World War 2 | War History

Battle of Wake Island – All Those Who Surrendered Were Tortured, 98 Were Machine-Gunned

Before the threat of war in the Pacific and the outbreak of World War II, Wake Island was a stopping off point for vacationers aboard…

Top Four Totally Effective Surprise Attacks in Military History

Surprise attacks and ambushes can turn the tide of war. More often than not, the side that has the larger base of industry or manpower…

Black Sheep One: The U.S. Marine Corps Ace Credited with the Highest Number of Kills In WWII – Gregory “Pappy” Boyington

There are some heroes in war who become legends. They face the brutality of the conflict head on, unflinching in the face of adversity. A few of these remarkable figures…

Five Facts: The WW2 Concentration Camp Where Anne Frank Died: Bergen-Belsen

Bergen-Belsen is infamous around the world for the poor conditions the prisoners endured at the camp during World War Two. Disease and malnutrition were rife,…

8 Facts About The Hardest Day in the Battle of Britain, When All Was Almost Lost

The Hardest Day in the Battle of Britain took place on August 18th, 1940 when the German Luftwaffe decided to try and destroy the UK…

The Abraham Lincoln Brigade – The Heroic US Citizens Who Fought To Free Spain From Fascism

During the Spanish Civil War (1936 – 1939) a call went out from the Republican forces for communists and socialists around the world to come…

This Reindeer Battalion of WWII Was Braver than Soviets, Tougher Than Tanks

The Petsamo-Kirkenes Offensive in 1944, which led to the expulsion of German forces from the northern regions of Norway, would have been severely hampered had…

Firing the Massive WW2 88mm FLAK Gun – Massive Anti-Aircraft Gun

One of the most famous weapons used by the Germans in World War II was the Flugabwehrkanoneor Flak for short. The word means ‘aircraft defense…

Purposely Going Down with His Ship, This WW2 Captain Saved Countless Lives And Was Awarded The MoH

The history of war is full of various mantras that, while popular, are not always entirely accurate.  It is often said that the Marines never…

Wounded, He Sacrificed Himself to Clear the way for his Platoon – James Stokes, VC

Private James Stokes’ thirtieth birthday was February 6th, 1945. On the 1st of March, less than one month later, he came to the end of…

For Individual Acts of Valor During the Battle of the Bulge, 20 US Soldiers Were Awarded the Medal of Honor

Reg Jans

War History Online proudly presents this article from Guest Blogger Reg Jans, www.regjans.com. Reg Jans’ deep passion for WWII began as a boy after talking…

When Finland Switched Sides And Fought Germany Too

Throughout World War II, countless countries fought against one another. While the majority of the battles pitted the Allied Forces against the Axis Powers, other…