2. The Battle of Karansebes (Austria, 1788)
In September 1788, during the Austro-Turkish War, the Austrian army, numbering around 100,000 soldiers, camped near the town of Karánsebes (now Caransebeș, Romania). Seeking to scout for Ottoman forces, a contingent of hussars crossed the Timiș River and encountered a group of Romani people selling schnapps. After drinking, a dispute arose with infantrymen over the alcohol, escalating into a brawl. Amid the chaos, a shot was fired, leading to widespread panic. Soldiers, unable to distinguish friend from foe in the darkness, began firing upon each other. The confusion was further exacerbated when some soldiers shouted “Turks! Turks!” and German officers ordered “Halt!”—commands misinterpreted by non-German speakers as “Allah! Allah!” The ensuing friendly fire resulted in significant casualties, with estimates ranging from 150 to 10,000 killed or wounded. By the time the Ottoman forces arrived days later, they found the town undefended and easily captured it. This incident has been referred to as “history’s worst friendly fire incident.” (en.wikipedia.org)
