Night Witches – Soviet Female Flying Aces Who Struck Terror Into the Hearts of the German Wehrmacht
In 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. Because of their superior technology and their rapid success in taking territory, the Germans had expected a quick…
Horrifying, Tragic, Inspirational – How the Nazis Destroyed Lidice and the World Preserved its Memory
In June 1942, the Nazi German occupiers of Czechoslovakia destroyed the mining village of Lidice. It was wiped off the map so completely that even…
A Fatal Failing Of Intelligent Leadership in the Vietnam War – The Battle Of Lima Site 85
There is a remote mountaintop in north-eastern Laos called Phou Phathi, and the locals said it was a place where phi, or spirits, lived. By…
Hanns Scharff – Nazi Germany’s POW “Master Interrogator” Who Used Kindness Not Brutality
The Nazis had a “Master Interrogator” who was so good at getting information out of prisoners that he became a legend. His methods were so…
Rudolph Hess: The Nazi Who Flew to Britain in 1941 to try to Make a Peace Deal
Rudolf Walter Richard Hess was born on April 26, 1894, in Alexandria, Egypt to a wealthy family of Bavarian merchants. At 14, he was sent…
Pilot Ed Freeman: Awarded the MOH for service at the Battle of Ia Drang Valley
Flying his helicopter over 14 times into a hot landing zone, Pilot Ed Freeman earned the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Ia Drang…
SS Battlegroup Commander Otto Weidinger
Background and Training In 1934, the 20-year-old Otto Weidinger joined the Allgemeine branch of the SS. Showing potential as a leader, he was sent for…
Frank Luke, Medal of Honor Recipient – The “Arizona Balloon Buster”
People might not think shooting a balloon out of the sky is a substantial feat for a fighter pilot. But surround that balloon with enemy…
The Youngest (Confirmed) British Soldier of World War One
In 1998 Richard van Emden’s book, Veterans: the Last Survivors of the Great War was published. Later it became the basis of a 2009 television documentary.…
Hans-Ulrich Rudel – The Flying Tank Buster Who Flew More Than 2,000 Missions And Killed Over 500 Tanks
Hans-Ulrich Rudel was shot down 30 times during his 2,530 missions. He destroyed one battleship, one cruiser, one destroyer, 70 landing craft, 800 vehicles, 150…
When 20 Canadian Prisoners Were Murdered By The Waffen SS In Normandy – The Ardenne Abbey Massacre
In the early days of the Normandy campaign 20 Canadian soldiers, members of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and 27th Armoured Regiment (part of the…
In WWII, A Stranded Dutch Warship Disguised Itself As An Island To Evade Japanese Bombers
The Netherlands officially surrendered on May 15th, 1940. However, its Navy continued the fight. Part of the navy was deployed in the Dutch East Indies…