World War 2 | War History

How Britain was Unprepared for World War Two

In retrospect, the outbreak of the Second World War seems both obvious and inevitable. However, to many people at the time, particularly in Britain, there…

“It all happened so fast” – Army veteran shares story of WWII service, Central Missouri Honor Flight

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…

“That’s how they did things” – Veteran shares story of WWII Navy service in the Pacific

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…

Second World War Naval Reservist Was Awarded the VC After Surviving 31 Air Attacks in 4 Days

At the start of the Second World War, thousands of reservists were called up to serve in the armed forces of Britain and other European…

The One-Armed Warrior Who Was Awarded The Victoria Cross

Some soldiers are so pig-headedly persistent that they go down in legend; including one who did so with only one arm. George Albert Cairns 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…

Iron Cross Recipients – German Soldiers In World War Two

For several generations, the Iron Cross was the most prestigious medal a German soldier could earn. During WWII, many received the Cross, which was awarded…

The Lost Bastards of Hill 433 – by L Todd Wood

The bravery and tenacity of the American soldier is well documented throughout the last several hundred years.  However, there is no story that better shines…

The Oslo Report: How a German Scientist Gave Away Nazi Military Secrets and Why Britain Almost Ignored Him

Early in the Second World War, the British received a dossier of Nazi military secrets. The extraordinary contents had been sent at great personal risk…

Mighty WW2 Warships – KMS Admiral Graf Spee in the Battle of the River Plate

On September 1, 1939, while German troops were rolling across the border into Poland, their Navy was sent to raid Allied shipping lanes, much as…

The Myths Of The Montana Class Battleships

War History Online presents this Guest Article by Chris Knupp. Artist’s impression of the Montana class Battleship Myth #1: The Montana class Ignored the Panama Canal…

The Unlucky Soviet Nuclear Submarine K-19, Nicknamed “Hiroshima”

The misfortunes of the Soviet nuclear submarine K-19 could fit into some mariner’s folk tales of bad luck at sea. Even during its construction, a…