Oppo Trivia Time

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 02/11/2015 at 16:48 • Filed to: None

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A friend got me started on Trivia Crack, so I decided to try my hand at writing some questions. Since I just got through reading about the Battle of Hastings in 1066, I started there, then went off in another military direction, since military history interests me. These should be pretty easy. Oh, and there's also a gimme F1 question, at least for this crowd.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Which English king was defeated by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066?

King James

King Harold

King Edward

King George

Which of the following was NOT the code name for an Allied invasion beach on D-day?

Sword

Torch

Juno

Gold

What was the codename for the unsuccessful Allied airborne Operation to secure the lower Rhine soon after the D-Day landings?

Operation Market Garden

Operation Torch

Operation Dynamo

Operation Overlord

Which American general served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during WWII?

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

General George S. Patton

General Douglas MacArthur

General Omar Bradley

Which Formula 1 driver has won the most world championships?

Juan Manuel Fangio

Jackie Stewart

Michael Schumacher

Mario Andretti

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.

.

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Answers:

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > ttyymmnn 02/11/2015 at 17:04

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What modern nation's forerunners first flexed their military might at Tours in 732?

* Spain
* France
* Portugal
* Italy

Bonus: Who was the commander, and who was his grandson?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 02/11/2015 at 17:13

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I missed #2 for some reason. Got the rest, though I think I half-remembered/guessed for the F1 one, go figure.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 02/11/2015 at 17:14

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France, Charles Martel, and... Charlemagne?

ttyymmnn > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 02/11/2015 at 17:19

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I'm going to go with Charles Martel and France. Was his grandson Charlemagne?

There's an interesting paragraph in the excellent, if a bit bookish, A Military History of the Western World by J.F.C. Fuller about this battle:

But the real importance of the battle of Tours lies in quite another direction. It was not that Charles's victory saved western Europe from Arab rule, and, therefore, prevented the Koran from being taught at Oxford, but that it made Charles supreme in Gaul and enabled him to establish his dynasty. As H. Pirenne writes: "Without Islam the Frankish Empire would probably never have existed and Charlemagne, without Mahomet, would be inconceivable."

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 02/11/2015 at 17:20

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I was rather pleased with my obfuscation on that one.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > ttyymmnn 02/11/2015 at 17:53

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And thus we would not have modern France.

However, by the same flip, it would also be inconceivable to imagine European civilization (and by extension, Western Civilization) as it is today, without the influence of the Frankish Empire, and also the foundation that Christianity found in Europe.

ttyymmnn > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 02/11/2015 at 18:01

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I find Pirenne's commentary to be a bit sensational. Things would certainly be different today had the outcome been different, but empires don't last forever. It would be interesting, though, in a Star Trek parallel universe sort of way, to see how things would have been different. In reading about Hastings, so many things went William's way that for the lack of one stroke of luck the battle may have turned out quite differently. I'll have to go back and re-read the chapter about the Siege of Constantinople and the Battle of Tours. It's been a while.

desertdog5051 > ttyymmnn 02/11/2015 at 18:41

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3 of 5. Do I get a consolation prize?

ttyymmnn > desertdog5051 02/11/2015 at 18:45

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Your very own copy of J.F.C. Fuller's A Military History of Western Civilization.

desertdog5051 > ttyymmnn 02/11/2015 at 18:50

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Sounds like it could be as many pages as War & Peace.

ttyymmnn > desertdog5051 02/11/2015 at 19:03

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It's three volumes. Good stuff, though, if you're into that sort of thing.

desertdog5051 > ttyymmnn 02/11/2015 at 19:12

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It would take me a while to read. As I would do it sporadically. But I read when I will enjoy and absorb what is presented. I am a lover of history, so it would probably be of interest to me. Thanks. Noted in list of things to look for.

ttyymmnn > desertdog5051 02/11/2015 at 22:13

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I would also recommend anything written by American historian Barbara Tuchman. She's a great author, very approachable. Also, Stephen Ambrose. He's the author of D-Day , Citizen Soldiers , and Band of Brothers . And his account of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Undaunted Courage , is brilliant.

desertdog5051 > ttyymmnn 02/11/2015 at 22:18

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I am familiar with Ambrose. Some really great work. Tuchman, have not heard of. But will explore. Thanks.

ttyymmnn > desertdog5051 02/11/2015 at 22:35

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Tuchman is the author that got me hooked on history. I read T he March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam . It discusses how governments follow policies that they know to be counterproductive all the way to the bitter end. Her Guns of August deals with the lead up to WWI. She won the Pulitzer for that book. The First Salute , a book ostensibly about the American Revolution, takes its title from the first time an American ship sailed into a Dutch East Indies harbor and was recognized by an official cannon salute, marking the first time a foreign government recognized the sovereignty of the US. And, what I found to be her masterpiece, A Distant Mirror , which deals with the 14th century. A bit of a niche period, but one that fascinates me.

I can also recommend, without reservation, David McCullough's biography of John Adams. Absolutely brilliant. I have never read a book about a guy I would more like to sit down and have a beer and a pipe with. Walter Isaacson's biography of Benjamin Franklin is a close second.

And if you have any interest in the Vietnam War, I will recommend Once A Warrior King by David Donovan. Donovan was a young captain sent to Vietnam to be an adviser in a village and organize the local militia to fight the VC. It's a fascinating insight into the life of a soldier on the ground, as well as Vietnamese culture. Also, Chickenhawk , by Robert Mason. Mason was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam, and the book follows him through flight school and over to Vietnam where he flew troop transport helicopters, "slicks", into battle. A fantastic book, though it's been about 30 years since I read it.

Well, that should keep you reading for a while! This has been Reading Corner with ttyymmnn!

desertdog5051 > ttyymmnn 02/11/2015 at 22:50

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Thanks for the "Reading Corner". You have given me a BUNCH of stuff to write down for future perusing. "March of Folly" sounds like an interesting read. Unfortunately, there is way too much of that in history. Mankind does not learn well from the past.

I recently went to see "American Sniper". It made me think of the fact that we started this whole, convoluted thing based on a past President who made a statement that "That SOB tried to kill my dad". Jeez. Anyway, I drift on to other things. Sorry. Thanks for the suggestions.

ttyymmnn > desertdog5051 02/11/2015 at 22:52

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My pleasure!

desertdog5051 > ttyymmnn 02/11/2015 at 23:29

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One item I did not mention was your reference to "Once a Warrior King". I do read some Vietnam material. However, since I was only weeks away from being drafted in 1973 when the draft was ended. (Yes, I am that old. But I think you already figured that out). I have a few close friends that did serve during that era so my statements are not without some fact. Over 20% of the soldiers sent there became addicted to heroin or some other drug. Fragging of Lieutenants was a commonplace event due to military protocols. We fought a conflict in a WWII style that was was totally a new style of warfare. Guerrilla style war took us by surprise and pretty much sent us home. It all kind of soured me on military conflicts in my era.

I am sure things have not changed since long ago. They are just easier to read about when they take place in a period that you are not part of.

That said, I do enjoy history and observing how things were perceived and dealt with in the past. It is fascinating.