Living In No Man’s Land: The Legend of the Wild Deserters of the First World War
War History Online presents this Guest Article from by Jerome Baldwin Ever since the Great War the legend of the wild deserters has endured. There are…
How Military Intelligence Won The North African Campaign in World War Two
The North African campaigns of the Second World War are remembered for their tank battles, vast deserts, and colorful commanders. One of the most critical…
The Submarine Which Inspired The Movie – U-Boat 96, And The Film “Das Boot”
In 1981, a film was released which is still cited as one of Germany’s greatest cinematic triumphs. It followed the exploits of U-96, a German…
Death in the Skies in World War Two – The RAF and the Luftwaffe face off in Battle
One of the most crucial conflicts of the Second World War was between the air forces of Britain and Germany. The Royal Air Force (RAF)…
War Of Subterfuge – Four Great Military Deceptions of World War Two
Military intelligence was vital to the Second World War. Trickery abounded, as commanders tried to deceive opponents about their plans. Tricking Rommel at Alamein Intelligence…
When France Was Invaded By Nazi Germany, She Suffered A Rapid Defeat
How did the German Wehrmacht manage to defeat the combined armies of France and Britain in 1940 given France was militarily superior in many respects?…
The Japanese Diplomat Who Saved Thousands of Jews During WWII
Chiune Sugihara, better known as Sempo, was a Japanese diplomat who came to prominence during WWII. Sugihara was responsible for saving the lives of thousands…
Sergeant Major Stanley Hollis, Recipient of the Only Victoria Cross for D-Day
The D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, saw many acts of courage. One man stood out and achieved the distinction of being the only person…
Fighting Joe Hooker Worked Hard To Become a General in the American Civil War
During the early days of the American Civil War, appointments of Union generals were as much about politics as skill and experience. The case of…
Unexpected Consequences – How The Spanish-American War Improved American Food
America declared war on Spain in 1898. In the aftermath, the Spanish Empire came to an end, the US grew bigger, and the US Food…
Wounded in Action – Powerful German Officers of WWII
Modern warfare distances commanders from the action. The commanders of WWII in German armies, however, often put themselves close to the front lines. Along with…
Treachery – The Spies Who Betrayed British Military Secrets During the Cold War
Political idealism. Bitter disillusionment. Greed. Romance. There are plenty of reasons why people betray their countries by becoming spies. In post-WWII Britain, they all came…