World War 2 | War History

Willi Langkeit – German Panzer Commander of World War Two

Willi Langkeit was one of the most gifted German tank commanders of WWII. Repeatedly honored for his service and promoted to considerable rank for his…

Going Nuclear – Germany and Japan Fail to Build the Bomb in WWII

Japan’s war machine was designed for offense, not defense. During the war years, planes had a very limited range, which made the Japanese islands almost…

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…

The Forgotten War In S.W. Pacific: Air Raids From Australia Against The Dutch East Indies

War History Online Presents this Guest Blog from Author and Blogger Hans Wiesman. Check out his Blog and his Book.  In this Dakota Hunter Blog, you…

Ham & Jam – The Daring Glider Operation To Take Pegasus Bridge

On the night before D-Day, as part of the Allied invasion of Normandy, 181 men of the Glider Infantry of the British 6th Airborne Division…

The Defense of Brest Fortress In WW2 – “We’ll Die But We Won’t Leave The Fortress”

Brest Fortress and the town of Brest are located in modern day Belarus. In 1939 the town was conquered by the Germans during the invasion…

‘Lucky Luciano’ – The Father of Organized Crime Won His Freedom by Helping the US Government during WW2

War History Online Presents This Article By Guest Blogger Jack Hawkins It is often said that crime does not pay, and when Charles ‘Lucky’ Luciano…

Operation Varsity – Crossing Of The Rhine In The Final Months Of World War 2

Throughout history, rivers have divided countries, territories, and armies. They’ve proved to be difficult obstacles, keeping invading troops at bay and keeping countries separated. Of…

Pierre Ortiz: French Legionnaire, US Marine, Hollywood Actor, German Nightmare

In late 1944, a man sat in a French café wearing a long, dark cape. Around him were German officers grumbling and cursing President Roosevelt,…

The Tragedy of Exercise Tiger: A Training Mission That Left More GIs Dead Than Utah Beach

Exercise Tiger is one of Britain’s most harrowing wartime secrets. It involved the slaughter of young American soldiers on the shores of a Devon beach. At…

Franz von Werra: Only Western-Held POW to Return to Combat

Although there is a book written about his story and a movie by the same name (The One That Got Away), most people would not…

Honor: Counterproductive Japanese War Ethics in WWII

War History Online proudly presents this guest article by Ryan Kim On the morning of May 11, 1945, the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) was supporting the…