Allied Snipers and Their Effectiveness During the Second World War
Snipers have played an important part in warfare for hundreds of years. The term was first officially used during the American Civil War, but sniper-like…
The Short Career of the Civil War-Era Double-Barreled Cannon
The double-barreled cannon is as cool as it sounds. It can shoot two cannon balls at the same time that, when attached by a chain,…
Winged Hussars: The Rise and Fall of Europe’s ‘Angels of Death’
For two centuries, the elaborate winged uniforms and menacing battle tactics of the Polish hussars dominated the battlefield. Coming across the winged hussars must have…
Richard H. Best: The Only WWII Pilot to Bomb Two Japanese Aircraft Carriers in One Day
Of the four Japanese aircraft carriers sunk during the Battle of Midway – one of the most critical battles to occur in the Pacific Theater…
What Made the Polish No. 303 Squadron the Most Effective Pilots During the Battle of Britain?
At the outset of World War II, the Germans decided to treat Poland like a prize for the taking. What they didn’t realize, however, was…
American Soldiers Teamed Up with Germans and Cossacks to Save Horses from the Red Army
On April 28, 1945, a portion of the American forces set off on an incredibly dangerous and unique mission. Dubbed Operation Cowboy, it saw them…
The Doolittle Bombers Traded Their Tail Guns for Broomsticks
On April 18, 1942, the United States responded to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor by doing something that had never been done before: launching bombers…
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…