Andrew Knighton

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

Articles by Andrew Knighton:

7 Battles Where Terrain was Decisive

Whether used well by a skilled commander or ignored by a disastrous one, terrain can play a huge part in deciding the outcome of battles,…

April 28, 1945: The Death of Mussolini

On the 28th of  April 1945, Benito Mussolini died. The leader of Fascist Italy and longest-ruling of the right-wing dictators who brought destruction to 20th…

Midway: The Turning Point in the Pacific

The Battle of Midway (3rd to 7th June 1942) was the single most decisive encounter in the Pacific theater of World War Two. A clash…

When Rome Crushed Israel: The Siege of Masada

The inhabitants of modern Israel and Palestine have a long history of stubborn defiance in the face of outside threats and military oppression. It’s a…

5 Battles Where Fighting Spirit Overcame the Odds

Battles can be lost for a hundred different reasons. Poor numbers, unwise strategy, inferior weapons, the list goes on. But just occasionally, a fighting force…

Civilian Jobs Done by Roman Legionaries

Though it originally began purely as a war machine, the Roman army evolved to fill other roles. This was an inevitable outcome of the growth…

Things You Didn’t Know About Hadrian’s Wall

Though long since reduced to ruins, the line of Hadrian’s Wall is still visible through the countryside of northern England, from Bowness on the west…

Blood and Discipline: What it Was Like to Fight in a Roman Battle

It’s the first century AD and the Roman army is at the height of its power and professionalism. You’re part of that army – a…

A Brief History of the SAS, Britain’s Fighting Elite

Britain’s principal special forces unit, the SAS are perhaps the country’s most famous military unit They are internationally influential experts in special missions. World War…

Facts You Didn’t Know About Hitler’s Invasion of the Soviet Union

A quick look at the invasion of the Soviet Union by Nazi Germany in 33 facts 1.The invasion of the Soviet Union was the most…

Operation Nimrod: The SAS Assault on the Iranian Embassy

On 5th May 1980, the Special Air Service (SAS) stormed the Iranian embassy in London, ending a six-day siege. It was an event that brought…

6 Brutal Forms of Military Discipline from History

However hard they are trained, all armies face some problems with discipline. Anything from shirking tedious duties to running on a bloodthirsty rampage can undermine…