World War 2 | War History

Clive Owen to Star in Historical Thriller ‘Kristallnacht’

Clive Owen standing on a red carpet

British actor Clive Owen has starred in many big-name productions, notably King Arthur (2004), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2006) and Valerian and the City of…

How Did Benito Mussolini Die? The Demise of Italy’s Fascist Dictator

Benito Mussolini walking with soldiers + Portrait of Benito Mussolini

Benito Mussolini was one of the world’s major leaders at the onset of the Second World War. Becoming Italy’s prime minister in 1922, he’d sought…

After Renouncing Her German Citizenship, Marlene Dietrich Dedicated Herself to the American War Effort

Marlene Dietrich standing with a group of soldiers

German actor Marlene Dietrich was one of the most famous faces of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Moving to the United States after her breakthrough role in…

Would You Want to Live in a Former German Bunker? Now’s Your Chance!

Exterior of Bunker Six Eighty One

A former German personnel bunker has been converted into a three-bedroom luxury home on the tiny island of Guernsey. Built in 1942 by the German…

Actors You May Not Have Realized Served in World War II

Portrait of Don Rickles + Sidney Poitier standing with an Academy Award + Robert Stack as Eliot Ness in 'The Untouchables'

Several big-name actors served in World War II – Clark Gable, James “Jimmy” Stewart, David Niven, Henry Fonda, etc. – risking their lives in Europe…

One of the Last Surviving Navajo Code Talkers Has Died at 107

John Kinsel, Sr. sitting in his wheelchair

One of the last surviving Navajo code talkers has died. The passing of 107-year-old John Kinsel, Sr. on October 19, 2024, was announced in a…

Chiune Sugihara: The Japanese ‘Schindler’ Who Saved Thousands of Lithuanian Jewish Refugees

Guest Author
Lithuanian woman walking through a ruined city + Portrait of Chiune Sugihara

Oskar Schindler’s story is known across the world, primarily due to Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film Schindler’s List (1993), which depicts the German industrialist’s efforts…

Did You Know the Last Ever US Cavalry Charge Into Combat Occurred in World War II?

AI rendering of three members of the 26th Cavalry Regiment riding on horseback through the Philippine jungle

When you think of World War II, you likely picture aircraft whizzing through the air, tanks firing their massive guns and troops using vehicles to…

British Submarine Found 81 Years After Disappearing Without a Trace

HMS Trooper (N91) surfacing while leaving port

A Royal Navy submarine that seemingly vanished without a trace during the Second World War has finally been located off the coast of Greece. HMS…

What Role Did Naval Warfare Play In the Early Stages of Germany’s Invasion of Poland?

ORP Gryf partially submerged in water

While many focus on the ground invasion when it comes to Germany’s offensive against Poland in September 1939, it’s important to take note of what…

‘Ghost Ship of the Pacific’ Discovered Off the Coast of California

Sonar image of the USS Stewart (DD-224) on the seafloor

Over 78 years after she was sunk by the US Navy off the coast of San Francisco, California, the wreck of the USS Stewart (DD-224)…

Masamitsu Yoshioka, Last Surviving Pearl Harbor Bombardier, Dead at 106

Aichi D3A1 flying toward Pearl Harbor

The last surviving Japanese bombardier who attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, has passed away. Masamitsu Yoshioka, whose death was announced on Japanese social…

The P-47 Thunderbolt Pilot Who Was Escorted to Safety By Two Luftwaffe Fighters

Two Messerschmitt Bf 109s in flight + Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in flight

The Battle of the Bulge, which took place between December 1944 and January ’45, was a turning point in the Allies’ fight against the Germans…

World War II-Era Bomb Explodes at Japanese Airport

Aerial view of Miyazaki Airport

It’s not an uncommon occurrence for World War II-era munitions to be found throughout Japan, but locating one at an airport is definitely unexpected –…

World War II Film ‘White Bird’ Starring Helen Mirren Slated for North American Release

Helen Mirren as Grandmère in 'White Bird'

After years of delays, White Bird will finally be debuting in North American theaters. The World War II-era film, starring Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson,…

Who Was Elizabeth ‘Lee’ Miller? The True Story Behind the Kate Winslet-Led Movie

Kate Winslet as Elizabeth "Lee" Miller in 'Lee'

Of the correspondents to cover the Second World War, one of the most famous was Lee Miller. Working for Vogue and traveling with the US…

The Controversial Film ‘Defiance’ Brought the Resistance Work of the Bielski Partisans to the Big Screen

Still from 'Defiance'

As the Axis Powers increased their sphere of influence across Europe during the Second World War, various Resistance groups popped up. With a desire to…

Aaron Bank: The ‘Father of the Green Berets’ Who Revolutionized Special Warfare

Four Green Berets with the 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) walking with weapons + Military portrait of Aaron Bank

The US Army’s Special Forces are among the most elite military groups in the entire world. Famous for their clandestine warfare capabilities, they regularly strike…

Dudley Clarke: The British Army’s Master of Deception Tricked the ‘Desert Fox’ in North Africa

Dummy vehicle in the middle of the desert + Pencil portrait of Dudley Clarke

Everyone is familiar with the US military’s Ghost Army, artists and architects whose sole job was to deceive the Germans during the Second World War.…

USS Tang (SS-306): The Decorated US Submarine That Was Sunk By Her Own Torpedo

USS Tang (SS-306) leaving port

The USS Tang (SS-306) was one of the most effective submarines to serve in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. Over the course…

Germany Once Planned to Assassinate Winston Churchill… With Exploding Chocolate

Winston Churchill standing outside + Slabs of dark chocolate + Explosion

Throughout the Second World War, prominent politicians were the subject of assassination plots. While often unsuccessful, they were a way for everyday civilians, Resistance fighters,…

James Cameron to Bring Film Adaptation of ‘Ghosts of Hiroshima’ to the Big Screen

James Cameron standing on a red carpet

Academy Award-winning director James Cameron has obtained the film rights for Charles Pellegrino’s forthcoming book, Ghosts of Hiroshima. The nonfiction release, which draws upon accounts…

MoH Recipient Richard M. McCool, Jr. Ignored His Own Injuries to Rally His Men After a Kamikaze Attack

Two Landing Craft Support ships coming up behind the damaged USS William D. Porter (DD-579) + Military portrait of Richard M. McCool, Jr.

Throughout the Second World War, there were countless examples of bravery and heroism that went well beyond the call of duty. Among those to exemplify…

American Politicians Pushing to Award Bataan, Attu Veterans the Congressional Gold Medal

American and Filipino prisoners of war (POWs) being led through a village

Two American politicians, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM 3rd District), have introduced a renewed push to award veterans of the…

World War II-Era Shipwrecks Re-Emerge From the Depths of Danube River

Shipwreck half-submerged in the Danube

World War II-era vessels once operated by the Kriegsmarine have “risen” from the depths of the Danube, in Serbia. The wrecks, which belonged to Germany’s…

North American Release Date Revealed for Pierce Brosnan WWII Movie ‘The Last Rifleman’

Pierce Brosnan standing on a red carpet

Nearly a year after it premiered on the British streaming service Sky Cinema, The Last Rifleman (2023) will finally debut in North America. The World…

Netflix Releasing Kerry Washington-Led Film About 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion

Members of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion walking through a city street + Kerry Washington wearing a red dress

Netflix has released the trailer for its upcoming film about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the first and only unit of color with the…

Second Sino-Japanese War: The ‘Asian Holocaust’ That Witnessed Some of History’s Most Horrific War Crimes

Japanese troops running through a divot in the earth

The Second Sino-Japanese War was the result of escalating tensions and conflict between China and Japan that had been brewing for decades. When fighting broke…

The B-29 Superfortress ‘Enola Gay’ Forever Changed Warfare When It Dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima

Boeing B-29 Superfortress 'Enola Gay' parked on the tarmac

For many, the development of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a turning point of the Second World War. Hitting the skies in mid-1944, the bomber…

The Devastating Invasion That Kicked Off the Second World War

German soldiers sitting on parked motorcycles

September 1, 2024, marks the 85th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland – and the beginning of the Second World War. Beginning with assaults…

EXCERPT: ‘Witty Manny’ – From Prisoner of War to an East German Hospital in Just 11 Months

Guest Author
Red Army soldiers crouching behind rubble in Berlin, Germany + Portrait of Emanuel von König

Here, we continue our eventful World War II story of Emanuel von König, when he arrives in the western suburbs of Berlin on April 20,…

‘Blighty or Bust’ Tells the Story of a Young Soldier’s 2,000-Mile Escape to Freedom in World War II

David Wilkins holding a copy of 'Blighty or Bust'

An English author has unearthed an amazing World War II escape story in a cardboard box of papers and cuttings he bought via an online…

The Touching Story of the Letter Jimmy Stewart Read Before Every Bombing Mission

General Martial Henri Valin pinning the Croix de Guerre with palm to James "Jimmy" Stewart's chest

Famous for his memorable performances in classic films like The Philadelphia Story (1940), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) and Anatomy of a Murder (1959), James…

Famed Fletcher-Class Destroyers to Undergo Major Restoration Work

It appears two World War II-era warships will live to see another day, thanks to two separate efforts to preserve the vessels. The USS The…

Over 400 Homes Evacuated in Northern Ireland After Discovery of World War II-Era Bomb

Police officer and vehicle positioned in the middle of a roadway

Hundreds of homes were evacuated in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, after a suspected World War II-era bomb was discovered. The “suspected historic piece of…

The Führer Personally Intervened to Ensure Mildred Fish-Harnack Was Punished for Her Resistance Work

Aerial view of Berlin, Germany + Portrait of Mildred Fish-Harnack

Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, and even before, Resistance groups began popping up across Europe. Determined to fight for freedom and to…

The Oft-Forgotten Aleutian Islands Campaign Saw the Fighting of World War II Arrive on North American Soil

Three soldiers standing with a mortar

The Aleutian Islands Campaign marked the only time fighting occurred on the continental United States against enemy forces during the Second World War. Beginning in…

Josefina Guerrero: The Philippine Spy Who Used Her Illness to Help the Allies Liberate Her Country

AI rendering of Josefina Guerrero walking through the Philippine jungle

Throughout the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during the Second World War, guerrillas actively worked to liberate their country. Among then was a twenty-something woman…

The Only Two Japanese Ships Sunk Off the US Coast During World War II Have Been Found

Allied troops standing on the beach at Kiska Island with supplies

Over 80 years after they were sunk, the only two Japanese ships believed to have been lost immediately off the coast of the United States…

The Wola Massacre Was One of the Most Horrific Episodes of the Warsaw Uprising

Polish civilians being led down a street while German soldiers stand guard

One of the worst episodes of the Warsaw Uprising was the Wola Massacre. In an act of retaliation, German troops systematically slaughtered tens of thousands…

When British Commandos Became Pirates – The True Story Behind ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’

Still from 'The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare'

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024), directed by Guy Ritchie, is one of the most exciting World War II-era movies to be released in recent…

Audrey Hepburn Risked Her Life to Help the Dutch Resistance During World War II

Portrait of Audrey Hepburn

When you think of “old” Hollywood, Audrey Hepburn likely comes to mind. Her filmography is impressive, but what if we were to tell you that…

‘Blitz’ Trailer Shows Saoirse Ronan Fighting to Find Her Child Amid German Air Raids on London

Saoirse Ronan as Rita in 'Blitz'

AppleTV+ has ramped up its production of wartime releases, and the streaming service’s latest will center around the Blitz on London, United Kingdom from 1940-41.…

Damian Lewis, Chris Messina Join Brendan Fraser-Led D-Day Movie ‘Pressure’

Troops on Omaha Beach, with ships and barrage balloons stationed off the coast + Portrait of Brendan Fraser + Military portrait of Dwight D. Eisenhower

Brendan Fraser has experienced a renaissance (or, should we say, a Brennaissance) since his Oscar-winning role in 2022’s The Whale. It appears he’s continuing to…

The Stories Behind the Most Iconic World War II Propaganda Posters

US Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima + Illustration of Rosie the Riveter + Illustration of Uncle Sam

Everyone is familiar with World War II-era propaganda posters. Often colorful, with phrases written to tug at citizens’ patriotism, they aimed to convince everyone, service…

US Navy Exonerates Black Sailors Court-Martialed in 1944 Port Chicago Disaster

The US Navy has officially exonerated 258 Black sailors in relation to courts-martial imposed following the deadly Port Chicago Disaster in July 1944. Eighty years…

German U-boats Managed to Sink 397 Allied Vessels in Torpedo Junction in Just Six Months

SS Pennsylvania Sun shrouded in smoke at sea

The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest engagement of the Second World War, with the Kriegsmarine reigning supreme in the ocean for much of…

Mickey Rooney Received the Bronze Star for Entertaining Troops on the Frontlines

Mickey Rooney sitting with American troops

Mickey Rooney was one of the most celebrated actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Known for his work with fellow child star Judy Garland…

There Are Three U-boats Entombed Beneath a Parking Lot in Germany’s Second-Largest City

U-3008 at sea

While it’s not unheard of for wartime sea vessels to be located beneath the earth, it is rare. The most notable instance of this was…

She Was Adopted in the Chaos of the Post-War Era – Over Seven Decades Later, She Discovered a Brother She Didn’t Know Existed

Elana Milman and Juliusz Gorzkoś hugging in a parking garage

Families were frequently split up during the Second World War, never knowing if they’d be reunited. While attempts were made by survivors to locate their…

USS Sachem (SP-192): ‘The Ghost Ship’ That Served in Both World Wars and Now Sits Abandoned in the Wilderness

Celt docked at port

There are many abandoned ships across the United States, but few have as storied a history as the USS Sachem (SP-192), which also went by…

‘They Were Expendable’ Actor Robert Montgomery Actually Served in the US Navy During World War II

USS Columbia (CL-56) at sea + Military portrait of Robert Montgomery

Robert Montgomery wasn’t just an influential figure in Vintage Hollywood, he was also a dedicated member of the US military. He put his acting career…

Operation Meetinghouse: The Devastating Firebombing of Tokyo During World War II

June Steele
Aerial view of Tokyo, Japan, following the firebombing of the city

It’s hard to imagine a worse attack on Japan during World War II than the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but there was. The…

Volunteers Requesting Help to Save World War II-Era Liberty Ship SS John W. Brown

SS John W. Brown docked at port

One of the last remaining operational World War II-era liberty ships is at risk of falling into disrepair and losing its certification from the US…

The March on Rome and Benito Mussolini’s Quest to Turn Italy Into a Fascist Nation

June Steele
Benito Mussolini standing with members of the National Fascist Party (PNF)

The March on Rome was the start of great political and societal change within Italy. Led by Benito Mussolini, the march aimed to tear down…

John Ford Called Out John Wayne on Set for Not Serving in World War II

John Ford holding a microphone up to his mouth + John Wayne as LTJR. "Rusty" Ryan in 'They Were Expendable'

In the years following the Second World War, many films were released that detailed the dangers faced by both friend and foe. At the time,…

34 Miles of Tunnels Were Dug By the British Military Beneath the Rock of Gibraltar

View of the Rock of Gibraltar + People walking down a tunnel beneath the Rock of Gibraltar

A British territory north of Spain, Gibraltar is a beloved tourist destination that experiences naval dockyard actively by the British Royal Navy. Lesser known are…

Tököl Airbase Played a Major Role in Germany’s War Machine – That Is, Until the Soviets Took It Over

Exterior of a building at Tököl Airbase

Hungary’s history is marked by significant instability. During World War II, it fell under German occupation and, in the Cold War era, the Soviet Union…

‘The Commandant’s Shadow’ Documentary Tells Story of Auschwitz Director’s Son

Gate running along the boundary of Auschwitz and Rudolf Höss' house

The Academy Award-winning film The Zone of Interest was among the most talked about in 2023. Now, a documentary about the movie’s subject, Auschwitz commandant…

Calvin Graham: The 12-Year-Old Sailor Who Received the Bronze Star During the Guadalcanal Campaign

June Steele
USS South Dakota (BB-57) at sea + Military portrait of Calvin Graham

It wasn’t unusual for boys to lie about their age to enlist in World War II. Many tried to persuade recruiters they were old enough…

Two Dead Following Crash Involving World War II-Era Aircraft in California

Lockheed Model 12A Electra Junior in flight

Two individuals aboard a World War II-era Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior – better known as the L12 – died when the aircraft crashed shortly…

Facts About ‘Das Boot’ – The Most Realistic Submarine Movie Ever Released

Still from 'Das Boot'

If you ask history buffs to name a movie that best shows the realities of submarine warfare during World War II, the majority will say…

USS West Virginia (BB-48): The Battleship That Survived Pearl Harbor and Exacted Revenge on America’s Enemies

USS West Virginia (BB-48) anchored at Sagami Wan, Japan

The USS West Virginia (BB-48) was one of the many American battleships to see action in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. Miraculously…

The Capture of U-505 Helped America Crack the Kriegsmarine’s Ultra-Secretive Code

U-505 on display at a beach

The capture of U-505 by the US Navy was one of the most secretive events of the Second World War. While on patrol off the…

PHOTOS: The World War II-Era German Military Base That Was Occupied By the Soviets

Entrance to Forst Zinna + Sinks lined against a wall in a communal bathroom

In the forests of Germany, the Wehrmacht built numerous training areas and temporary living quarters for troops. Most of these structures have been demolished, as…

When Can We Expect Season Two of ‘SAS: Rogue Heroes’ – What We Know

Promotional image for 'SAS: Rogue Heroes'

In 2022, BBC premiered SAS: Rogue Heroes (2022-present), a scripted series centered around the Special Air Service’s (SAS) efforts in North Africa. The final episode…

‘D-Day 80th Anniversary’ Documentary Dives Into Turning Point of World War II

Promotional art for 'D-Day 80th Anniversary'

A brand-new documentary examining the Allied landings on Normandy has been released. Directed by Bruce Vigar, D-Day 80th Anniversary explores the planning, execution and aftermath…

African-American Medic Who Saved Dozens of Lives on D-Day Posthumously Awarded Distinguished Service Cross

African-American soldiers mooring a barrage balloon near a building + Military portrait of Waverly Woodson + Distinguished Service Cross

An African-American medic who braved enemy fire to treat hundreds of Allied troops on D-Day is finally being recognized for his bravery. In the lead-up…

Bradford Freeman: The Easy Company Mortarman Who Fought His Way Through Occupied Europe

June Steele
Portrait of Bradford Freeman

Bradford C. Freeman, a mortarman who served in the famous 2nd Battalion, Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, played a key role…

Facts About D-Day – The Amphibious Landings That Changed the Course of World War II

American troops riding in a Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP)

D-Day is famous for being a turning point in the fight against Germany during World War II. On June 6, 1944, Allied troops from several…

D-Day Movies Every Military History Buff Needs to Watch

June Steele
Still from 'The Longest Day' + Tom Hanks as Capt. John Miller in 'Saving Private Ryan' + Lee Marvin as Sergeant in 'The Big Red One'

D-Day – the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 – was one of the most dramatic moments of World War II. Over the…

Photos of Battery 223 – An Abandoned World War II Military Fortification in New Jersey

June Steele
View of Battery 223 at sunset

Visitors who’ve walked along the beach at Cape May Point State Park, in Lower Township, New Jersey, have likely encountered a reinforced concrete structure dating…

A Bankrupt Oskar Schindler Abandoned His Wife After World War II

Portrait of Emilie Schindler with a cat + Portrait of Oskar Schindler

Steven Spielberg‘s Schindler’s List (1993) centers around Oskar Schindler, a man who saved over 1,000 Jewish individuals during the Holocaust. While the film briefly mentions…

Royal Air Force Pilot Loses Life After Supermarine Spitfire Crashes Near RAF Coningsby

Supermarine Spitfire in flight

A Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot has died after the World War II-era Supermarine Spitfire he was manning crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby.…

EXCERPT: ‘Witty Manny’ – How a Man Drilled in Tyranny Became a Thriving Citizen of American Democracy

KMS Lützow at sea + Military portrait of Emanuel von König

The following is an excerpt from a 40,000-word manuscript written by Philippe Defechereux about Manny’s life, from growing up in an autocratic environment, to the…

Frontline Heroines Who Refused to Take a Step Back During World War II

Portrait of Nancy Wake + Odette Sansom standing in her Special Operations Executive (SOE) uniform + Portrait of Joséphine Baker

There were several unsung heroes in World War II, many of them women. Coming from all walks of life, these brave individuals put their lives…

Official Trailer Released for Kelsey Grammer WWII-Era Movie, ‘Murder Company’

Kelsey Grammer sitting on the set of 'Today'

In the lead-up to the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings on D-Day, the official trailer has dropped for a new World War II-era film…

Organizers Looking Forward to 80th Anniversary of Guernsey’s Liberation Next Year

Camouflage-colored naval gun in an emplacement

The tiny Channel Island of Guernsey holds the record of being the most fortified place along the German military’s Atlantic Wall. Turning it into a…

The Battle of the Atlantic Was a Never-Ending Fight for Control of the High Seas

June Steele
Gunner standing on the deck of a destroyer at sea

The Battle of the Atlantic stretched across the entirety of the Second World War, from 1939-45. The monumental engagement was about more than just naval…

Pacific Wrecks Team Locates What They Believe to Be Richard Bong’s Missing P-38 ‘Marge’

Richard Bong standing with his Lockheed P-38 Lightning 'Marge'

Update – 05/24/2024: The joint-organization team involved in the search for US Army Air Forces (USAAF) pilot Richard Bong’s missing Lockheed P-38 Lightning Marge has…

Hedy Lamarr Helped Develop the Technology Behind Wi-Fi – All the Way Back in World War II

June Steele
Portrait of Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr is often celebrated for her captivating performances on the silver screen during Hollywood’s illustrious Golden Age, but behind her luminous facade was a…

Five Skeletons Discovered Buried Beneath the Wolf’s Lair in Poland

Exterior of what remains of the Wolfsschanze, also known as the Wolf's Lair

Five human skeletons have been unearthed at the Wolfsschanze – “Wolf’s Lair,” in English – in Poland. The human remains, found without their hands and…

Neville Brand Received the Silver Star for Single-Handedly Taking on Enemy Troops Armed With Machine Guns

Neville Brand and John Wayne as Lightfoot and J.D. Cahill in 'Cahill U.S. Marshal' + Portrait of Neville Brand

When looking back at the stars who dominated the silver screen during the 1950s and ’60s, you’ll find that the majority served in some capacity…

Ceremony Held in Dorset to Commemorate the 80th Anniversary of Exercise Tiger

Crowd standing around the US D-Day Memorial in Victoria Gardens

A commemoration event to mark the 80th anniversary of Exercise Tiger took place on the afternoon of Friday, April 26, 2024, at Portland in Dorset,…

Jimmy Buffett Anonymously Donated Two WWII-Era Aircraft to a Museum Before His Death

Jimmy Buffett standing in aviation gear

Jimmy Buffett’s passing on September 1, 2023 was a shock to music fans across the world. The “Margaritaville” singer’s death was attributed to an aggressive…

Operation Market Garden Led to a Decades-Long Treasure Hunt That’s Still Ongoing

Close-up of the map detailing the possible location of the hidden treasure

In 2023, the Dutch National Archives unveiled a collection of documents that had previously been classified as “confidential,” as per the customary 75-year term. Among…

The Japanese Bolt-Action Arisaka Type 99 Rifle Saw Extensive Use In the Pacific Theater

Soldier aiming an Arisaka Type 99 rifle

The Arisaka Type 99 rifle was a significant evolution in the realm of military armaments. Born out of necessity in the 1930s, its development reflected…

Germany Hoped to Weaponize the Occult to Win the Second World War

Paul Freeman, Wolf Kahler and Ronald Lacey as Dr. René Belloq, Col. Dietrich and Maj. Arnold Toht in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'

Germany thought up several strategies to increase its chances of winning World War II, including the breeding of potato bugs to decimate enemy crops and…

The Battle of France Saw a European Power Fall in Just Six Weeks

German soldiers driving tanks down a dirt road

One campaign changed the direction of the Second World War: the Battle of France. The period leading up to the engagement was known as the…

Shiro Ishii and the Dark Legacy of Japan’s Unit 731

Aerial view of the Unit 731 complex + Military portrait of Shiro Ishii

Japanese physician Shiro Ishii presided over a series of abhorrent medical experiments that stand as some of the most egregious atrocities in modern history. Ranging…

The Dear John Letter Was a Symbol of Heartbreak Amid the Terrors of War

British soldier reading a letter outside

When its comes to wartime communications, few carry the weight of the infamous Dear John letter. Originating during World War II, these correspondences have become…

Ending the Deadliest Conflict in Human History: Why Did Japan Surrender in World War II?

Allied and Japanese military personnel standing on the deck of the USS Missouri (BB-63)

The Japanese surrender in World War II brought to a close one of the darkest and deadliest chapters in human history. While the Germans waved…

Upcoming ‘Armour & Embarkation’ Event to Mark 80th Anniversary of D-Day Landings

World War II-era vehicles driving down a street in the middle of a town

A recreation of the movements of the American and British forces is scheduled to take place in the county of Dorset in Southern England to…

Mauthausen Was One of the Most Notorious Concentration Camps Operated By the German Regime

Russian prisoners of war (POWs) hauling earth in a large trench

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Austria, the remnants of Mauthausen concentration camp are a somber testament to one of the darkest chapters of the…

Memorial Erected In Honor of American Troops Who Died In D-Day Rehearsal Exercise

Crowd gathered around the Exercise Tiger memorial

Nearly 80 years after the disastrous rehearsal for the D-Day landings, a memorial has been erected in honor of the 110 American servicemen who perished…

Lessons Learned From the Battle of Tarawa Led to the Creation of the US Navy SEALs

US Marines gathered around a fortified wall

Between November 20-23, 1943, 35,000 American troops secured Betio island, part of Tarawa Atoll. This was an impressive feat, as the Japanese had anticipated it…

Last Surviving Crew Member of the USS Arizona (BB-39) Dead At 102

Lou Conter standing in front of the Arizona Remembrance Wall

The last survivor of the sinking of the USS Arizona (BB-39) on December 7, 1941, has died. Lou Conter, 102, was a US Navy sailor…

‘Female Schindler’ Diana Budisavljević Saved 7,700 Children During World War II

Portrait of Diana Budisavljecić

Throughout the Second World War, several individuals risked their lives to save those being persecuted by the German regime. The most notable names are Oskar…

MoH Recipient John Basilone Ran Headfirst Into Enemy Fire to Defeat the Japanese on Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima

John Basilone standing in his US Marine Corps uniform + Aerial view of Henderson Field

There are few people in American history who are held in such high esteem as US Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone. A Medal of…

15-Year-Old Whose Heroics Helped Shorten World War II Honored By Hometown

HMS Petard (G56) at sea + George Medal

The 15-year-old NAAFI canteen assistant whose heroics at sea helped shorten the Second World War has been honored by his hometown. Thomas “Tommy” Brown helped…