The Tragedy of the Destroyer USS Leopold
Convoy escort during WWII could be both a terrifying or dull affair. Sailors spent hours peering into gray seas, searching for and dreading the prospect…
Ivan Pavlovich Sereda: the USSR’s Heroic Cook in World War Two
Militaries are hierarchical and, despite their low status, cooks play a vital role. Besides feeding troops, they also maintain morale which has a significant impact…
A Costly Failure: Germany’s Failed Attempts to Infiltrate Allied-Occupied Italy
The Allied invasion of Italy was one of the great reversals of WWII. It was followed by the failure of Nazi Germany’s attempts to put…
Operation Halyard: An Airlift Operation that Saved 417 Allied Airmen In The Balkans
During WWII, the situation in the former country known as Yugoslavia was, to say the least, complicated. On the one hand, there was a partisan…
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…
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…
Allied Victory In The Hard-Fought Battle of Britain
The most famous aerial battle in history, the Battle of Britain was a hard fought and desperate struggle to hold back Nazi Germany. Having launched…
José Arturo Castellanos Contreras: The Latino Schindler
During WWII, many did what they could to save Jews – including the Latino Schindler. José Arturo Castellanos Contreras was born on December 23, 1893,…
A Desperate Fight to the Death: RMS Carmania Vs. SMS Cap Trafalgar 1914
In September 1914, WWI had only just begun. Europe was plunged headlong into the greatest conflict yet seen, but a victory for either side was…
In 1937, A Toilet Break Led to War Between China and Japan
Wars have been waged over the stupidest things, but in 1937, Japan took it a step further. That was the year that a minor incident…
Manned Torpedoes and Massive Ships – The Alexandria Raid Of World War Two
Italy’s part in WWII is usually remembered as one of failure and embarrassment. Italian forces were repeatedly rescued from defeat by their German allies. However, the…
When a WW2 German Ace Stumbled Across a Crippled B-17 and Escorted It Home
Truly touching moments of humanity, ethics and morals are rather rare in warfare. The Christmas Truce of WWI was an excellent example of such humanity,…