War movies by themes

Aircraft carriers changed the face of the conflicts since World War II - the armors and big guns were no longer the most important in naval war....

During World War 1 planes made their debut as warfare - from simply reconnaissance missions they were adapted to drop bomb on enemies, fight with other planes, transport messages. Durign World War 2 the air support and air superiority became key factor in many battles....

Ambush is the oldest strategy to weaken the enemy - especially when he has the advantage. Well performed ambush not only helps to trap enemy, but also to undermine his morale....

Artillery brings the fear to the enemy - it was the first weapon that was able to wound or kill several people at the same time. During Antiquity and Middle Ages they were used during siege of castles or cities, later they were supporting the infantry, but since World War I the artillery became a separate force that not only support other forces, b...

Bombs (either dropped from planes or from artillery) are always great danger not only for soldiers on the line of front, but also for civilians, who could become accidental victims....

Bunkers were developed during the 19th century as a kind of fortress often separated from main strongpoints. They were built where the main offensive was expected, but due to high cost or natural conditions made building the whole fortress impossible. They could be used as defense strongpoints, but also can protect the headquarters from air or arti...

Castles were not only military centres in Middle Ages, but also were gathering the trade and providing support for any growth of knowledge....

For centuries cavalry was the main force in any army - speed, mobility, power - they were putting fear in the hearts of enemies....

Commandos are elite within the army - they get the worst and most dangerous tasks there are because they are trained to overcome all the obstacles....

Contrary to common belief Germans did not invented the concentration camps - actually British were the first to use them during Boer Wars between 1900 and 1902. Of course previously similar concepts were used by Russian, Spanish and other nations, but British were the first to use them on large scale and turn refugee camps into camps, where Boer in...

Sea convoys during World War II made it possible for Britain and Russia to keep fighting Germans. The sailors that were running the convoys were put under unbelievable strains - U-boats, planes, warships were trying to stop them....

Courtroom dramas rarely mix with war theme, but some of the most important war movies depict the court-martial trials....

Covert operations takes place when the target of the mission is out of reach for conventional forces or special forces and the only way to reach it is disguise agents so they could operate among civilians or enemy forces. Often the covert actions are aimed to keep the author of attack unknown, which allows countries to remain anonymous....

Deserts were always challenge during the conflicts - lack of water, food, cover plus difficult weather conditions....

Clash of two fighters - the highlight of all aerial conflicts, where every detail of plane construction and pilots training does matter....

Fantasy is often linked with trolls, wizards, knights and magic, but some of the fantasy production have great value as war movies. Afterall many of them are based on medieval tales and medieval reality....

Fortress is now almost obsolete way to protect the vital points. They became obsolete during World War II, when parachute troops proved that stationary stronghold cannot defend itself....

Helicopters revolutionized the way soldiers are being deployed on battlefield or retrieved from it. Helicopters can land almost everywhere or drop soldiers on lines, they can carry supplies or pick up wounded and take out of the battlezone....

The only thing that never changes in the history of conflicts is that you just can’t win without infantry. Tanks, ships, airplanes are great, but the infantry will occupy the land, there is no substitution for infantry....

Jungle is the one of the most unfriendly environments that people fight in - the nature is often more dangerous than other men....

Back in Middle Ages knights were the elite of each army - knight riding horse and wearing armor was not only a soldier, but almost equivalent of a tank....

Airborne or amphibious landing operations were usually the breaking points of conflicts....

Every commander preparing to defend his position has to have alternative plan for different scenarios, but all of them need to know their last stand - the position behind which they can’t retreat....

Mercenaries are soldiers that are hired to fight and has no personal reasons to join the war. Mercenaries are being used since the dawn of human civilization - for them it was the way of life....

The concept of barracks as a specialized place where the soldiers would train their profession isn’t new - even ancient people realized that specialization is needed to provide good defence for their countries. With time the barracks had to grew together with the development of new kinds of weapon....

Mystery isn’t often used theme in war movies, but when it is usually the whole project gains really a lot....

Naval battles always are spectacular, since warships are the biggest fighting equipment there is - in past huge galleons, later steel battleships and since World War 2 aircraft carriers....

Navy is often in the background of the conflict, but without them many of the turning points in history would not be possible....

Paratroopers are different from the rest of the army - usually they can’t count on artillery support, tanks support, they are alone in the middle of the enemy territory....

Partisans and guerillas fight without uniforms, without heavy armor and without army supplies....

Politics often starts the wars, sometimes ends them and often the politicians makes the wars the hell on earth....

Were there’s a war, there’s a prisoners of war (POW) camps. At least since the Geneva Convention....

Military raids may have different objectives - from attack on military or civilian objects, reconnaissance mission, rescue mission or even assassination mission. They are the ultimate precise tool in every battleplan....

Reconnaissance is the vital element in every war campaign - without knowledge where is the enemy it is very easy to be drawn into ambush or attack the wrong part of the enemy lines....

Resistance groups, especially during World War 2, had their part in the victory of Allies - French, Polish, Dutch, Norwegian - all made the efforts of Allies easier by providing informations, sabotage German army, help prisoners of war or shot down pilots....

For centuries sailing ships were the main element in economy and military aspects of most of the countries - from transporting goods between farthest of the ports to defending coasts and expanding the world as we knew it....

Science fiction often takes war as a metaphor, as an allegory or just medium to reveal what is inside of the people....

Almost every conflict had at some point a siege - in medieval times the siege of the rival castle was most important part of the fight....

Snipers play a very special role in the army - they usually don’t have much firepower nor cause much damage to enemy force, but their power is psychology. Germans invented the doctrine that is being used by the modern armies - snipers are being used to slow enemy down by eliminating officers or simply threaten the infantry. They shoot from hidden...

In early 20th century science fiction authors were predicting that by the beginning of 21st century we all be flying to the Moon for breakfast and to Mars for dinner. Well, nothing of it become truth, but science fiction still shows us how the future wars might look like and most probably they will take place in the outer space....

The concept of special forces is actually quite old - ancient assassins, Japanese ninja warriors - they were all based on the same idea of elite force able to deal with very specific and often dangerous tasks. Special forces may attack particular targets and support major operations, but can’t replace the conventional forces....

Spies and military intelligence take vital part in any conflict - from sending enemy strength, positions, movement, to the sabotage actions and undermining enemy morale....

Submarines in military service were used for the first time as early as 1775, but until 20th century they were merely novelties, the technology testers that had not much value for the navy. Of course their capability of stealth movement were perfect for reconnaissance missions - they could have just enter the enemy port and leave it without being s...

World War II brought tanks into spotlight as the main power in land operations. Their firepower, armors, agility and versatility made the trenches practically obsolete....

Trenches were the main idea for the World War I - well hidden soldiers were suppose to be safe. But the dirt, mug, rats and artillery bombardment proved this theory wrong. Also at one point the soldiers would have to leave the trenches and attack the enemy... well hidden in their trenches....

Urban warfare is one of the most deadly kinds of fights during the war - the enemy could be in every room of every building within area....

Winter causes many problems for soldiers - snow that slows everybody down, cold winds, poor light, lack of cover from trees - everything makes it hard to survive....