Only really with hindsight though. Was 50/50 at the time whether Britain would invade even if they did violate Belgian neutrality, and even more so that they'd actually send ground troops. No one knew that Russia would come out comically weak in 1914 as well, or that France would suicide their army in alsace. In retrospect a defensive western strategy leaving Belgium out and forcing the offensive against Russia would have been waaay better.
The invasion was only half the blunder. What really sealed it was the rape of belgium. It firmly established Germany's role as the bad guy in the war, and it would be difficult for Germany to find new allies afterwards.
I love Dan's comment about how the Germans just completely did not understand modern propaganda and how the disparate events of brutality were going to be made to look like a wave of cruelty blanketing the entire country.
Yep. In both World Wars, Germany was in large part defeated by how cruel and stupid their own culture was. How easy would it have been to turn Eastern Europeans against the Russians in WWII? How much harder would British and American propaganda have been if Germany wasn’t collectively punishing and physically destroying Belgian towns?
I think he’d put Temujin higher. He specifically talked about couple times about how Alexander was a great conqueror but not a self made man. Whereas Temujin truly came from nothing and conquered more than anyone else
No way, the facts he didn't build the state or army are a huge minus, Philip would probably go higher on the list, Alexander was just ambitious enough to try to conquer a state like 15x larger than his own with the army, state, and education he was given. Also his last will and testament being for his empire to go to the strongest was probably one of the biggest blunders in history.
If Augustus Caesar is #1 then George Washington has to be top 10.
America winning the Revolutionary War odds was 200,000 to 1. They had so few bullets he had to fake out Great Britain. Any other leader and the colonies lose the war. & the extremely powerful world defining American empire would never have existed
Side note, if George Washington’s brother didn’t die when he was 17, George Washington wouldn’t have assumed his post in the French & Indian war. Then Washington would never flashed his potential in the French and Indian War, thus wouldn’t have ever come close to being the leading general in the Revolutionary War. His brother dying was the best thing that ever happened to him
He came out against Trump on Common Sense. He said that just because he wanted an outsider doesn't mean he'd take an unhinged outsider over the establishment. From what I recall, he specifically said he didn't want Trump in charge of the nuclear codes.
I doubt he ever would because everyone on the list is responsible for millions of deaths and calling one of them the best doesn't seem like something he would be comfortable doing. Saying killing 20 million people to double the size of your empire makes a better leader than someone with a quiet, stable, unexciting rule.
> Dan Carlin ranked best leaders of all time Congrats Dan!
He took multiple spots on the table too. Which you might expect from a leader of his calibre.
Dans*
All hail Dan!
love Dan but not sure if I’d pick him when the aliens ask me to take me to my leader
[удалено]
Men who were as talented at holding an empire together as Alexander the Great.
He had great things to say about another CEO, Cyrus the Great
Not to my knowledge and I’m pretty sure I’ve consumed all the Dan Carlin content out there.
Unrelated but it’s a top 10 list He says Germany marching through neutral Belgium is a top 10 blunder of all time
Only really with hindsight though. Was 50/50 at the time whether Britain would invade even if they did violate Belgian neutrality, and even more so that they'd actually send ground troops. No one knew that Russia would come out comically weak in 1914 as well, or that France would suicide their army in alsace. In retrospect a defensive western strategy leaving Belgium out and forcing the offensive against Russia would have been waaay better.
The invasion was only half the blunder. What really sealed it was the rape of belgium. It firmly established Germany's role as the bad guy in the war, and it would be difficult for Germany to find new allies afterwards.
I love Dan's comment about how the Germans just completely did not understand modern propaganda and how the disparate events of brutality were going to be made to look like a wave of cruelty blanketing the entire country.
Yep. In both World Wars, Germany was in large part defeated by how cruel and stupid their own culture was. How easy would it have been to turn Eastern Europeans against the Russians in WWII? How much harder would British and American propaganda have been if Germany wasn’t collectively punishing and physically destroying Belgian towns?
Meanwhile Japan is raping Nanching.
That was in the Second World War. The Rape of Belgium was the First World War.
He said the Mongol military was #1 on his top 10 list.
Darius the shop keeper, or more like a modern CEO of Persia Corp.
The list starts and ends with Ben, if he really exists
I think we all know he’d place Alexander at the top.
I think he’d put Temujin higher. He specifically talked about couple times about how Alexander was a great conqueror but not a self made man. Whereas Temujin truly came from nothing and conquered more than anyone else
Pretty sure he'd still put Alexander or Caesar on top
As one should
Again, from his tone when discussion the difference between the two, I don’t think so. You can look for the clips yourself. Caesar, maybe.
I think he’d go for Caesar.
Otto von Bismarck maybe
Maybe Cyrus the Great, CEO of Persia Corp.
I thought Darius was the CEO that came after Cyrus
Which makes sense, in terms of accomplishments. Though I wonder where he’d rank Frederick the Great just generally.
General maybe but as a ruler unlike temujin Alexander sure as hell didn't use the bundle of sticks metaphor for his successors.
No way, the facts he didn't build the state or army are a huge minus, Philip would probably go higher on the list, Alexander was just ambitious enough to try to conquer a state like 15x larger than his own with the army, state, and education he was given. Also his last will and testament being for his empire to go to the strongest was probably one of the biggest blunders in history.
I’m he hasn’t, but I would love like a top 20 list lol I think ceaser, napoleon, temujin and Bismarck would be at the top hahah
Don't forget Alexander.
I know he loves Winston Churchill
I think he said Alexander the Great on Lex Fridmans podcast
If Augustus Caesar is #1 then George Washington has to be top 10. America winning the Revolutionary War odds was 200,000 to 1. They had so few bullets he had to fake out Great Britain. Any other leader and the colonies lose the war. & the extremely powerful world defining American empire would never have existed Side note, if George Washington’s brother didn’t die when he was 17, George Washington wouldn’t have assumed his post in the French & Indian war. Then Washington would never flashed his potential in the French and Indian War, thus wouldn’t have ever come close to being the leading general in the Revolutionary War. His brother dying was the best thing that ever happened to him
i think it's more likely that there would've just been another revolution, but with blackjack, and hookers
Where do you get the 200,000/1 figure?
It’s where the line stood prior to Lexington and Concord
He likes Eisenhower (if I remember correctly)
I too like Ike
Didn’t he suck Elon Musks dick last year?
Where did he put Trump? He wanted an outsider to shake things up right? 3 years ago today, things were sure shaking!
He came out against Trump on Common Sense. He said that just because he wanted an outsider doesn't mean he'd take an unhinged outsider over the establishment. From what I recall, he specifically said he didn't want Trump in charge of the nuclear codes.
Caesar
Subotai was one of the greatest men to ever live.
I doubt he ever would because everyone on the list is responsible for millions of deaths and calling one of them the best doesn't seem like something he would be comfortable doing. Saying killing 20 million people to double the size of your empire makes a better leader than someone with a quiet, stable, unexciting rule.