The Red Army Recruited Blind Citizens During the Siege of Leningrad
The Red Army turned to desperate measures following Operation Barbarossa, as they were outnumbered. In one instance, they deployed camels, instead of horses, during the…
‘The Battle of Algiers’ Is So Realistic That Guerrilla Groups Took Training Notes From It
The Battle of Algiers (1966) is a powerful and provocative film directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. It covers the Algerian struggle for independence from French colonial…
‘Last Post’ Memorial In Ypres Undergoing Two-Year Restoration
After a century of battling the elements, the Menin Gate in Belgium is about to get some well-earned rest and recuperation. The monument dedicated to…
The ‘M*A*S*H’ Death That Stunned America
In an episode titled “Abyssinia, Henry,” the producers of M*A*S*H (1972-83) decided that McLean Stevenson’s character, Henry Blake, was to depart from the show. It…
No. 1426 Flight RAF Flew German Aircraft Decked Out In Royal Air Force Insignia
In September 1942, Rachel and Eddie Jones were enjoying the warm weather at their home near Romsey, England. Rachel had formed a keen interest in…
Normandy-Based Historians Create Documentary Honoring Canadian Regiment That Fought On D-Day
A group of historians from Normandy have come together to produce a film highlighting the sacrifices made by Canadian troops before, during and after D-Day.…
Clint Eastwood’s Iwo Jima Duology Accurately Depicts the Battle from Both Sides
In 2006, legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood released two World War II-era films that focused on both the American and Japanese perspectives of the…
MI5 Used Girl Guides As Spies During World War I Because Boy Scouts Gossiped Too Much
World War I was a time of immense upheaval and change. One group that played a surprisingly important role during this time was the British…
Panzerschreck: Germany’s Much More Powerful Version of the American Bazooka
The Panzerschreck was an anti-tank weapon designed and primarily used by Germany during World War II. Officially known as the Raketenpanzerbüchse 54, it was based…
A WWII-Era Mystery for the Ages – What Happened to the French Submarine Surcouf?
Although they weren’t known as a naval superpower, the French still built one of the most impressive submarines of the Second World War. In fact,…
The Darne Machine Gun Could Be Used as Both a Ground and Aerial Weapon
Of the many weapons created at the end of the First World War, the Darne machine gun is certainly one of the less popular. It…
András Toma: The Last WWII Prisoner of War to Be Repatriated – In 2000
The end of World War II was a logistical nightmare. Between Victory In Europe (VE) Day and September 1945, some 1,417,850 Americans alone were repatriated. Other…