List of military disasters

A military disaster is the defeat of one side in a battle or war which results in the complete failure of the losing side to achieve their objectives.

It often, but not always, involves a high and disproportionate loss of life.

The causes are varied and include human error, inferior technology, logistical problems, underestimating the enemy, being outnumbered, and bad luck.

[1][2][3][4] Entries on this list are those where multiple sources dealing with the subject of military disasters have deemed the event in question to be a military disaster (or an equivalent term).

Battle of the Little Bighorn known as Custer 's Last Stand.
Battle of the Teutoburg Forest
The fall of Spanish Armada in 1588
Surrender of General Burgoyne ; this painting hangs in the United States Capitol Rotunda
Center of Stalingrad after liberation in 1943
Viet Minh troops plant their flag over the captured French headquarters at Dien Bien Phu