The BGB Challenge
Guide to Answers!
A: Emperor Hirohito (1901 – 1989) – Emperor of Japan during WWII, a god to his nation, accepted defeat of Japan 15 August 1945.
B. General John Bell Hood (1831-1879) distinguished general for the Confederacy during the American Civil War
C. Buffalo Bill Cody (1845 – 1917) Also known as William Frederick Cody. Fought in the Border War and became one of the most fearsome riders for the Pony Express. Operated with the 7th KA Cavalry from 1863 until he close of the American Civil War.
D. General Winfield Scott (1786 – 1866) Fought during the War of 1812 against the British, became Commander in Chief by 1841 of the US Armed Forces. Conducted the US war against Mexico. Ran as a Whig candidate for the Presidency of the US but lost in 1852.
E. Scipio Africanus (236 B.C. – 184 B.C.) Also known as Publius Cornelius Scipio. Most well known as the defeater of Hannibal, his career spanned the conquest of Spain, the opening of Africa and then serving as Princeps Senatus.
F. George Washington (1732 – 1799) Was a key general during the American Revolution, noted for being elected Commander-in-Chief in 1775 and conducting a harassment campaign against the British until, with the aid of the French, forced Cornwallis to surrender at Yorktown. Elected as the first President of the United States and taking oath in 1789.
G. Joseph Stalin (1879 – 1953) General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Reversed several key promises of the Bolshevik revolution (such as taking land from the peasants and forming collectives), engineered the murder of millions of people during his purges and other atrocities. Failed to believe Hitler would break the 1939 non-aggression pact he killed any General who would say otherwise and almost lost the whole country when Germany invaded in 1941.
H. Oliver Cromwell (1599 – 1658) Lord Protector of England. Led Civil War against the tyrant King Charles I. Made himself captain of the cavalry of the Roundhead Army. Defeating Charles, the new democracy under Parliament was short lived as he seized power and became Lord Protector.
I. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890 – 1969) Served with the U.S. Army under Pershing and MacArthur, was called by General Marshall to command the Allied Forces landing in North Africa. Was Supreme Commander on D-Day 1944. Elected President in 1952 under the slogan: “I Like Ike.”
J. Shaka Zulu (1758 –1828) The Peerless Leader of the Zulu clan. He found battle as his one safe bet for political growth, he fought for total annihilation of his enemies and developed the iKlwa weapon. He was so beloved he was buried in an empty grain pot, which was filled with stones upon his death.
K. Jean Parisot de La Valette (1494-1568) Grand Master of the "Knights Hospitallers of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem," the "Knights of Cyprus," "Knights of Rhodes" and "Knights of Malta," are now carrying on as "The Ancient and Illustrious Order of Knights of Malta," He successfully met the assaults of Turks, who laid siege to the Island of Malta from May 20 to September 18, 1565, with a force twenty times as great as the Knights. During the original BGB Challenge, no one got this one. The clue was the coat and the symbol in white on it. Malta was the last battle of the Crusades.
L. Kublai Khan (1215 – 1294) Mongol Emperor, founder of the Yuan Dynasty of China, grandfather of Jenghiz Khan (whom most challengers mistook him for). Suffered a disastrous defeat twice at the hands of the Japanese and inclement weather. He rebuilt the Grand Canal, repaired the public granieries, extended highways, fostered scholarship and arts and was generally tolerant of religion (excepts Taoism).
M. Ramses II (1304? B.C. – 1237 B.C.) Expanded Egypt into Nubia, strengthened against the Libyans and conquered Western Asia Minor. Found peace with the Hittites in 1283.
N. Count Otto von Bismarck (1815 - 1898) Also known as the Iron Chancellor, was the founder of The German Empire and was a master diplomat. He unified Germany.
O. Gebhard Leberecht von Blucher (1742 – 1819) Prussian Field Marshal and prince of Wahlstadt. Fought Napoleon in 1814 and though defeated, he did beat Marshal Marmont and entered Paris with the Allies. In the Waterloo campaign he commanded the Prussian army in Belgium and lost significantly to Napoleon at Ligny. Undaunted he managed to out maneuver Grouch and arrived in time at Waterloo to help decide the outcome for the Allies.
P. King George III (1738 – 1820) Led England from 1760 until his death. Saw the end of the Seven Years War with France and emerged as the greatest colonial power of Europe. Made a few bad decisions concerning taxes and fathered the United States.
Q. General Irwin Rommel (1891 – 1944) Also known as The Desert Fox, Irwin Rommel was one of Germany’s greatest generals during WWII. His books on Infantry and Armor tactics are still widely read. Commanded the 7th Panzer “Ghost” Division.
R. Julius Caesar (100 B.C. – 44 B.C.) Rome’s Greatest Emperor. Almost single-handedly destroyed Roman Republican Rule in 49 B.C. when he crossed the Rubicon with a single legion and began Civil War.
S. Robert E. Lee (1807 – 1870) General for the Confederacy and leader of the Army of Northern Virginia. Fought numerous campaigns for Southern independence until finally defeated and surrendered at Appomattox Court House in 1865.
T. Theodore Roosevelt (1858 – 1919) Assumed the Presidency of the United States upon the assassination of President McKinley, was a Lieutenant Colonel during the Spanish-American War of the Rough Rider Regiment which led a famous charge during the battle of San Juan. His favorite proverb was “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
U. Admiral Horatio Nelson (1758 – 1805) One of the most famous Admirals in history, he was victorious in many sea campaigns and was killed in battle at Trafalgar. “England expects that every man will do his duty.”
V. Oda Nobunaga (1534 – 1582) Was the first to attempt the total unification of Japan. He embraced European missionaries and became the first Japanese leader to appear in European histories. Just before completing his conquest of Japan he was assassinated.
W. Geronimo (1829 – 1909) Also known as Goyahlay (“one who yawns”). He fought for Apache independence and repeatedly escaped confinement and displacement to reservations. “I was born on the prairies where the wind blew free and there was nothing to break the light of the sun. I was born where there were no enclosures."
X. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 – 1821) “The Corsican Ogre” attempted world domination at the turn of the 19th century. He was decisively defeated at The Battle of Nations, exiled, escaped and defeated again at Waterloo.
Y. George Brinton McClellan (1826 – 1885) Brilliant commander of Union forces during the American Civil War, he was nicknamed “The Young Napoleon” though his record in battle was not nearly as favorable. He ran for President in 1864 and was defeated by Lincoln.
Z. Carl von Clausewitz (1780 – 1831) Brilliant Prussian Intellectual whose military writings on theories of warfare and strategy are unquestionably the most important written in his time.
The Bonus Questions
Bonus 1: Fokker D.VII Widely regarded as the best German aircraft of WWI, it was championed by Manfred von Richtofen. It apparently had the ability to make a good pilot out of a mediocre one. It entered service in 1918.
Bonus 2: Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche First prototype flight was in 1996, this aircraft has not yet entered service. It is expected to to participate in “Corps 04” field exercises in 2004. It is significantly faster and more deadly than the already fearsome AH-64 Apache.