I just read a book where instead of going to war a government send an assassin.
So, instead of millions who would have got maimed, murdered, or worse, only two people die. The ruler and the assassin.
On the one hand I can understand it. The ruler is in his bunker while millions die.
Go back a few centuries and it was demanded, that for instance a captain marched in front of his unit and when they made the firing line, he stood in line with his men. So he had the same chance to die as his men. And in some instances the ruler (Napoleon, Frederick the Great, Gustav of Sweden etc, were not only marching in front of the men, in some instances they attacked the enemy with their men.)
So, just a few ideas: (I mention a few possible reasons for doing so. There may be others so feel free to think of alternative reasons.)
1902: While their families die, the Boers decide to send assassins to London. Target: The british prime minister and Queen Victoria. As they are in the chain of command they are legitimate military targets.
(Yes, I know that because of marriages GB was connected to Germany, Russia, etc and the Boers would have shot themselves in the foot - to put it mildly - if they went after Queen Victoria, but if the British dont care about dying Boer women and children - then they want to end the war as fast as possible. Take the Queen as hostage or kidnap her to force her to sign a message ending the war and force GB to withdraw from Boer territory, but if this is not feasible, kill her in revenge for the dead and dying relatives.)
1914: The various rulers sent assassins after each other. Germany after certain russian nobles who pressured Russia to go against Germany, Britain against Austo-Hungarys Emperor because he started it all etc.
1919: According to articles in the german magazine SPIEGEL about Versailles, the Germans saw the behaviour of US President Woodrow Wilson as betrayal of the 14 Points. And Clemenceau was known for his hatred against everything german. So, the German delegation tells Wilson he is a betrayer and shoot him and Clemenceau.
Or if they are not killed and Germany signs the Treaty, instead of killing Matthias Erzberger, Walther Rathenau and the attempt on Philipp Scheidemann, Organization Consul tries to kill the three allied leaders later on the reasons mentioned above. (In case of Lloyd George, the british were always about balance and by supporting France they broke the rule of balance.)
1939: Instead of WWII Winston Churchill reacts favourable to Mussolinis attempt at a second Munich summit.
As soon as he is close to Hitler he blows himself up with the pounds of explosives hidden in his clothes.
1939-1945: Each sides sends assassins after the enemy leadership. (GB does send assassins not only after Heydrich but all the other Nazis too.)
All the other states do it too. For instance the Japanese send assassins after the US President instead Pearl Harbour. (Just imagine they would revive the Ninja to do so. Yes, all officers of Japan were or considered themselves samurai but samurai did hire ninjas. And yes, I know that we today have a very overblown opinion about ninjas.)
Angered at the Navicert system a country which lost a ship to it sends an assassin (maybe disguised as a diplomat) to London to voice their displeasure.
The same is done when GB occupies Iceland.
So, instead of millions who would have got maimed, murdered, or worse, only two people die. The ruler and the assassin.
On the one hand I can understand it. The ruler is in his bunker while millions die.
Go back a few centuries and it was demanded, that for instance a captain marched in front of his unit and when they made the firing line, he stood in line with his men. So he had the same chance to die as his men. And in some instances the ruler (Napoleon, Frederick the Great, Gustav of Sweden etc, were not only marching in front of the men, in some instances they attacked the enemy with their men.)
So, just a few ideas: (I mention a few possible reasons for doing so. There may be others so feel free to think of alternative reasons.)
1902: While their families die, the Boers decide to send assassins to London. Target: The british prime minister and Queen Victoria. As they are in the chain of command they are legitimate military targets.
(Yes, I know that because of marriages GB was connected to Germany, Russia, etc and the Boers would have shot themselves in the foot - to put it mildly - if they went after Queen Victoria, but if the British dont care about dying Boer women and children - then they want to end the war as fast as possible. Take the Queen as hostage or kidnap her to force her to sign a message ending the war and force GB to withdraw from Boer territory, but if this is not feasible, kill her in revenge for the dead and dying relatives.)
1914: The various rulers sent assassins after each other. Germany after certain russian nobles who pressured Russia to go against Germany, Britain against Austo-Hungarys Emperor because he started it all etc.
1919: According to articles in the german magazine SPIEGEL about Versailles, the Germans saw the behaviour of US President Woodrow Wilson as betrayal of the 14 Points. And Clemenceau was known for his hatred against everything german. So, the German delegation tells Wilson he is a betrayer and shoot him and Clemenceau.
Or if they are not killed and Germany signs the Treaty, instead of killing Matthias Erzberger, Walther Rathenau and the attempt on Philipp Scheidemann, Organization Consul tries to kill the three allied leaders later on the reasons mentioned above. (In case of Lloyd George, the british were always about balance and by supporting France they broke the rule of balance.)
1939: Instead of WWII Winston Churchill reacts favourable to Mussolinis attempt at a second Munich summit.
As soon as he is close to Hitler he blows himself up with the pounds of explosives hidden in his clothes.
1939-1945: Each sides sends assassins after the enemy leadership. (GB does send assassins not only after Heydrich but all the other Nazis too.)
All the other states do it too. For instance the Japanese send assassins after the US President instead Pearl Harbour. (Just imagine they would revive the Ninja to do so. Yes, all officers of Japan were or considered themselves samurai but samurai did hire ninjas. And yes, I know that we today have a very overblown opinion about ninjas.)
Angered at the Navicert system a country which lost a ship to it sends an assassin (maybe disguised as a diplomat) to London to voice their displeasure.
The same is done when GB occupies Iceland.
