 20,000 Roman soldiers. He also lost several Legionary Eagles, the Roman military standards, which were not recovered for over thirty years. 3. The Romans at the Teutoburg Forest Across their long military history, few defeats left such an impact on the Romans as that of Varus’ legions at the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD. On hearing news of the disaster, the Emperor Augustus famously cried aloud to himself repeatedly, ‘Quintilius Varus, give me back my legions!’. Varus first made the error of trusting Arminius, a Germanic chieftain serving as his advisor. When Arminius informed him that a revolt had begun nearby, Varus marched his army through the Teutoburg Forest to deal with the problem. Varus vastly underestimated the organisation of the Germanic tribes and their ability to use the local terrain; he did not reconnoitre the forest or even march his army in combat formation. As the Romans marched through the dense woodland, they were suddenly ambushed by a hidden and well-disciplined Germanic army led by Arminius himself. Only a few thousand Romans escaped, and Varus himself was forced to commit suicide during the battle. Arminius’ victory prevented the Roman empire from ever establishing a firm grip on Germania. 4. The French at the Battle of Agincourt On the morning of 25 October 1415, the French army at Agincourt would have been expecting a famous victory. Their army greatly outnumbered the English host under Henry V, and they had a much larger force of knights and men-at-arms. The French, however, made a ruinous mistake, miscalculating the accuracy, range and firing rate of the English longbows. During the battle, the French cavalry attempted to charge the English archers, but were unable to pass the sharpened stakes which protected them. Meanwhile the French men-at-arms moved slowly over the muddy ground separating them from the English. In these conditions, the entire French army was hugely vulnerable to the constant hail of arrows from the English longbows. The French were easily beaten back when they finally pushed through the arrows to Henry V’s lines. Their mistakes resulted in the French losing around ten times the number of English casualties. 5. The Austrians at the Battle of Karánsebes On the night of 21-22 September 1788, during the Austro-Turkish War, the Austrian army under Emperor Joseph II defeated itself in a major friendly-fire incident. Emperor Joseph II and his Soldiers. Image Credit: Public Domain Clashes between Austrian troops began when the Austrian Hussars who were serving as scouts refused to share their schnapps with some infantry. After one of the drunken Hussars fired a shot, the infantry opened fire in return. As the two groups fought, they heard shouts of ‘Turks! Turks!’, leading them to believe the Ottomans were nearby. The Hussars fled back into the Austrian camp, and a confused officer ordered his artillery to fire upon them. In the darkness, the Austrians believed the Ottoman cavalry were attacking them unawares and turned on each other in terror. Over 1,000 Austrians were killed during the night, and Joseph II ordered a general withdrawal on account of the chaos. When the Ottomans actually arrived two days later, they took Karánsebes without a fight. 6. Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia The invasion force which Napoleon mustered for his campaign against Russia was the largest army ever assembled in the history of warfare. Over 685,000 men from France and Germany crossed the Neman River and began the invasion. After Napoleon’s failure to force the Russians to surrender and lengthy retreat, his army would suffer 500,000 casualties. Napoleon falsely believed the Russians would deploy their army in a conclusive battle, but instead they withdrew deeper into Russian territory. As the Russians retreated they destroyed crops and villages, making it impossible for Napoleon to supply his huge host. Napoleon managed to inflict an inconclusive defeat on the Russians and seize Moscow, but even the capital had been destroyed by the withdrawing army. After waiting in vain for Emperor Alexander I to surrender, Napoleon fell back from Moscow. As winter approached, snows slowed the French army, who suffered from starvation and desertion as the Russians harried their long retreat. 7. The Charge of the Light Brigade Immortalised by Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem, this British light cavalry charge during the Battle of Balaclava is one of the most renowned military mistakes in history. After a miscommunication in the chain of command, the Light Brigade was ordered on a frontal assault against a large Russian artillery battery. As the Light Brigade charged between the Fedyukhin Heights and the Causeway Heights (the so-called ‘Valley of Death’), they faced devastating fire from three sides. They reached the artillery but were driven back, receiving more fire during their retreat. The Charge of the Light Brigade. Image Credit: Public Domain In the end, the miscommunication caused nearly 300 casualties in a matter of minutes. 8. Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn The Battle of the Little Bighorn is one of the most well-known engagements in America’s military history. For decades after the battle Lieutenant-Colonel George Custer was considered an American hero for his Last Stand against the forces of the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. Modern historians have documented Custer’s various mistakes before and during the battle, which led to a decisive victory for the tribal war leaders Crazy Horse and Chief Gall. Notably, Custer seriously misjudged the number of enemies camped before the Little Big Horn River, ignoring his Native scouts’ reports that the encampment was the largest they had ever seen. ‘Custer’s Last Stand’ by Edgar Samuel Paxson. Image Credit: Public Domain Custer was also supposed to wait for Brigadier General Alfred Terry and Colonel John Gibson’s troops to arrive before launching an attack. Instead, Custer decided to make his move immediately, afraid that the Sioux and Cheyennes would escape if he waited. Custer was forced to retreat his own battalion to a nearby hill, where they all perished facing repeated assaults. 9. Hitler’s Invasion of the Soviet Union Operation Barbarossa, Hitler’s failed invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, was one of the most significant military campaigns in history. Following the invasion, Germany was engaged in a war on two fronts which stretched their forces to breaking point. Image credit: Bundesarchiv / Commons. Much like Napoleon before him, Hitler underestimated the resolve of the Russians and the difficulties of supplying his forces for the Russian terrain and weather. He believed that his army could seize Russia in only a few months, so his men were not prepared for a harsh Russian winter. Following the German defeat in the largest battle in history at Stalingrad, Hitler was forced to redeploy troops from the western front to Russia, weakening his hold on Europe. The Axis Powers suffered nearly 1,000,000 casualties during the campaign, which proved a turning point in the Second World War. 10. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor The USS Arizona burning after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Image Credut: Public Domain In the early hours of 7 December 1941 the Japanese launched a pre-emptive strike against the American naval base at Pearl Harbor. The Japanese intended the attack to be a preventative action, hoping to stop the American Pacific Fleet from halting Japanese expansion into Southeast Asia. Instead, the strike drove America to join the Allies and enter the Second World War. Initially the Pearl Harbor attack, which coincided with other strikes on American naval bases, was a success for the Japanese. 2,400 American personnel were killed, four battleships were sank and many more suffered severe damage. However, the Japanese failed to deliver a decisive blow, and American popular opinion turned from isolationism towards involvement in the war. Over the coming years America not only helped turn the tide of the conflict in Europe, but also ended the Japanese Empire in the Pacific.

2000 years ago, deep in the forests of Germany, a Roman army walked into a trap. It had been set by the Germanic warlord Arminius, a man they thought was their friend, and resulted in a catastrophic Roman defeat remembered as the Battle of Teutoburg Forest. In History Hit documentary Rome’s Disaster, Tristan Hughes heads to Germany to investigate some of the worst days in Roman military history which unfolded in 9 AD. At the Varus Battle Museum, named for the humbled Roman commander, Tristan gets hands-on with archaeology from the battle. Sign up to watch As the Romans fell, the battle sites were looted by their attackers who picked the fields for valuables. Fortunately for us, some Roman artefacts were left behind. “We have about 5-6,000 Roman finds, 2,000 coins, a lot of bones,” explains museum managing director Stefan Burmeister. “We have recovered about an area of 50 square kilometres. Most finds come from the core area here in the museum park. We do a lot of excavations and every time we open the soil, it’s like a spring. Things come up.” Among the human remains is the top of a human skull with a large hole and indications of a mortal sword blow. Their identity, however, remains anonymous – for now. Rome’s Disaster: Battle of Teutoburg ForestImage Credit: History Hit “We have lots of bones. Of course, we know they are all male, very strong stature, between 20 and 40 years of age. We just started a genomic project, and perhaps in one or two years time, we will know more about the ancestry and if they come as Romans or come from the Mediterranean, or if it’s a Germanic warrior.” Getting closer to the Battle of Teutoburg Despite lacking concrete proof that the area near the museum was the site of the famous battle, there is good evidence. “We have lots of coins, 2,000 coins, and they all tell a story and they bring us close to the event,” says Burmeister. One coin in particular, made from copper and perhaps the value of a glass of wine, displays a unique counter-stamp. “This is the Varus counter-stamp. It’s a V-A-R. And this was stamped in the time when Varus was commander of the Legion of the Rhine. So this must have been stamped in the years 7 to 9 AD.” Other, more precious, personal items have also been recovered from the battlefield, including two golden finger rings with high quality, semi-precious stones. Both depict mythological themes. One depicts Silenus, a god of drunkenness, and the other the winged horse Pegasus. Rome’s Disaster: Battle of Teutoburg ForestImage Credit: History Hit These styles of rings were worn by Roman men and women. In modern terms, however, these rings correspond to the smallest female sizes. “We know that in the baggage train, the soldiers had their families with them, women and children,” explains Burmeister. “And I think with these two rings, we have good evidence of these families accompanying the army.” Not only were these rings originally crafted for someone originating from thousands of miles away. They highlight how women and children were present at the battle as well as fighting men. The rings also suggest that they got caught up in the carnage, too. “They were caught, perhaps killed, we don’t know,” says Burmeister. “In the bones we only have men. We know from other historians that 30-40 years later, the Romans bought the last survivors.” From human remains to gold rings, the archaeology unearthed at Kalkriese is providing a huge range of information about the battle. But perhaps one artefact personifies this massacre more than any other. A Roman cavalry mask made from iron and coated in silver and depicting a human face, used more for parades than actual battle, is a unique survivor from Teutoburg. We’ll never know what happened to the Roman who wore the mask, but more likely than not he suffered a similar fate to many of his comrades, either killed or captured by the Germans during the later stages of this battle. Watch Rome’s Disaster: Battle of Teutoburg Forest by signing up to History Hit. Sign up to watch

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