Modern | War History

Denholm Elliott Scored His First Acting Gigs While a Prisoner of War

Portrait of Denholm Elliott

Denholm Elliott was known for his versatile performances in numerous films and television shows. However, before he became a famous actor, he was a member…

Chuck Yeager: From WWII ‘Ace in a Day’ to Breaking the Sound Barrier

Chuck Yeager standing in front of an aircraft

Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager is widely regarded as one of the greatest aviators of the 20th century. Best known for being the first pilot to…

The ‘Rats of Tobruk’ Lived Underground During the Second World War

Soldier standing at the entrance of a cave used by the Rats of Tobruk

During the Second World War, a remarkable and brave group of Australian soldiers became known as the “Rats of Tobruk” for their tenacious defense of the…

These Nurses Had a Front Row Seat to the Battle of Monte Cassino

Two nurses and one soldier watching the fighting that occurred during the Battle of Monte Cassino

The Battle of Monte Cassino was fought between the Allies and Germans in the historic Monte Cassino Abbey, at the entrance to the Rapido and…

A US Marine Rescued a Kitten That Survived the Fighting at Bunker Hill

Frank Praytor feeding an orphaned kitten with a dropper following the fighting at Bunker Hill

Amid the chaos and devastation that defined the Korean War, a small glimmer of hope emerged in the form of an orphaned kitten rescued from…

The Controversial Phoenix Program Was Created to Obliterate the Viet Cong

US Army Special Forces members and South Vietnamese soldiers crouching in the jungle

The Vietnam War was arguably the most controversial conflict of the 20th century. One of the most contentious aspects of the war was the Phoenix…

The Dramatic Arrival of the German U-boat SM U-118 On a British Beach

Crowd gathered around the beached SM U-118

In the aftermath of the First World War, a remarkable event unfolded in Britain, causing a stir among military and civilian circles: the unexpected arrival…

Cargo from German Ship Sunk During WWII Washing Up On American Beaches

Remnants of a sunken ship on the ocean floor

Several tons of cargo went down with German ships that were sunk by enemy action or intentionally scuttled during the Second World War. Rarely, however,…

The Ingenious Reason Farmers Painted Stripes On Their Cows During the Blitz

Woman painting white stripes on her cow during the Blitz

While facing the Blitz during World War II, British farmers resorted to an unusual and creative tactic to protect their livestock and the public from…

Charles Robert Jenkins Defected to North Korea Because He Didn’t Want to Serve in Vietnam – He Was Held for 39 Years

Charles Robert Jenkins sat in front of a US Army officer at a table

Charles Robert Jenkins was an American soldier who defected to North Korea in 1965. Contrary to what it may seem, his plan was never to…

Philip Toosey Served As the Inspiration for Lt. Col. Nicholson In ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’

Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa as Lt. Col. Nicholson and Col. Saito in 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' + Military portrait of Philip Toosey

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) was a sensational film so well-received that it earned several Academy Awards. What most people don’t realize is…

Henschel Hs 129 :The Luftwaffe’s Soaring Tank Buster Armed With a 75 mm Cannon

Sky at sunrise + Drawing of a Henschel Hs 129

As tank warfare evolved and became a key strategy during the interwar period, the German Wehrmacht envisioned a new kind of blitzkrieg – one that…