History | War History

Smedley Butler Had an Incredible Career in the US Marine Corps

Todd Neikirk
Smedley Butler sitting in a chair

Smedley Butler was born into privilege, but decided to fight for his country when he was just a teen. He became one of America’s most…

Things People Get Wrong About the Boston Tea Party

Todd Neikirk
Artist's depiction of the Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party is one of the most famous events in American history. However, it has become difficult to separate mythology from fact, like…

The Contentious History of Russia-Ukraine Relations

Protestor in Ukraine holding up a protest sign + Russian soldiers lined up

The history of Russia-Ukraine relations is a contentious one. The pair’s relationship dates back long before the creation of the Soviet Union and has continued…

Racial Tensions and the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943

American sailors and Marines armed with sticks during the Zoot Suit Riots

California is one of America’s largest states and also one of the most unique. During the 1940s, it had a culture all its own and…

John F. Kennedy’s First Casket Was Buried At Sea

Clare Fitzgerald
John F. Kennedy smiling + Honor Guards watching over John F. Kennedy's flag-draped coffin

The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, is one of the most discussed events in the history of American…

The Most Feared Warriors In Military History

Portrait of a Samurai + Gurkhas standing together outside while in uniform

Wars have been fought for various reasons over history, with individuals from all walks of life fighting for their own causes. Some fighters have been…

The 5 Most Unusual Military Units in History

A Gurkha soldier brandishes a Kukri Knife

On the battlefield, any sort of edge can determine who wins and loses. Over time, countries and their militaries have attempted to throw off opponents…

This Greek Priest Saved 27,000 Greek Jews from Deportation

Archbishop Damaskinos Papandreou

Damaskinos Papandreou was the Archbishop of Athens from 1941 to 1949. This position made him the highest-ranking priest in Greece, which was under German occupation…

The Sinking of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff Is The Single Largest Maritime Disaster In History

MV Wilhelm Gustloff

In January 1945 a German transport ship carrying thousands of civilian refugees from northern Europe was sunk in the Baltic Sea. She was torpedoed by…

We Have the US Army to Thank for the McDonald’s Drive-Through

Exterior of a McDonald's restaurant + US Army soldiers in fatigues

It’s hard to imagine a time when we couldn’t drive up to our favorite fast food restaurant and order from the comfort of our cars.…

The First Successful Drone Strike Occurred in 1944

A TD-1

One of the longest-running missions that have continued throughout warfare is finding ways to reduce human involvement in conflicts. Today, drones have enabled this goal…

FG-42: The ‘Fallschirmjäger 42’ German Paratrooper Rifle

FG 42 Automatic Rifle

The FG 42 was a powerful automatic rifle developed by the Germans during WWII and served in a similar role to the Browning Automatic Rifle…