James H. Howard: The Only Fighter Pilot over Europe Awarded The Medal of Honor
In WWII the battle in the skies over Europe could be described as a brutal conflict of attrition, luck, and in some cases inexplicable gallantry. Allied…
Maurice Gamelin and the Fall of France 1940
The French Were Led by Maurice Gamelin At the start of the Second World War, the French general staff were led by General Maurice Gamelin,…
The Devastation of WWI Has Been Laid Bare In A Series Of Stunning Colorized Images
By Mark McConville Striking shots show soldiers sitting in a trench at the Battle of the Somme. They are checking on wounded or possible dead…
Over 1 Million pounds of Explosives Remain From The Mines At Messines- 20 Detonated, 5 Remain
In 1917, the world was engulfed in war. For the first time, the economics of industry had been applied to warfare on a huge scale.…
Real Heroes of Telemark – When Commandos Stopped the Nazis Nuclear Bomb Project
Nazi Germany invaded and occupied Norway in 1940. Though a relatively poor country (at the time) with only a population of about three million people, Norway had…
Four Great British doctors of WW1 – advances in weaponry inflicted incredible destruction upon fighting men
Success in war is as much about avoiding death as about inflicting it. In modern warfare, doctors, nurses and field medics are as vital to…
Upon the Recommendation of an Enemy Commander, Lt. Commander Gerard Roope was Awarded the Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is awarded by the British to gallant men due to them doing their worst upon their enemy. It is quite remarkable then…
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…
Shooting Down 7 Aircraft In One Day, This Marine Was Awarded The Medal Of Honor On His First Mission
Lieutenant James Swett wasn’t the only man to become an Ace in one day during the war and nor was he the only Ace to…
This Diminutive Welshman VC Captured 100 Germans and 500 yards of German Trenches
If the history of war proves one thing it is that the physical stature of a man has little to do with the gallantry they…
For Lt. Col. Merritt, WWII only lasted 6 Hours: But he was Awarded a Victoria Cross
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Merritt, who would one day go on to be a Victoria Cross recipient, spent three years in German captivity. However, by that point…
Operation Jericho – A Rescue Mission Which Turned Into A Bloodbath
Operation Jericho was an air raid conducted by the RAF with the goal of freeing the captives of the Nazi-held Amiens prison in France. The…