The History Of Dog Tags – A Feature Of Warfare Since Before The First World War
Dog tags have a simple purpose; they exist to identify people. The term “dog tag” is informal, but it is the nickname for those two pieces…
The Gray Ranks – The Fighting Boy-Scouts Of The Polish WWII Resistance
When people think of boy scouts, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Setting up a tent? Singing songs around the fire? Wearing…
General Burnside – The Swashbuckling Union General Who Pioneered Sideburns
What do a rifle, various railroads, the American Civil War, the Franco-Prussian War, the National Rifle Association, and sideburns have in common? Here is the…
This Brave Pilot Climbed Out On To The Wing Of His Stricken Bomber At 13,000 Feet
The details behind every Victoria Cross are fascinating, but James Allen Ward may have the most unique tale of all. The 22-year-old New Zealand-born pilot…
How Tanks Decided The First And Second World Wars
The concept of a military tank was not particularly new in 1916. However, the ability to move troops safely through combat territories with a vehicle…
Heinze And Reinhard Heydrich – A Tale Of Two Brothers Who Went Different Ways In WW2
In 1918 two teenage brothers posed for a photograph. The older brother has his arm protectively around the younger one. They are Heinze and Reinhard…
The Early Days Of Drones – Unmanned Aircraft From World War One And World War Two
Unmanned aerial vehicles, popularly known as drones, are most often associated with airstrikes in modern warfare, but their history goes much further back than that.…
Fighting On The Gustav Line – Part 1
War History Online presents this Guest Article from Pietro Giovanni Liuzzi Italy, September 1943 – May 1944 Following the defenestration of Mussolini on July 25,…
The Attack On Hamel In 1918 – Forging A Bond Between Allies Of Different Nations
In the spring of 1918, the Germans went on the offensive. With new tactics including Stormtroopers and a “fire-waltz” artillery attack, it was the most…
The Unknown History of US Coast Guard Intelligence Operations
History often overlooks the Coast Guard’s role as an intelligence-gathering operation. This small service, with its unique combination of military, law enforcement, and humanitarian missions…
One Of The Main Reasons For Napoleon Bonaparte’s Downfall – He Could Not Conquer at Sea
One of the main reasons for Napoleon’s downfall was the inability of his fleets to defeat the British Navy. Here are ten reasons why the…
This Egyptian Unit Escaped Destruction In 1967 By Invading Israel
War History Online presents this Guest Article from Christopher Weeks When faced with an attack by a superior force, sometimes the key to survival lies…