Japanese “Army Zero” – Nakajima Ki-43 in 27 Photos
The Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was a relatively slow, lightly armed, and fragile land-based tactical fighter plane, but it became legendary for its performance in East…
Heroes of Dieppe Disaster – 3 Victoria Crosses in 9 Hours
It is not an entirely uncommon occurrence for uniquely vicious battles to produce countless acts of inexplicable gallantry worthy of a nation’s highest military honor.…
German Special Forces of WWII – Brandenburgers
In 1935, the head of the Abwehr, Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, enlisted the services of a veteran of the colonial wars, Captain Theodor von Hippel. Canaris…
Battles, PinUps, and Music: World War II Comes to Life
Anyone without knowledge of local events who happened to be strolling around Conneaut, Ohio, recently would have been excused for thinking themselves caught in a…
Meat Grinder on the Eastern Front – Rzhev
The Battle of Rzhev is marked in Soviet history as one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Great Patriotic War. Rzhev was occupied…
Unprepared for WAR – Why the Allies’ Heads Were in the Sand
At the start of the Second World War, the Allies found themselves at a huge disadvantage. The Axis powers were ready for war while the…
Despite Tragedy the “Duck” Lives On – DUKW Amphibious Vehicle Still Popular with Tourists
For most consumers, the notion of a boat and truck amphibious hybrid vehicle doesn’t make sense. They don’t need a vehicle that can lead them…
Blitzkrieg Tactics: Lightning Conquest of Poland
On the 1st of September 1939, Germany launched one of the most dramatic military campaigns of the 20th century. Troops poured across the border into…
Disaster at Anzio – Soldiers Lobbied Congress to Hold General Accountable
Men Wanted Leader Held Accountable Wars cost lives, but that simple truth becomes almost unbearable when those lives are lost because of one man’s unwillingness,…
Shaping War in Europe – Lessons Learned in the Spanish Civil War
In 1936-39, Spain was torn apart by civil war. Monstrous atrocities on all sides took place and nations/ideologies and people from all over the world…
German Infantry Tactics of World War II
All battles fought in history have depended to a greater extent on the technique of foot soldiers and World War II was no different. Infantry…
“Slow But Deadly” – Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive-bomber with 26 Photos
SBD is an acronym for Scout Bomber Douglas, but the performance of the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber, especially in the Battle of Midway, earned…