When an Army Fought Itself by Mistake

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]What happens when confusion takes over an entire army?

[00:00:03]In 1788, during the Austro-Turkish War, the Austrian army encamped near Karansebes [music] in modern Romania. A group of scouts bought schnapps from local traders, soon leading to a drunken quarrel. Suddenly, gunfire and panic erupted as soldiers mistook their own men for Turkish attackers. The chaos spread, with cavalry charging infantry and units firing blindly. By dawn, hundreds were dead or wounded, all before the enemy even arrived.

[00:00:31]The Battle of Karansebes stands as history's most disastrous friendly fire incident.