World War 2 | War History

Kristallnacht: The ‘Night of Broken Glass’ That Served as a Precursor to the Holocaust

Woman standing at the entrance of a store that has had its front windows smashed

Kristallnacht was one of the darkest events to occur in the lead up to the Holocaust and World War II. Occurring on the night of…

Famous POWs: Celebrities Who Were Held Captive By the Enemy During World War II

Clive Dunn as Lance Cpl. Jack Jones in 'Dad's Army' + Donald Pleasence as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in 'You Only Live Twice' + Denholm Elliott as Marcus Brody in 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'

We’re all aware that many famous individuals served in various capacities throughout the Second World War. Some were ground troops, fighting on the battlefield, while…

Leonard T. Schroeder: The First Allied Soldier to Land on Normandy on D-Day

Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Division wading through water from a Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel (LCVP) + Military portrait of Leonard T. Schroeder

Leonard T. Schroeder Jr. holds a unique place in history as the first Allied soldier to set foot on Normandy during D-Day. Leading Infantry Rifle…

Trent Park: The Lavish British Estate That Held (and Spied on) High-Ranking German POWs

Exterior of the mansion at Trent Park + Wireless operator with the British Air Ministry listening to a radio

Nestled in north London, Trent Park is an impressive mansion with a history dating back to the late 18th century. Once owned by Sir Philip…

Trails of Hope: Honoring the Service and Sacrifice of Poles During World War II

Guest Author
Four members of the No 303 Squadron RAF standing in uniform

In 1939, as the Führer and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin divided Poland between themselves, but they never broke the nation’s free spirit. In the years…

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…