Shahan Russell

Shahan Russell is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by Shahan Russell:

Canadian Fighter Pilot in WWI Ordered to Go Back to Flight School. He didn’t. Instead, He Went on To Shoot Down 72 Enemy Aircraft

Air Marshal William Avery “Billy” Bishop was a Canadian fighter pilot in WWI who crashed his plane during a practice run and was ordered to…

Before Calling it a Night: The One Man Demolition Squad Destroyed, With Grenades, Six Enemy machine guns posts

Thomas Currie “Diver” Derrick wasn’t among the first to join the Australian military when WWII broke out in 1939. When he finally did join the…

America’s Secret Weapon – used only once in WWII

It is not always superior weapons, numbers, or tactics that win battles. In this case, of all things, it was potatoes! After the Japanese had…

Total Hypocrisy: Awarded the Medal of Honor For Bravery Whilst His Country Locked up His Family in an Interment Camp

George “Joe” Taro Sakato is a second-generation-born American of Japanese descent, which was why his family had to relocate during WWII. Despite this, he joined…

The Most Decorated Pacifist Of WWI: Stormed German Machine Gun Nests, Taking 35 Machine Guns, Silencing 25 German Troops & Captured 132

He was a deeply religious man who abhorred violence and warfare. Despite that, he went on to become the most decorated veteran of WWI. Alvin…

“Mr Immortal” Jacklyn H. Lucas was Awarded the MoH age 17 – Used His Body To Shield His Squad From Two Grenades

When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, many Americans were understandably enraged. One person was so enraged, in fact, he fought the US military for the right…

Audie Leon Murphy: WW2 Two Hero, Medal of Honor Recipient & Hollywood Mega-Star

Some people are so amazing it is hard to believe they are real. One such man started out in the real world, moved on to…

In 1914, A Soldiers Average Height Was 5’2” & Canadian Troops Had The Highest Rates Of Venereal Disease

World War I was fought from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918. Because many of the combatants had colonies and alliances beyond the continent, it…

The Female Allied Spy Was Condemned To Death By The Germans – In The End They Gave Her The Iron Cross

During WWI, the German government condemned a woman to death for spying on them. Fortunately for her, they commuted her sentence when they realized they…

Hans Joachim Marseille, Anti Nazi & One Of The Most Amazing Fighter Pilots Of WWII

He was among Germany’s most accomplished flying Aces during WWII – though he hated killing. His success was valuable propaganda for the Nazis – yet…

How Climate Change Helped the Swedes March Across A Frozen Sea And Defeat The Danes

It all started in 1655 during the Second Northern War. Sweden was fighting against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia, Brandenburg-Prussia, the Habsburg Monarchy, Denmark-Norway, and sometimes,…

The British POW Who Was Given Permission To Visit His Dying Mother – He Returned To Camp Voluntarily Only To Dig A Tunnel And Escape

In WWI the German Empire was on the rampage. Europe has always existed through a complex network of alliances. When Germany united in 1871, it…