While working as an Allied spy, actress Josephine Baker attached her intelligence notes to her bra with a safety pin to keep them hidden
Josephine Baker overcame significant racial barriers, became an influential advocate for civil rights and women’s empowerment, and achieved immense popularity in France during the 1920s…
After winning a bet against Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bernard Montgomery demanded his prize: a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Wartime leadership is not usually remembered for friendly bets, but one such story reportedly emerged in 1943 involving Dwight D. Eisenhower and Bernard Montgomery. According…
The motorcycles that were used by soldiers on the front line of World War II
Although they offered neither the protection nor the firepower of the armored vehicles commonly associated with World War II, motorcycles remained an important part of…
Only a single Medal of Honor was given to a soldier by the United States for actions during the Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is often considered one of the most consequential naval battles ever fought. In June 1942, three American aircraft carriers confronted a…
Few people realize that Marie Curie brought X-Rays to the front lines of WWI to treat injured soldiers
Marie Curie is widely recognized as one of the most important scientific figures of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Her pioneering investigations into…
Operation Mongoose produced numerous plans to overthrow Fidel Castro but almost none of them made it past the planning stage
During the Cold War, Fidel Castro became one of the most closely watched and controversial figures on the international stage. His government in Cuba was…
The German city of Konstanz survived the Second World War’s devastating air raids by tricking the Allies into thinking it was part of Switzerland
Throughout World War II, the threat of aerial bombardment was a persistent reality, with many European cities facing repeated nighttime attacks intended to catch defenders…
As WWII was drawing to a close, the Führer ordered Felix Steiner’s unit to continue attacking but the commander refused
The Waffen-SS served as the military arm of the SS and became a significant component of Germany’s war effort during World War II. In its…
The most famous double agents from the Cold War era
While James Bond exists only in the fictional world created by Ian Fleming, history has produced intelligence operatives whose activities were every bit as complex.…
Pauline Cushman: The stage actress who became a valuable Union spy during the American Civil War
While Pauline Cushman did not attain significant success as an actress, she became known for her work as a Union spy during the Civil War.…
The USS Wake (PR-3) was the only American ship captured by Japanese forces intact
Though not a large warship, the USS Wake (PR-3) earned a distinctive place in naval history. After entering service in 1927, the gunboat passed through…
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Morgan Freeman, and other celebrities we didn’t realize served in the military
When looking at well-known figures with military backgrounds, they generally fall into two broad groups. Some are remembered chiefly for their service and wartime achievements,…