World War 1 | War History

Charles Whittlesey, the Commander of the Lost Battalion

Colin Fraser

Colonel Charles White Whittlesey earned his fame when he was a major in World War I with the American Expeditionary Force. He led a battalion…

WWI in East Africa, and the Legendary Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck

The East African campaigns of the First World War were quite unlike the fighting that dominated Europe. Instead of the four years of trench-on-trench stalemate…

Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, Legendary German WWI Commander Who Triumphed Against All The Odds

Colonel Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck faced the most challenging task of any German commander in the First World War. In Europe, the Germans were confident of…

General Jan Smuts: Fighting Snobbery and Germany in East Africa in WWI

As a South African officer in the British Army of World War One, General Jan Smuts struggled against prejudice as much as he did against…

Henry Johnson, Known as the “Black Death” – America’s First World War Hero

Colin Fraser

Henry Johnson was a World War I soldier who singlehandedly beat back a German assault while critically wounded. He was a great American hero and…

Lawrence of Arabia – one of the most mythologised officers in modern military history

Thomas Edward Lawrence is one of the most mythologised officers in modern history. A biography by a journalist, his own writings, and a film about…

Five Inspiring British Officers of the First World War – A Time of Great Bravery, Great Horror, and Great Sacrifice

Thousands of men served as officers in the British army during the First World War. Many of them lost their lives, and the survivors were…

“Old soldiers fade away” – Missouri veteran served in the predecessor to U.S. Air Force in WWI

War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Jeremy P. Ämick, who is a military historian and writes on behalf of the Silver Star…

The Largest American Military Operation Of The First World War – The Meuse-Argonne Offensive

The Meuse-Argonne Offensive was the largest American military operation of the First World War. Engaging over a million American soldiers throughout the last months of…

Amiens: The Beginning Of The Hundred Days Offensive – The Allies Brought Enormous Resources To Bear

In August 1918, the Allied forces began their final great push of the First World War. Later known as the Hundred Days Offensive, this series…

The Battle Of The Ourcq – The Americans Make Their Presence Felt At The Marne

Although they only arrived in the final year of the First World War, the Americans made their presence felt. The volume of manpower and resources…

The Bloody Reputation of Passchendaele Ridge – Hell on Earth During the First World War

The name Passchendaele sounds as though it should refer to a place of great beauty. It evokes a sense of romance and the peace of…