Periods

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

The War of 1812, also known as the British-American (or Anglo-American) War of 1812, took place from 18 June 1812 to 17 February 1815. Historians in Britain often see it as a minor theater of the Napoleonic Wars; historians in the United States and Canada see it as a war in its own right. The war costed the lives of about 35,000 people, including 10,000 Indians. The War ended with the Treaty of Ghent, which was signed on 24 December 1814.

American Civil War (1861-1865)

The American Civil War, known in America as the Civil War, took place from 1861 to 1865 between the Northern Union (The United States of America) and the Southern Confederation (Confederate States of America). In the end the North won and slavery was abolished. Approx. 625,000 lives were lost and many were injured.

First Boer War (1880-1881)

Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)

Both Russia and Japan tried to expand their influence in the Far East, showing most intrest in Manchuria and Korea. Russia borrowed use of the harbour of Port Arthur in order to have an ice free harbour in the Pacific and expanded influence in Manchuria. When Russia resisted the Japanese request to recognise Japanese influence in Korea and refused to pull back from Manchuria, Japan attacked the harbour of Port Arthur and held back Russian troops in Manchuria who tried to reach Port Arthur. The war resulting form this ended after Japanese troops defeated Russian troops at Mukden and the Russian fleet was defeated at Tsushima. Formal ending was achieved with the Treaty of Portsmouth in which Russia had to end its expansion in the Far East and Japan gained control over Korea and most of Manchuria.

Russian Civil War (1917-1922)

The Russian revolutions in the spring of 1917 put a stop to the monarchy of the Russian Empire. The tsar was dethroned and soon after that the Bolsheviks led by Lenin took over the power. The opponents of the Bolsheviks formed the White army led by several Tsarist Generals. They were supported by several Western countries in their battle against the Bolshevik Red Army. In the beginning, the Red Army quickly lost terrain. However, the shattered White Army was severely weakened because of a lack of good cooperation within army command, which gave the Red Army the chance to turn the tide. The Red Army won the war, which in addition resulted in the independence of Finland and the Baltic states: Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

Polish-Soviet War (1919-1921)

The Polish-Soviet War took place from 1919 to 1921 between the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and the Second Polish Republic. Cause of the war was an attempt by the Second Polish Republic to expand their territory, and because the Russians wanted to use Polish territory as a transit route to other communist territories. The war ended in a cease-fire and resulted in a permanent border between both countries. In total around 200,000 people lost their lives in this war.

Turkish War of Independance (1919-1923)

Second Sino-Japanese War (1937 - 1945)

Indonesian National Revolution (1945-1949)

New Guinee Conflict (1949-1962)

After the independence war between Indonesia and the Netherlands, from 1945 to 1949, the western half of New Guinea remains in the hands of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Within one year after Indonesia's independence, this part would also be transferred to Indonesia. Because the Indonesian government immediately starts to suppress minorities, and in order not to lose influence in this region, the Netherlands decides not to transfer the area. In 1954, the Netherlands received the support of the United Nations. Because of the chance of an Indonesian invasion in New Guinea, the Netherlands decides to strengthen its military presence. There were some battles because of Indonesian interventions. The Soviet Union and the United States also interfere with the conflict, and the chance of an invasion of both Indonesia and the Soviet Union increases. Bacause of the pressure the Netherlands decides to transfer New Guinea to Indonesia. This took place on 15 August 1962. Of the more than 30,000 Dutch soldiers, 103 died in the conflict. Some dozens of Indonesian servicemen were also killed in action. After the transfer, the Papua's (the original population) are heavily oppressed. Since the transfer, about 200,000 of them became victim of the oppression.

Algerian War (1954-1962)

The Algerian War, also known as the Algerian war of independence took place from 1954 to 1962 between France and the Algerian Front de Libération Nationale (FLN). The FLN won, after which Algeria was recognised by France as an independent country. About 350,000 people died, amongst which 17,500 Frenchmen.

Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990)

The Lebanese Civil War started in 1975 and was a battle between the different religious groupings in Lebanon. Israel and Syria were also actively involved. As of 1978 an international peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, was stationed here, with militaries from dozens of countries, including the Netherlands. From 1982 the MNF, with militaries from the US, France, Italy and the United Kingdom were added to it, but after a couple of major bomb attacks resulting in many victims, it was discontinued in 1984. The Lebanese Civil War officially ended in 1990, but at present UNIFIL is still active in the area, deactivating mines among other activities. About 250,000 people died in the Lebanese Civil War, including hundreds of soldiers from the international military forces.

Falklands War (1982)

The Falklands War started on 2 April 1982 when Argentinian troops occupied the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. In response to this occupation, the United Kingdom sent a special task force to the Falklands to reconquer it from the Argentinians. South Georgia was reconquered without much battle, but in June 1982 heavy battle took place on the Falkland Islands. In addition many ships were attacked, resulting in many lives lost. The Falklands War ended on 20 June 1982 when the remaining Argentinian troops on the islands surrendered. 258 British died (255 British military personnel and 3 Falkland islanders) and 649 Argentine military personnel (323 of which lost their lives when the Argentinian light cruiser “ARA General Belgrano” was sunk). Argentina still claims the islands.

Yugoslav Wars (1991-2001)

The Yugoslav Wars were a series of separate, but related conflicts that took place in the area of the former SFR Yugoslavia from 1991 to 2001. The conflicts led up to the breakup of Yugoslavia into six independent countries, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia. The Yugoslav Wars contain: - Slovenian War of Independence (1991) - Croatian War of Independence (1991–1995) - Bosnian War (1992–1995) - Insurgency in Kosovo (1995–1998) - Kosovo War (1998–1999) - Insurgency in the Presevo Valley (1999–2001) - Insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia (2001)

Iraq War (2003-2011)