Andrew Knighton

Andrew Knighton is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by Andrew Knighton:

6 Great Women Who Inspired Napoleon

Despite sharing the gender biases common to his time, Napoleon Bonaparte’s admiration for great men extended to a few women. Though he once said that…

Leonidas I, Sparta’s Greatest Warrior King

King Leonidas I is the most famous general in the history of Sparta, and perhaps the whole of Greece. Disappointingly little is known about the…

The main reasons why the allied landings at Anzio were a failure – within three days of the landing, the Allied troops were surrounded by 3 Panzer divisions

Towards the end of 1943, Allied forces were struggling to fight their way up Italy in the face of stern resistance from German Field Marshal…

The Crazy Battle of Omdurman was an overwhelming triumph for the British. Only 48 of their men were killed while the Mahdists lost nearly 11,000

All through the darkness of the night, a British infantryman waits nervously by the banks of the Nile. The Mahdists, infamously bloodthirsty savages, are just…

Battle of Bannockburn – Important Scottish Victory In The First War Of Scottish Independence

Fought on 23-24 June 1314, the Battle of Bannockburn is one of the most celebrated incidents in Scottish history. Having been conquered by the English…

The Vultee Vengeance – The Allied WWII Dive Bomber Developed To Rival The German Stuka

When people talk about aircraft used in WWII, most remember the German Stuka dive-bomber used to great effect very early in the war, but both…

These Four French Commanders Became Liabilities Because of Illness. General Maurice Gamelin Suffered From An Advanced Form Of Syphilis That Affects The Brain

Even the best of commanders are prone to poor performance when ill health strikes. Several of note have affected the French army during its history.…

Battle of Agincourt – The English Really Should Have Lost, But They Won

The Battle of Agincourt is an iconic moment in English military history. On 25 October 1415, an army of English raiders under Henry V faced…

US 33rd Fighter Group – The Exhausting Fight for the Air Over Tunisia

In November 1942, the American 33rd Fighter Group went to North Africa. They were among the first US flyers to join the African campaign. Over…

Paul Robinett, Legendary American Tank Commander of World War Two

Paul Robinett spent six months on the battlefront of WWII, first as a colonel and then as a general. During that time, he fought in…

Battle For North Africa – The Ships, Planes, and Tanks of Operation Torch

In November 1942, 107,305 American servicemen crossed the Atlantic to invade occupied North Africa. Their success depended in large part on the military vehicles available…

The Bold But Unsuccessful Mission of 1st Commando at Bizerte in World War Two

In November 1942, British and American forces made their first decisive push to take control of Tunisia from the Axis armies. Having landed in the…