Lawrence of Arabia – one of the most mythologised officers in modern military history
Thomas Edward Lawrence is one of the most mythologised officers in modern history. A biography by a journalist, his own writings, and a film about…
Otto Skorzeny: Hitler’s Elite SS Commando Leader of World War Two
In September 1943, Hitler sent SS commandoes to rescue his ally Mussolini from the new Italian government. For the man leading the raid, Otto Skorzeny,…
Thinking Outside the Box – Some Of The Greatest Mavericks Of Military History
Some commanders achieve exceptional results by following the rules and sticking with the normal approach. Others achieve greatness through innovation and outlandishness. These are some…
How Napoleon Bonaparte Changed His World, And Ours
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most influential figures in European history. Two hundred years after his short-lived Empire collapsed, the world continues to be…
The Culper Ring: America’s First Spy Ring
Organized during the height of the Revolutionary War, the Culper Ring was created by General George Washington. It was set up to send messages regarding the…
“The Unbreakable Tiger” – Korean War POW Was A Guardian Angel For Father Emil Kapaun
War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Staff Sgt. Ken Scar. U.S. Army 1st Lt. William Funchess watched from the other bank as…
The Napoleonic Wars – An Age Of Mighty Ships Of War
Navies were crucial to the Napoleonic Wars. In the days before rail, ocean transport was vital to the trading economies of the European powers. Naval…
The Perfect, Unkillable Soldier – He Fought In Wars For Almost Fifty Years
Some men have no fear of death, while others have no fear of personal injury. One man snubbed his nose at both, which was why…
Some Of The Most Disastrous Leadership In Military History
There are few figures more inspiring than a great commander and few disasters worse than putting the wrong man in charge. Publius Quintilius Varus A…
The History Of Dog Tags – A Feature Of Warfare Since Before The First World War
Dog tags have a simple purpose; they exist to identify people. The term “dog tag” is informal, but it is the nickname for those two pieces…
Heinze And Reinhard Heydrich – A Tale Of Two Brothers Who Went Different Ways In WW2
In 1918 two teenage brothers posed for a photograph. The older brother has his arm protectively around the younger one. They are Heinze and Reinhard…
The Unknown History of US Coast Guard Intelligence Operations
History often overlooks the Coast Guard’s role as an intelligence-gathering operation. This small service, with its unique combination of military, law enforcement, and humanitarian missions…