There's no single "most violent army" as violence is subjective and measured differently (atrocities, casualties in battles, civilian impact), but historically, the Nazi German Wehrmacht/SS, the Imperial Japanese Army, the Soviet Red Army, and the Mongol Empire's armies are often cited for immense scale of death, destruction, and atrocities, with specific units like the Dirlewanger Brigade (Nazi Germany) notorious for extreme brutality, and Myanmar's military (Tatmadaw) known for recent atrocities against civilians.
Which Armies Were Historically the Most Feared?
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan, born Temujin in 1162, founded the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history. His military campaigns were marked by their speed, brutality, and strategic brilliance.
10 of the Best Special Forces in the World
WW2 soldiers carried condoms primarily for disease prevention (STDs like syphilis and gonorrhea) and for practical combat uses, such as keeping sand and mud out of their rifle barrels, protecting small items, or even as makeshift waterproof bags, although the weapon-protection use is sometimes exaggerated in popular culture. The military distributed them widely (often in "prophylactic kits") to maintain troop strength, recognizing the significant manpower lost to venereal diseases in past conflicts.
Neither SAS nor SBS is definitively "more elite"; they are equally elite but specialized, with the SAS focusing on land/air and the SBS on maritime/amphibious roles, both part of the UK's UK Special Forces (UKSF) and sharing the same rigorous Joint Special Forces Selection process, with SBS adding extra maritime training like swimmer-canoeist skills. Think of them as the Army's and Navy's top-tier counterparts within the same elite special forces framework.
Ranked: The Baddest Special Forces in the World
Adrian Carton de Wiart is often called the toughest soldier who ever lived, and his record reads like something out of fiction. Born in 1880, he fought in the Boer War, World War I, and World War II, serving everywhere from Somaliland to the Western Front.
1. Muhammad Ali (56-5) No one can objectively overlook the prowess of one of the best boxers ever, Muhammad “The Greatest” Ali. Not only was he a three-time heavyweight champ, but he was also an Olympic Gold medalist.
Murphy earned 33 awards, citations and decorations, including all possible medals of valor from the U.S., as well as three French and one Belgian medal. He is still widely known to be the most-decorated U.S. soldier of all time. Murphy received the Medal of Honor from Army Lt.
The Mongol Army
The Mongols were basically an unstoppable force that emerged seemingly out of nowhere to dominate the Middle East, China, and Russia. Mongol success boiled down to the many strategies and tactics employed by Genghis Khan, who founded the Mongol Empire.
The question is WHO, not what, the German military feared the most in World War Two. The answer was given by Adolf Hitler himself, in 1942 (and he was following declarations from several of his own generals and marshals). There were two: the Russians and the Canadians.
In antiquity, no one stands taller than Alexander the Great - the young military genius who never once lost a battle and established a vast empire that heralded a new historical era.
The U.S. continues to dominate as the world's most powerful military. With a budget nearing $900 billion, it invests heavily in advanced warfare systems, from cyber capabilities to space defense. It fields the largest air force globally with over 13,000 aircraft, including stealth fighters like the F-22 and F-35.
China has the most powerful military as compared to any other country in the world, securing 82 out of an aggregate of 100 points in the record. China succeeded in a sea war with a total of 406 ships, with Russia possessing an aggregate of 278 ships and India with only 202 ships in total.
The SAS is a secret organisation. Its members often do not tell anyone except close family that they are in it.
A powerful mindset to carry is the Navy SEALs 40% Rule: When your mind says you're done, you're only actuallly about 40% done. Physical injuries aside, our bodies are often far stronger than we think - the mind usually quits first, acting as a protective barrier rather than reflecting true limits.
'Bad' girls have always known how to look after themselves. Barrier methods were always very popular. A halved, emptied lemon skin placed over the cervix worked well, for example, as did sponges soaked in natural spermicides such as vinegar.
By the end of the war, approximately 7,000 of the 10,500 SIS staff were female. These women on the home front contributed to the Allied victory by successfully breaking codes and deciphering enemy messages. The women cryptologists were held to strict secrecy and would become one of the best-kept secrets of WWII.
The Bible literally has zero to say on condoms.