The battle has since become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. The Greek defenders held their position for at least three days before being overrun. The defending force is most likely defeated, but it sometimes survives long enough for reinforcements to arrive that force the retreat of the attackers it can even occasionally force the enemy away by itself.Īt various times in history, last stands have ended with a defeat in the strict immediate military sense, but they have become moral victories by creating a heroic myth, which can be a great political asset to the cause for which the last stand had been fought.Ī force of 7,000 allied Greek soldiers blocked the pass of Thermopylae from the invading Persian army numbering between 70,000 and 300,000 soldiers. A last stand is a last-resort tactic that is used if retreat or surrender is impossible or fighting is essential to the success of the cause. That can take the form of a rearguard action, holding a defensible location, or simply refusing to give up a position. The defending force usually takes heavy casualties. JSTOR ( December 2021) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Īn illustration of the Battle of Thermopylae by John Steeple Davis.Ī last stand is a military situation on which a normally-small defensive force holds a position against a powerful entity.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.įind sources: "List of last stands" – news Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |