Operation Torch – The American Landings at Algiers Marked A New Phase In WW2
On November 8, 1942, Allied forces launched Operation Torch. Primarily an American undertaking, it was the beginning of a new phase in WWII – one…
‘Corsair Fleet’ – The Brave American Civilian Crews Who Took On WW2 Submarines To Protect The Coast
While many people know the story of the “Little Ships of Dunkirk,” Great Britain was not the only nation to call upon its civilian sailors…
The Fairey Firefly Recon Fighter – Fast Recon In WW2
A Plane Made for Two The Fairey Firefly was a two-seat fighter and reconnaissance aircraft used by the British during WWII. A Naval Plane The…
The Cutting Edge Heinkel He162 Salamander – Another fascinating German Jet Fighter Concept
During WWII Nazi Germany led the world in jet technology. Late in the war, the Germans tried to use their advantage to turn the tide…
Incredible Armored Trains Of WWI & WWII
Armored trains are a relic of the past by today’s standards but in the late 19th and early 20th century, these big steel-plated locomotives besieged…
The Vultee Vengeance – The Allied WWII Dive Bomber Developed To Rival The German Stuka
When people talk about aircraft used in WWII, most remember the German Stuka dive-bomber used to great effect very early in the war, but both…
Germany’s Fortified Siegfried Line Was Massive And Included 22,000 Bunkers And Pillboxes
During the build-up to WWII, the German government commissioned a line of defenses all along its border with France. The enormous undertaking seemed a waste…
Operation Torch, November 1942 – Seizing the Oran Airfields
During WWII, death from the skies was a constant threat. The sudden appearance of bombers or fighters on a strafing run could spell doom for…
How 230 American Soldiers Walked Through Enemy Lines to Safety
On February 15, 1943, 230 American soldiers achieved a remarkable escape. Trapped behind German forces during fierce fighting in North Africa, they walked through the…
“He gave his life” – Moniteau County, Mo., soldier killed during Battle of Leyte in World War II
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 US 503rd Parachute Battalion Seize the “High Ground” From the Axis
When American forces arrived in North Africa in November 1942, the 503rd Parachute Battalion were among the first troops on the ground. A week later,…
Hermann Ramcke, German Marine Turned Paratroop General
In an American prison cell, a former German officer sat writing a letter to his captors. The war was over, but his concern for his…