Rudolf Witzig: Commander of the Eben Emael Fortress Attack
Few men can say that, at the age of 23, they led an attack of historical significance. That is exactly what happened to Rudolf Witzig,…
Horrifying, Tragic, Inspirational – How the Nazis Destroyed Lidice and the World Preserved its Memory
In June 1942, the Nazi German occupiers of Czechoslovakia destroyed the mining village of Lidice. It was wiped off the map so completely that even…
“The Great Army” – The Vikings at Their Peak
The most powerful and devastating series of Vikings raids to hit Western Europe came between 865 and 896 AD. During these decades, a massive combined…
Hastings and Beyond: The Norman Conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England was more than just the Battle of Hastings. To secure his new country, William the Conqueror had to gain control…
The Battle Against the Cathars – Terrible Times in Medieval Europe
Some crusades were fought against fellow Christians. The Cathars, one of the inspirations behind Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code, were the targets of one…
SS Battlegroup Commander Otto Weidinger
Background and Training In 1934, the 20-year-old Otto Weidinger joined the Allgemeine branch of the SS. Showing potential as a leader, he was sent for…
The Vikings and The Franks – Brutal Conflict in Early Europe
Two great military forces dominated Europe in the 9th century. On the mainland was the Frankish Empire, a kingdom covering modern France and much of…
Warrior Clans From The Bloody History Of The Japanese Samurai
Through centuries of warfare and intrigue, the great samurai clans grappled for control of Japan. Here are some of the most important of those noble…
Napoleon In The War For The Spanish Peninsula: A Massive Operation
The war for the Spanish Peninsula in 1807-14, was as draining to Napoleon’s military efforts as Russia was disastrous. It featured many different styles of…
Eleven Of The Greatest Samurai Battles Of History
For hundreds of years, noble samurai warriors dominated warfare in Japan. Here are some of their most significant battles. Ichi-no-Tani, 1184 In 1184, the Taira…
How Hitler Transformed the German Officer Corps Before and During WWII
As leader of Germany, Hitler transformed the officer corps. It brought fresh blood into the army. It also created problems, some of which eventually led…
World War One – The Early Years of Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel is rightly remembered as one of the most gifted commanders of WWII, but one of his finest achievements took place 20 years before,…