A Race for Superiority – The Sources of Military Intelligence in World War Two
During the Second World War, military intelligence came into its own in a way it never had before. The increasing speed, scale, and complexity of…
The Battle of Issus: A Close Call in a Campaign of Conquest
In 333 BC, Alexander the Great defeated the Achaemenid King Darius III at the Battle of Issus. It was the beginning of the end for…
The most decorated Marine in United States history – Chesty Puller, American Hero
“Chesty” Puller is the most decorated Marine in United States history. Heroic service in Haiti, Nicaragua, the Second World War, and the Korean War earned…
13 Officials Who Hindered Britain’s Readiness for World War Two
In 1939, Britain was poorly prepared for war. Although some people in power had foreseen a conflict with Germany, others had not. For a range…
Learning the Luftwaffe’s Secrets: How Intelligence Gathering Shaped the Battle of Britain
In WWII the Battle of Britain was fought in the air. A victory was achieved through the skill and courage of the rightly revered fighter…
British Intelligence – Transforming Aerial Reconnaissance in World War Two
Like other European nations, the British discovered the value of photo-reconnaissance (PR) during the First World War. Seeing a new way to learn about the…
10 Facts – One of the most Fearsome Militaries of the Ancient World – Persia
Around 550 BC, the Persians rose to power in the Middle East. Having overthrown the last King of the Medes, Cyrus the Great of Persia…
7 Years, 100,700 Men – Napoleon’s Peninsular War in Numbers
The Peninsula War was one of the most drawn out and bloody of the Napoleonic Wars. Figures on the war help to shed light on…
Conrad Kyeser: The Leonardo da Vinci of War Machines
First published in 1405, Conrad Kyeser’s book Bellifortis was a guide to war at a turning point. He sought to shift the focus from chivalry…
The Oslo Report: How a German Scientist Gave Away Nazi Military Secrets and Why Britain Almost Ignored Him
Early in the Second World War, the British received a dossier of Nazi military secrets. The extraordinary contents had been sent at great personal risk…
The Roman Military Camp: How Each One Was Established, Run, and Left Behind
The military camp is one of the most iconic symbols of Roman martial prowess. The armies of Rome were not just made up of warriors.…
Nine Rules of the medieval Templar Knights
The Order of the Knights Templar was one of the most feared and powerful military institutions of the Middle Ages. Strict rules reinforced their courage,…