World War 2 | War History

A World War II-Era German Defensive Line Has Become Europe’s Largest Man-Made Bat Reserve

View down a dark tunnel + A lit tunnel at the Ostwall Fortifications

In the quiet, unassuming Polish countryside are the World War II-era Ostwall Fortifications. Once a formidable underground stronghold constructed and used by the German forces…

The Touching Ceremonies That Allowed USS Arizona (BB-39) Survivors to Reunite With Their Fallen Shipmates

Aerial view of the USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona (BB-39) was a Pennsylvania-class battleship built for and by the US Navy in the mid-1910s. She was named for the 48th state,…

Tuskegee Airmen: The African-American Pilots Who Broke Barriers in World War II

Five Tuskegee Airmen kneeling next to an aircraft

In the early 20th century, the notion of African Americans serving as pilots in the US military was unthinkable to many in power. However, as…

The US Military Once Built a Japanese Warship in the Middle of the California Desert

North American B-25 Mitchell flying over the Muroc Maru

Did you know the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) constructed a Japanese warship in the middle of the California desert during the Second World War?…

Why Did John F. Kennedy Keep a Coconut in the Oval Office?

John F. Kennedy sitting in PT-109 + Coconut etched with a message by John F. Kennedy

Before John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, he was a lieutenant in the US Navy during World War II.  During…

Upcoming Film ‘Never Alone’ Looks at Finland’s Deportation of Jewish Refugees in World War II

Ville Virtanen and Klaus Härö on the set of 'Never Alone'

Few movies are made about Finland’s role in World War II, especially when it comes to the country’s part in the Holocaust. While many are…

Shizuya Hayashi: The Japanese-American Soldier Who Showed Astounding Bravery on His First Day of Combat

Members of the 100th Infantry Battalion lined up along a road + Shizuya Hayashi looking to the side

During the Italian Campaign in World War II, German soldiers faced a sight they’d never expected: Japanese-American soldiers. These men were members of the 100th…

No legs, No Problem: The Incredible Story of RAF Ace Douglas Bader

Douglas Bader sitting on the exterior of a Hawker Hurricane

It made sense that most Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots would be superstitious when one considers how much could go wrong, but if Wing Commander…

Charles Lightoller: The Titanic Second Officer Who Helped Evacuate Over 120 Men at Dunkirk

Allied soldiers standing on a beach + Portrait of Charles Lightoller

The sinking of the RMS Titanic is an infamous event in history. Most people know about the iceberg and the fact there were too few…

British Man Builds World War II-Era Anderson Shelter in His Back Garden

Trad Casey sitting in an Anderson Shelter

A World War II enthusiast has created a historical man cave by building a sunken Anderson Shelter in his back garden in Dorset, United Kingdom.…

Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is Named for the US Navy’s First Air Ace of World War II

Two Grumman F4F Wildcats in flight + Edward "Butch" O'Hare dressed in his pilot's attire + Medal of Honor

Few pilots have the innate skill in the cockpit that Edward “Butch” O’Hare did. The US naval aviator was a natural, and over the course…

Edward VIII: The Duke of Windsor’s Relationship With Germany Caused Major Issues in World War II

Edward VIII sitting before a microphone that's been placed on a desk

When thinking of controversial figures in the British Royal Family, odds are Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, comes to mind. A former king who…