In his book The Plague, Albert Camus wrote, “When a war breaks out people say: ‘It won’t last, it’s too stupid.’ And war is certainly too stupid, but that doesn’t prevent it from lasting.” This foolishness, which can go on for far too long, can also give rise to utterly absurd and stupid ideas. From botched operations to outlandish inventions: the teams at Je me souviens and Honouring Bravery have come together to present the top 10 of the worst ideas (in war)!
From May 29 to August 14, 2026, we published ten historical anecdotes related to our Failure Friday event, exploring the worst ideas from wartime. Every Friday, you could discover the most bizarre inventions, poorly planned missions, and even some highly questionable uses of animals! For the very first time, check out the final compilation right here!
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This count is subjective and done in good faith to learn more about the worst ideas (in war)!
10. Projet Habakkuk
9. The Ross Rifle
8. The Fort Blunder
7. Exercise Tiger
6. The Gin Drinkers Line
5. The Planning of the Dieppe Raid
4. Acoustic Kitty
3. The MacAdam Shield Shovel
2. The Emu War
1. The Battle of Karánsebes
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