Patton, Guderian, Rommel – Three Great Tank Commanders of WWII
The Second World War saw tanks dominate the battlefield for the first time. Gifted commanders seized this way of fighting, becoming legends. Heinz Guderian As…
The Many Things the Movie ‘Braveheart’ Got Wrong… And One Thing It Got Right
Mel Gibson’s film Braveheart is both one of the most celebrated and one of the most reviled pieces of historical filmmaking ever. A heart-stirring and…
Different Ways Medieval Crusaders 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…
Heinz Guderian: A Great German Commander of WWII – He Stood Up To Hitler
General Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was one of the most innovative military commanders of the 20th century. He helped to develop modern tank warfare, bringing success…
Good Looking… But Not A Good Idea – 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…
Restoring Honor – The Americans Take Hill 609 in WW2 Tunisia
In most battles, the commanders are focused on proving their superiority over the enemy. But in April 1943, when American troops assaulted Axis positions on…
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…
The Awesome Power of the Ancient Roman Navy Was So Great, It Even Won Sieges
Most people’s image of a siege is of a conflict fought entirely on land. But in the ancient era, when most of the great cities…
Of Course, we all knew this… Secret WW2 German Inventions – The Jetpack
As he crosses the French countryside, Private Rooney hears a noise. He raises his rifle and tenses, ready to shoot at German infantry or dive…
Encounters Between Enemies: Peaceful Meetings Between the Opposing Sides of World War I
The First World War saw unprecedented death and destruction all along the Western Front. Despite this, soldiers from opposing sides managed to have friendly encounters,…
The French Military Disaster at Dien Bien Phu – Ignorance, Arrogance, Poor Planning
Arrogance. Ignorance. Poor planning. These were the weapons with which French commanders fought the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and with which they ensured their…
The Devastating Power of Ancient Roman Sieges
Tactically, the purpose of a siege is almost always the same – to take control of a strongly defended position. The reasons for launching one…