“Smiling Albert” Kesselring; a German General of World War Two
Albert Kesselring had one of the most wide-ranging careers of WWII. A skilled German commander, he was fondly referred to by his admirers as “Smiling…
Germany and Italy in WWII – A Difficult Relationship
Germany and Italy had the most powerful and outspoken far-right governments in inter-war Europe. They were the main Axis powers in Europe in WWII. Their…
The Careers of These Soldiers Were Transformed by the Arrival of Tanks
In 1917, a new weapon appeared on the battlefields of WWI. First developed by the British, the tank was adopted by both sides as they…
In WWII, The Allies Often Worked with Local Partisans Against Nazi Germany
WWII was fought by civilian resistance in occupied countries as well as by armed forces. On many occasions, those groups worked together. France The work…
The most decorated Marine in United States history – Chesty Puller, American Hero
“Chesty” Puller is the most decorated Marine in United States history. Heroic service in Haiti, Nicaragua, the Second World War, and the Korean War earned…
The Air War: Soaring Above America’s World War Two North African Landings
During WWII, air power played a vital role on almost every front although when the American landings occurred in North Africa, that crucial element was…
Learning the Luftwaffe’s Secrets: How Intelligence Gathering Shaped the Battle of Britain
In WWII the Battle of Britain was fought in the air. A victory was achieved through the skill and courage of the rightly revered fighter…
How Hitler Transformed the German Officer Corps Before and During WWII
As leader of Germany, Hitler transformed the officer corps. It brought fresh blood into the army. It also created problems, some of which eventually led…
Heinze And Reinhard Heydrich – A Tale Of Two Brothers Who Went Different Ways In WW2
In 1918 two teenage brothers posed for a photograph. The older brother has his arm protectively around the younger one. They are Heinze and Reinhard…
Making History – The Ship’s Cook Who Grabbed A .50 Cal To Shoot Down Enemy Planes At Pearl Harbor
In 1942, when Dorie Miller stood onboard the USS Enterprise at Pearl Harbor to receive the Navy Cross he made history. Miller was the first…
How Britain And America Learned To Work Together On Intelligence In WWII
When America entered WWII, one of the first orders of business was to find ways to work with the British. With their shared language and…
A Tale of Two Rebels: Allied Support for Desperate Partisan Resistance in World War Two
WWII was not just fought between regular armies. Wherever the Germans invaded, resistance movements sprang up to defy them. Backing those groups was an important…