World War 2 | War History

Operation Market Garden Led to a Decades-Long Treasure Hunt That’s Still Ongoing

Close-up of the map detailing the possible location of the hidden treasure

In 2023, the Dutch National Archives unveiled a collection of documents that had previously been classified as “confidential,” as per the customary 75-year term. Among…

The Japanese Bolt-Action Arisaka Type 99 Rifle Saw Extensive Use In the Pacific Theater

Soldier aiming an Arisaka Type 99 rifle

The Arisaka Type 99 rifle was a significant evolution in the realm of military armaments. Born out of necessity in the 1930s, its development reflected…

Germany Hoped to Weaponize the Occult to Win the Second World War

Paul Freeman, Wolf Kahler and Ronald Lacey as Dr. René Belloq, Col. Dietrich and Maj. Arnold Toht in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'

Germany thought up several strategies to increase its chances of winning World War II, including the breeding of potato bugs to decimate enemy crops and…

The Battle of France Saw a European Power Fall in Just Six Weeks

German soldiers driving tanks down a dirt road

One campaign changed the direction of the Second World War: the Battle of France. The period leading up to the engagement was known as the…

Shiro Ishii and the Dark Legacy of Japan’s Unit 731

Aerial view of the Unit 731 complex + Military portrait of Shiro Ishii

Japanese physician Shiro Ishii presided over a series of abhorrent medical experiments that stand as some of the most egregious atrocities in modern history. Ranging…

The Dear John Letter Was a Symbol of Heartbreak Amid the Terrors of War

British soldier reading a letter outside

When its comes to wartime communications, few carry the weight of the infamous Dear John letter. Originating during World War II, these correspondences have become…

Ending the Deadliest Conflict in Human History: Why Did Japan Surrender in World War II?

Allied and Japanese military personnel standing on the deck of the USS Missouri (BB-63)

The Japanese surrender in World War II brought to a close one of the darkest and deadliest chapters in human history. While the Germans waved…

Upcoming ‘Armour & Embarkation’ Event to Mark 80th Anniversary of D-Day Landings

World War II-era vehicles driving down a street in the middle of a town

A recreation of the movements of the American and British forces is scheduled to take place in the county of Dorset in Southern England to…

Mauthausen Was One of the Most Notorious Concentration Camps Operated By the German Regime

Russian prisoners of war (POWs) hauling earth in a large trench

Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Austria, the remnants of Mauthausen concentration camp are a somber testament to one of the darkest chapters of the…

Memorial Erected In Honor of American Troops Who Died In D-Day Rehearsal Exercise

Crowd gathered around the Exercise Tiger memorial

Nearly 80 years after the disastrous rehearsal for the D-Day landings, a memorial has been erected in honor of the 110 American servicemen who perished…

Lessons Learned From the Battle of Tarawa Led to the Creation of the US Navy SEALs

US Marines gathered around a fortified wall

Between November 20-23, 1943, 35,000 American troops secured Betio island, part of Tarawa Atoll. This was an impressive feat, as the Japanese had anticipated it…

Last Surviving Crew Member of the USS Arizona (BB-39) Dead At 102

Lou Conter standing in front of the Arizona Remembrance Wall

The last survivor of the sinking of the USS Arizona (BB-39) on December 7, 1941, has died. Lou Conter, 102, was a US Navy sailor…