Field Marshal Walter Model: a German Commander of WWII
In the fall of 1943, following the failure of an offensive in Russia, Hitler complained to his commanders about the quality of their troops. What…
The Nazi Invasion of Poland in the Opening Stages of World War Two
The invasion of Poland was one in a long line of acts of Nazi German aggression. It was also the one that tipped Europe into…
Rudolf Witzig: Commander of the Eben Emael Fortress Attack
Few men can say that, at the age of 23, they led an attack of historical significance. That is exactly what happened to Rudolf Witzig,…
Fearless Escapes Over (And Under) The Berlin Wall
When the Second World War was finally over, Germany was divided up into four occupation zones among the Allied forces. Berlin was also divided up…
Night Witches – Soviet Female Flying Aces Who Struck Terror Into the Hearts of the German Wehrmacht
In 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. Because of their superior technology and their rapid success in taking territory, the Germans had expected a quick…
Horrifying, Tragic, Inspirational – How the Nazis Destroyed Lidice and the World Preserved its Memory
In June 1942, the Nazi German occupiers of Czechoslovakia destroyed the mining village of Lidice. It was wiped off the map so completely that even…
Hanns Scharff – Nazi Germany’s POW “Master Interrogator” Who Used Kindness Not Brutality
The Nazis had a “Master Interrogator” who was so good at getting information out of prisoners that he became a legend. His methods were so…
Rudolph Hess: The Nazi Who Flew to Britain in 1941 to try to Make a Peace Deal
Rudolf Walter Richard Hess was born on April 26, 1894, in Alexandria, Egypt to a wealthy family of Bavarian merchants. At 14, he was sent…
SS Battlegroup Commander Otto Weidinger
Background and Training In 1934, the 20-year-old Otto Weidinger joined the Allgemeine branch of the SS. Showing potential as a leader, he was sent for…
Hans-Ulrich Rudel – The Flying Tank Buster Who Flew More Than 2,000 Missions And Killed Over 500 Tanks
Hans-Ulrich Rudel was shot down 30 times during his 2,530 missions. He destroyed one battleship, one cruiser, one destroyer, 70 landing craft, 800 vehicles, 150…
When 20 Canadian Prisoners Were Murdered By The Waffen SS In Normandy – The Ardenne Abbey Massacre
In the early days of the Normandy campaign 20 Canadian soldiers, members of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and 27th Armoured Regiment (part of the…
In WWII, A Stranded Dutch Warship Disguised Itself As An Island To Evade Japanese Bombers
The Netherlands officially surrendered on May 15th, 1940. However, its Navy continued the fight. Part of the navy was deployed in the Dutch East Indies…