Limited war facts for kids

A limited war is a type of war where a country uses only some of its power and resources. The goal is usually not to completely destroy the enemy. Often, countries choose limited wars because a "total war" would be too expensive or risky. In a limited war, the survival of the country itself is usually not at stake.

For example, when the Roman leader Augustus sent his armies to fight in Germania, the future of the Roman Republic wasn't in danger. Since World War II and the invention of nuclear weapons, limited wars have become more common. The United States has been involved in many limited wars, like the Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, and 2003 invasion of Iraq.

One main goal in a limited war is often to protect a country's freedom or to keep itself safe. Sometimes, a weaker side might try to make the war last a very long time. This can make the stronger enemy get tired and eventually give up. This strategy worked for George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. Even though the British Army was the strongest at the time, the war went on until Britain got tired of spending so many resources. Today, groups like the Taliban use this tactic to try and wear out their enemies.

Why Limited Wars Can Be Tricky

Limited wars don't always work out as planned. From ancient times to today, they often haven't achieved the desired results. This can be confusing for military leaders, who are usually taught to win at any cost.

Leaders sometimes choose a limited war when they have to pick between fighting a total war or doing nothing at all. However, doing nothing can also be dangerous. For instance, when world powers did little to stop Adolf Hitler, he kept invading weaker countries. Eventually, a world war was the only way to stop him.

“In war, there is only one tactical principle which is not subject to change. It is to use the means at hand to inflict the maximum amount of wound, death, and destruction on the enemy, in the minimum amount of time.” General George S. Patton.

Famous Examples of Limited Wars

The idea of limited war isn't new. A military thinker named Carl von Clausewitz (who lived from 1780 to 1831) wrote about two types of war. One type aims to completely destroy the enemy. The second type is limited war, which happens when one side can't completely defeat the other. Big wars like the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815), World War I (1914-1919), and World War II (1939-1945) are considered total wars. A war is limited if it's restricted by things like where it's fought, the resources used, the goals, or if the countries involved intentionally limit it.

The Crimean War (1853–1856)

The Crimean War was fought between Russia on one side, and France, the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the Ottoman Empire on the other. This was a limited war, mainly because of its geography. In 1854, the allies invaded the Crimea to protect the Ottoman Empire from Russia. Britain used its powerful ships to control the sea. In 1855, the allies captured Sevastopol. However, they didn't have enough soldiers to take over the entire Crimean Peninsula. Russia, on the other hand, ran out of money and couldn't keep fighting. So, Alexander II of Russia agreed to peace, and the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1856.

The Falklands War (1982)

The Falklands War is another example of a limited war. It was limited by where it was fought, how long it lasted, and the resources used. After a long argument with the United Kingdom over who owned them, Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982. By June 14, 1982, the Argentine forces on the islands surrendered. The British declared the war over on June 20. Even though the war ended, Argentina still claims the Falklands and other nearby islands.

The Vietnam War (1955–1975)

The Vietnam War was fought between North Vietnam and South Vietnam. North Vietnam was supported by the Soviet Union, China, and North Korea. South Vietnam was supported by the United States, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. This conflict was part of the Cold War, where communist and capitalist countries fought indirectly.

At first, American leaders didn't see the Vietnam War as a limited war. They focused on fighting against guerrilla forces and thought military actions and political changes would solve the problem. The U.S. began by sending military advisors to help train the South Vietnamese Army. After the Gulf of Tonkin resolution, the President of the United States was given the power to run large military operations in Southeast Asia without officially declaring war.

After 58,193 American soldiers died in Vietnam, President Richard Nixon decided to pull out. Under the Paris Peace Accords, signed on January 27, 1973, U.S. military forces left South Vietnam, and prisoners were exchanged. On April 30, 1975, Saigon fell to the North Vietnamese, and the war ended.

See also

In Spanish: Guerra limitada para niños