Cold War | War History

How the Baneberry Test Disaster Changed Underground Nuclear Testing

Sign warning of radiation in a desert area

In the early morning of December 18, 1970, a nuclear bomb was lowered 900 feet underground at the US military’s Nevada Test Site. The bomb…

Atomic Annie: The Cold War-Era Cannon Capable of Firing a Nuclear Warhead

Mushroom cloud + M65 atomic cannon parked on grass

Toward the start of the Cold War, the United States government looked into developing atomic weapons capable of launching an attack on the Soviet Union,…

The Secret Military Plans Switzerland Put In Place to Survive the Cold War

Todd Neikirk
View of the Bad Seckingen covered bridge

Switzerland has long been considered one of the most neutral countries in the world, having always endeavored to avoid war. That resistance to conflict, however,…

A Shark Wreaked Havoc on the US Navy’s Nuclear Submarine Fleet

USS Florida (SSGN-728) at sea + Cookiecutter shark

There are a number of reasons why submarines have been taken out of commission while scouring the depths of the ocean. These include hitting sea…

Able Archer 83: The NATO Exercise That Nearly Sparked Nuclear War

Clare Fitzgerald
NATO members standing in front of a missile launcher

NATO has always been a topic of contention between the west and Russia. This was especially true during the Cold War, when there were fears…

Kwajalein Atoll: A Pivotal US Army Victory During the Second World War

American troops standing among debris and damage

The Kwajalein Atoll is a ring-shaped coral formation in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The largest and southernmost island in the atoll is Kwajalein,…

The Medal of Honor Recipient Who Shot Someone He Accused of Being a Communist Spy

Arthur Jackson shaking hands with President Harry Truman

Arthur Jackson enlisted in the US Marine Corps when he was only 18 years old. He quickly became a super soldier, earning both the Purple…

A B-52 Bomber Fire Almost Caused a Chernobyl-Like Incident in North Dakota

Clare Fitzgerald
B-52 Stratofortress in flight + Mushroom cloud

It might come as a surprise to some, but the United States came close to nuclear disaster more than once during the Cold War. The…

Panzerfaust 3: Germany’s Modern Tank-Piercing Grenade Launcher

Germany Army Cpl. Vadim Ganshi aiming a Panzerfaust 3 + Photo of a Panzerfaust 3

The lightweight and portable Panzerfaust 3 has been in the news as of late due to its use in the ongoing conflict between Russia and…

8 Fierce Historical Military Figures Most People Haven’t Heard About

Portrait of Francis Pegahmagabow + Stanislav Petrov sitting in his apartment + Lyudmila Pavlichenko holding a sniper rifle

History is filled with so many fierce fighters that it’s not surprising some have been largely forgotten following their service. Here are eight of the…

A B-52 Stratofortress Once Crashed in North Carolina, Dropping Two Nuclear Bombs

Clare Fitzgerald
Firefighters standing around the smouldering wreckage of the B-52 Stratofortress

The Cold War was a time of uncertainty across the world, particularly in the United States, where the majority of the population feared a nuclear…

Gail Halvorsen Dropped Candy Over Berlin During the Soviet Blockade In 1948-49

Clare Fitzgerald
Gail Halvorsen standing among a crowd of children

The Soviet blockade of Berlin in 1948-49 was a tough time for those living in the German capital. The United States was among the Allied…