11. The Great Emu War
In 1932, Australia waged an unconventional ‘war’ against emus, large flightless birds that were damaging crops in Western Australia. Armed with machine guns, soldiers attempted to cull the emu population but faced unexpected challenges. The emus’ speed and agility rendered the military efforts largely ineffective, leading to public ridicule and the eventual withdrawal of troops. This episode highlights the difficulties armies face in unconventional combat—even against wildlife. (britannica.com)
