November 30, 1700 - 18-year old King Charles XII of Sweden (right) wins a stunning victory at Narva. Advancing east with 8,500 well-trained men after his defeat of the Danes, Charles sought lift the siege of Narva in Swedish-held Estonia. Though Duke Charles Eugène de Croy possessed 30,000-37,000 men outside the city, Charles was not to be denied and launched a massive assault on November 30. Using a blinding snowstorm as cover, the Swedish troops advanced to within 50 yards of the Russian lines before they were seen. Shattering Croy's lines, the Swedes defeated his army detail through the rest of the day. The Battle of Narva was one of the greatest victories in Swedish history and effectively destroyed the Russian army. Was there anything Croy could have done to prevent this disaster?

Photograph Source: Public Domain

November 27, 1942 - In response to Operation Lila, the French Navy scuttles its fleet at Toulon (right). Concentrated at Toulon after the Fall of France, the French fleet remained under the control of the Vichy French government as dictated by the 1940 armistice with Germany. Though undermanned and partially disarmed, the fleet largely remained operational under the commander Adm. Jean de Laborde. With the Allied landings in French North Africa in early November 1942, Hitler ordered the occupation of Vichy France and, secretly, the seizure of the fleet. Resisting Allied pleas to breakout and sail to North Africa, de Laborde stayed in port and remained loyal to the Vichy government. On November 27, the Germans launched Operation Lila to take Toulon and the ships. Delaying the Germans, the French proceeded to scuttle the majority of the ships - 77 in all. While the scuttling prevented use of the ships by the Axis, de Laborde was criticized for not trying to breakout and later tried for treason. Should de Laborde have attempted to reach North Africa? What type of impact would the addition of the French fleet had for the Allies?

Photograph Courtesy of the Library of Congress

November 26, 1944 - V-1 "buzz bombs" (right) and V-2 rockets strike at Antwerp, while a V-2 hits a Woolworth store in London. Initially proposed in 1939, the concept of a flying bomb was not embraced by the Luftwaffe until 1942. Quickly moved into development, the V-1 was powered by a pulse jet engine and carried a 1,870-lb. warhead. Ready for service in mid-1944, the first V-1 attacks on London began on June 13. Largely unguided, the V-1 earned the name "buzz bomb" due to the distinctive sound of its engine. Though the Allies quickly developed effective interception techniques, the V-1 threat was not ended until the launch sites were overrun by Allied troops. Had the concept been embraced earlier, could the V-1 have had a decisive impact on the war?

Photograph Courtesy of the US Air Force

November 23, 1914 - US forces depart Veracruz after a seven-month occupation. In the wake of the April 1914 Tampico Affair, Pres. Woodrow Wilson demanded that the government of Mexican usurper Gen. Victoriano Huerta offer a salute to the American flag. The latest in several Mexican-American issues, Wilson authorized the US Navy to occupy the port of Veracruz when his demands were not met and to block a shipment of arms. Landing on April 21, Marines and sailors from RAdm. Frank F. Fletcher's squadron seized the waterfront and engaged Mexican forces. Reinforced overnight, Fletcher occupied the entire city the next day. Remaining in place for seven months, American forces departed after mediation by Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Was the occupation of Veracruz a necessary action or an overreaction by the Wilson Administration?

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command