World War 2 | War History

The US Military Dropped Pianos Onto the Battlefield with Parachutes During WWII

American soldiers standing around a Victory Vertical piano

During any conflict, it’s important to keep troop morale up. This was especially true during the Second World War, when a large portion of enlisted…

Peleliu Was One of the Bloodiest Battles in Marine Corps History

Todd Neikirk
American troops making an advance

The Imperial Japanese Army and Navy were known for their rigidity and resistance to change. Owing to the terrain of the land, however, their service…

The Legendary Mauser Karabiner 98k and Its Use Throughout History

German sniper team with Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles fitted with a Dialytan RH36 4×32 telescopic sight in position amongst rubble

During the Second World War, Germany hoped to take over, and the Mauser Karabiner 98k was the weapon they were going to use to accomplish…

The Poor Treatment of Bulgaria’s Jewish Population During World War II

Two men at a memorial ceremony for Bulgarian Jews

Jewish people are said to have first settled in Bulgaria in the year 46 CE. They’ve created a long and rich history over their almost-2,000…

How the STEN Submachine Gun Helped the British Army During WWII

Soldier with Durham Light Infantry with a STEN Mk III + STEN Mk II

Machine guns began to see use in warfare toward the end of the 1800s, and throughout the 20th century the technology behind the weaponry rapidly…

Chesty Puller: The Most Decorated Marine in US History

Military portrait of Chesty Puller

Chesty Puller is a name synonymous with the US Marine Corps. The most decorated Marine in the service’s history, he served during three wars and…

John ‘Mad Jack’ Churchill: The British Army Officer Who Charged Into Battle With a Longbow, Broadsword and a Set of Bagpipes

John "Mad Jack" Churchill and others running from an LCP (L), through the water, to the shore + Portrait of John "Mad Jack" Churchill

In every conflict, there are service members who stand out for their unique ways of approaching conflict. None, however, were as quirky as John “Mad…

Kurt Vonnegut’s Time as a Soldier During WWII Inspired His Popular Anti-War Novel, ‘Slaughterhouse-Five’

Kurt Vonnegut portrait.

Written by Todd Neikirk and Clare Fitzgerald Kurt Vonnegut is one of the most beloved and influential authors of the 20th century. While he was…

Vasily Zaytsev: Successful Red Army Sniper During World War II

Vasily Zaitsev with two other Red Army soldiers

The Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, during Operation Barbarossa. The action inspired young men and women across Russia to take up arms. One…

Legendary Battles That Would Make Outstanding Films

Artist's depiction of the Battle of Belleau Wood + Swedish machine gunner aiming a machine gun in the snow

War movies have been popular for as long as films have existed. As a result, some of the more popular subjects have been completely exhausted.…

Gabby Gabreski: Flying Ace of World War II and the Korean War

Military portrait of Gabby Gabreski

The first air battles in American war history occurred during World War I, of which the top US pilot was Eddie Rickenbacker. They became more…

War Dog That Served in the Pacific Theater Awarded Distinguished Service Medal

Monument dedicated to Smoky and "Dogs of All Wars" + Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medals displayed on a table

Dogs are a semi-common sight on the battlefield, but one you wouldn’t expect to see is a Yorkshire Terrier. Despite the breed’s small size, one…