World War 2 | War History

Leonard Funk: One of the Most Decorated Paratroopers of World War II

Jesse Beckett
US soldiers walking through the snow + Military portrait of Leonard Funk Jr.

On September 5, 1945, Leonard Funk Jr. was awarded the United States’ highest distinction: the Medal of Honor. He earned the award during action earlier…

The Wreck of the USS Johnston (DD-557) Was Once the Deepest Ever Recorded

USS Johnston (DD557) shipwreck below the water + USS Johnston (DD-557) at sea

The USS Johnston (DD-557) was a destroyer that saw service with the US Navy during World War II. She saw the most activity in the…

Hundreds of WWII-Era Munitions Detonated Off Okinawa

Ordnance Detonated in Japan

After the discovery of hundreds of WWII munitions this year leftover from the Battle of Okinawa, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has begun to destroy…

Down Street Tube Station: The Secret Bunker Where the Dunkirk Evacuation and D-Day Were Coordinated

Tunnel dimly-lit by a single lightbulb

London was hit hard during the Second World War. Home to Britain’s government, it was a primary target of the Germans, who were looking to…

The Tragic Crash that Took Out the B-24 “Hot Stuff” and Its Crew

B-24 Liberator In Action

Over three months before the B-17 Memphis Belle completed 25 missions, the B-24 Liberator “Hot Stuff” had already returned home from its 25th mission. The…

The Second World War Helped Launch Dick Van Dyke’s Acting Career

Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Sr. in 'Mary Poppins'

Is the fountain of youth real? A lot of movie fans seem to think it is. Actors like Paul Rudd, Jenifer Aniston and, of course,…

Betty White Put Her Acting Career on Hold to Volunteer for the War Effort

Betty White might be a television icon, but did you know she once put her acting career on hold to devote her time to the…

200 Unexploded WWII Shells Uncovered in Staffordshire, UK

Bomb squad member walking beside a truck

The bomb squad was called to the small Staffordshire town of Cold Meece after receiving a report that hundreds of World War II-era shells were…

These 4 Weapons Created For Combat Were Cheap But Ingenious Game Changers

Sometimes, no matter how tactically adept a military force may be, if an opponent suddenly shows up with a particularly advanced or capable weapon, it…

Polish Scouts Risked Their Lives for the Resistance During World War II

Polish Scouts sitting atop a tank

Poland was one of the earliest casualties of the Second World War. After being invaded by Germany, the country’s government fled and went into exile…

Stanley Hollis: The Only British Soldier to Earn the Victoria Cross for his Actions on D-Day

Sergeant Hollis

Since it was introduced only 1,358 Victoria Crosses have been awarded. One of these was to Stanley Hollis, a soldier in the British Army who…

5 ‘Old Hollywood’ Celebrities Who Worked With The OSS To Fight Our Enemies

Julia Child

The Office of Strategic Services, better known as the OSS, was the United States intelligence agency during WWII. It was shut down promptly after the…