Rudolf Witzig: Commander of the Eben Emael Fortress Attack
Few men can say that, at the age of 23, they led an attack of historical significance. That is exactly what happened to Rudolf Witzig,…
A Devout Christian, he Joined the Nazi Regime: A Strange & Lonely Hero, SS Officer Kurt Gerstein Who Tried to Save Jews
A devout Christian, he joined the Nazi regime and then later tried to oppose it. When that did not work, he hatched a new plan…
How Hitler Transformed the German Officer Corps Before and During WWII
As leader of Germany, Hitler transformed the officer corps. It brought fresh blood into the army. It also created problems, some of which eventually led…
World War One – The Early Years of Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel is rightly remembered as one of the most gifted commanders of WWII, but one of his finest achievements took place 20 years before,…
Gun-Jumpers: Americans who fought in Canadian Ranks During WWII, before their Country joined the War, risking not only their lives, but their US Citizenship as well
As Great Britain entered WWII on September 3, 1939, its trusty ally, Canada, followed, just one week later. The United States was officially neutral, but…
Fearless Escapes Over (And Under) The Berlin Wall
When the Second World War was finally over, Germany was divided up into four occupation zones among the Allied forces. Berlin was also divided up…
In WWII, Some German Officers Took A Big Risk And Stood Up To Hitler
Adolf Hitler was not a man willing to listen to the opinions of others. Despite evidence to the contrary, he consistently believed he knew better…
American Civil War: The Battle of Chancellorsville – Fighting Joe Hooker and Robert E. Lee
The Battle of Chancellorsville was one of the most important of the American Civil War. It saw one of the war’s bloodiest days of fighting,…
After Victory At D-Day, Fierce Fighting In The French Countryside
Following the D-Day landings, the Allies faced a difficult challenge. The countryside of Normandy is made up of bocage – dense terrain full of winding…
March to Surrender: A German Operation in the Dying Days of WWII
WWII did not end with Hitler’s suicide. As the Allies advanced across Germany from east and west, soldiers were attempting to find the safest places…
Fighting Joe Hooker Worked Hard To Become a General in the American Civil War
During the early days of the American Civil War, appointments of Union generals were as much about politics as skill and experience. The case of…
Wounded in Action – Powerful German Officers of WWII
Modern warfare distances commanders from the action. The commanders of WWII in German armies, however, often put themselves close to the front lines. Along with…