Various reasons can make an army lose in a battle. Large and powerful enemy and bad weather could make an army lose a battle. However, an army could lose a battle because of an incompetent leader. A closer examination of the world worse military leaders reveals this.
Here are the world’s worst military leaders:
1. Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler, from Germany, takes the lead. Though not a military officer he directed the war operations, this caused Germany to be defeated in the World War II.
2. Antonio Lopez de Santa Ann
In position two is Antonio Lopez de Santa Ann, from Mexico. In 1836 he lost entire army and he was captured in a battle that lasted fifteen minutes.
3. Douglas MacArthur
The third place goes to Douglas MacArthur, from USA. Under his tenure in 1942 American troops experienced the largest mass surrender .His invasion of Peleliu in Japan led to 10,000 U.S. causalities.
4. George Armstrong Custer
Position four is claimed by George Armstrong Custer, from USA. He lost the entire command in a few hours at Little Big Horn in June 1876.
5. General Sir Douglas Haig
At position five we have General Sir Douglas Haig, a British commander who lost 60,000 British troops in battle of the Somme in 1916.
6. General Robert Georges Nivelle
Sixth place is preserved for General Robert Georges Nivelle, from France. He had half million causalities at the Battle of Verdun in 1916.
7. General George McClellan
At number seven is a Union General George McClellan, during American civil war. He was over cautious and this prolonged the war.
8. Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein, from Iraq, takes position eight. Though not a military officer, he directed the war. He lost three wars.
9. Admiral Gunichi Mikawa
At position nine we have Admiral Gunichi Mikawa, from Japan. He successful attacked U.S. navy in World War II in 1942. However, break off the attack too soon and headed home, when victory was but imminent.
10. Erwin Rommel
Position ten is a tie of field Marshall Erwin Rommel, from Germany, and Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, from Britain. Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, lost twice to British in North Africa. He, also, failed to secure the French coastline from allied invasion. Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery is over credit for his victory over German Afrika Korps, in Egypt 1942. The victory was a foregone conclusion, because the German Army was exhausted and over-extended.
Why they are considered worse
These military leaders are considered worse because of the blunders they made that led to their armies to lose battles. Some of them are plainly overrated, for example, Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery and field Marshall Erwin Rommel.
Bad timing and over cautious
Some of these leaders made were worse because of they bad timing or they were over cautious.
Recklessness, indifference, Incoherent strategy and incompetence
Others were plainly reckless, indifferent, incompetent or lacked a coherent strategy. This led to losing the war.
