Part 7/12:
In 1839, the British Empire, driven by an arrogant desire for dominance in Central Asia, invaded Afghanistan under questionable motives. After ousting the reigning ruler, the British established a puppet regime that quickly proved unpopular. Underestimating local resistance, the British reduced their troop numbers and soon found themselves besieged in Kabul.
In January 1842, a disastrous retreat ensued under Major General William Elphinstone's shaky leadership. The British column, comprising 16,500 people, was cut down by the harsh winter and relentless Afghan attacks. From this calamitous retreat, only one European survived to tell the tale, making this one of the most humiliating defeats in British military history.