The Kingmaker – The Family Members Napoleon Bonaparte Raised To Power
Like many rulers throughout history, Napoleon made use of his family. He discussed issues with them, and they were supporters and strategic assets in his political…
Operation Iceberg – The Largest Amphibious Invasion In The Pacific, And The Fight For Okinawa
In Spring 1945, Allied forces were advancing on Japan, and Allied planes were able to bombard her cities. Okinawa, a 70-mile long island 350 miles from…
Eleven Military Uniforms That Got Soldiers Killed
These days, when we think about dangerous military uniforms we mean shoddily made body armor or badly colored camouflage. But far more disastrous uniforms have…
The Race To Berlin In The Dramatic Closing Stages Of World War Two
The advance on Berlin in early 1945 didn’t only mark the final stage of World War Two in Europe. It also saw the first open…
Medieval Crusaders – How They Might Have Thought And Felt About Their Wars
A knight stands on the walls of Jerusalem, staring out at the parched land beyond the city. He is weary from weeks of travel and…
The Vast Invasion Fleet of the Spanish Armada – A Terrifying Power At Sea
The attempted invasion of England by the Spanish Armada on 1588 was an extraordinary undertaking. A vast invasion fleet was assembled in an attempt to…
A Day In The Life Of A Roman Legionary
Roman legionaries were among the most ruthlessly efficient soldiers in the ancient world. But even for these highly disciplined and well-equipped men, the armies that…
The Ulster Division at Schwaben Redoubt: How Too Much Success Led to Terrible Loss
The Battle of the Somme, launched by the Allies against German lines on July 1, 1916, was an extraordinary offensive. A huge mass of troops…
Maurice Gamelin And The Fall Of France In 1940
The French Were Led by Maurice Gamelin At the start of the Second World War, the French general staff were led by General Maurice Gamelin,…
Military Leaders Whose Orders Got Their Own Men Decimated
Death is, sadly, an essential part of war. Unnecessary death is not, yet it remains a constant. Even the most capable commanders sometimes give orders…
The Roman Army – Mighty Conquerors Of The Ancient World
Mythical Origins Legends tell that the Roman army began with Romulus, the mythical founder of Rome, and his bodyguard of 300 warriors called the celeres.…
Great Feats Of Wartime Engineering – Essential To Victory
The career of the military engineer may not have the glamor of the fighter pilot or samurai warrior, but throughout the history of warfare, battlefields…