Sieges, Castles, Trenches and Fortresses – Great Moments in Military Engineering
The career of the military engineer may not have the glamor of the fighter pilot or samurai warrior, but throughout the history of warfare, battlefields…
Some of the Reasons for the French Military Disaster at Dien Bien Phu
Arrogance. Ignorance. Poor planning. These were the weapons with which French commanders fought the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and with which they ensured their…
Reasons World War I Became Inevitable
The First World War was a conflict of unprecedented scale and destructiveness. Though its impact was unexpected, the arrival of war itself was not. Though…
Battles Where the Terrain was Decisive
Whether used well by a skilled commander or ignored by a disastrous one, terrain can play a huge part in deciding the outcome of battles,…
The Equipment of the Samurai – Fearsome Warriors Armed to the Teeth
Samurai were the elite warriors of feudal Japan; as dominant as knights were in Europe. Their equipment was as much a display of their status…
Desperate Measures – Two Massive Lies That Shaped the Last Days of WWII
Propaganda played a huge part in WWII. Lies, distortions, and half-truths were spread by all sides to motivate the people and deceive the enemy. In…
These Innovations In Weapons Technology Came To Prominence In WWI, The First Fully-Industrialised War
WWI was the first fully industrialized war. Advances in technology and manufacturing brought whole new ways of killing onto the battlefield. Here are some of…
Frontier Fortresses Of The First World War
Fortresses seldom feature in images of 20th-century warfare. However, in WWI, where for three years the Western Front turned into extended siege lines, large forts…
Operation Torch – The American Landings at Algiers Marked A New Phase In WW2
On November 8, 1942, Allied forces launched Operation Torch. Primarily an American undertaking, it was the beginning of a new phase in WWII – one…
Six Times Hitler Refused to Face the Reality of his Military Situation
As Fuhrer of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler was Nazi Germany’s supreme military and political commander. Unfortunately, he could also be obstinate to the point…
In Feudal Japan, This Ambitious Warlord Rose To Blood-Soaked Victory, Then Was Betrayed
During the 16th century, Japan was politically fragmented. Warlords fought for control of local provinces. The weak government of the shogun could not maintain the…
General George S. Patton – one of the most brilliant commanders of WW2 but some would disagree
General George S. Patton was one of the most flamboyant, brilliant, and troublesome commanders of WWII. He argued with colleagues, offended allies, and assaulted his…