Why the Battle of Ortona Was Nicknamed the ‘Italian Stalingrad’
While initially intended to be a super power on the Axis side during World War II, Italy wound up playing a smaller role in the…
The Battle of Castle Itter Saw Germans Team Up with the American Forces
The Allies fought fiercely against the Germans in both World War I and II. By the end of the Second World War, some Germans were…
Were There German Spies in the French Foreign Legion?
The French Foreign Legion is a historic and elite part of the French Army. It was created in the 1830s as a way to deal…
Canadian War Crimes in WW1: How German Soldiers Were Exploited by Canadian Troops
As World War I dragged on, an unexpected group became known for being ruthless. Canadians, stereotyped as friendly, kind and agreeable, certainly displayed none of…
Aníbal Augusto Milhais: The Portuguese Soldier ‘Worth a Million Men’
The story of Aníbal Augustus Milhais, also known by the nickname Soldado Milhões (“Soldier Millions”), reads like something out of Star Wars. A simple farmer…
The Ace of Spades Was Used By the 101st Airborne Before It Became the ‘Death Card’
Symbols during wartime are important and, more than that, they are powerful. Winston Churchill famously used the “V for Victory” symbol during World War II,…
The Rats of Tobruk: How A German Insult Was Reclaimed as a Proud Nickname
At the beginning of the Second World War, Libya was still an Italian colony. As the only deep port in the eastern part of the…
Clint Eastwood Survived a Plane Crash Into Shark-Infested Waters While Serving in the US Army
Clint Eastwood is arguably one of the most talented and well-known actors in Hollywood. His career spans nearly 70 years and includes a number of…
Vietnam War Traps: 9 Viet Cong Booby Traps That Defined the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was infamous for the guerrilla warfare the American forces were largely unprepared for. The Viet Cong were on home turf and used…
Lt. Col. Terence Otway Used An Unconventional Tactic to Test His Men
On June 6, 1944, 600 men squeezed into 32 transport planes en route to the Merville Gun Battery in Normandy. Known as the “Red Devils”,…