How Hitler Transformed the German Officer Corps Before and During WWII
As leader of Germany, Hitler transformed the officer corps. It brought fresh blood into the army. It also created problems, some of which eventually led…
World War One – The Early Years of Erwin Rommel
Erwin Rommel is rightly remembered as one of the most gifted commanders of WWII, but one of his finest achievements took place 20 years before,…
In WWII, Some German Officers Took A Big Risk And Stood Up To Hitler
Adolf Hitler was not a man willing to listen to the opinions of others. Despite evidence to the contrary, he consistently believed he knew better…
American Civil War: The Battle of Chancellorsville – Fighting Joe Hooker and Robert E. Lee
The Battle of Chancellorsville was one of the most important of the American Civil War. It saw one of the war’s bloodiest days of fighting,…
After Victory At D-Day, Fierce Fighting In The French Countryside
Following the D-Day landings, the Allies faced a difficult challenge. The countryside of Normandy is made up of bocage – dense terrain full of winding…
March to Surrender: A German Operation in the Dying Days of WWII
WWII did not end with Hitler’s suicide. As the Allies advanced across Germany from east and west, soldiers were attempting to find the safest places…
Fighting Joe Hooker Worked Hard To Become a General in the American Civil War
During the early days of the American Civil War, appointments of Union generals were as much about politics as skill and experience. The case of…
Wounded in Action – Powerful German Officers of WWII
Modern warfare distances commanders from the action. The commanders of WWII in German armies, however, often put themselves close to the front lines. Along with…
Treachery – The Spies Who Betrayed British Military Secrets During the Cold War
Political idealism. Bitter disillusionment. Greed. Romance. There are plenty of reasons why people betray their countries by becoming spies. In post-WWII Britain, they all came…
The WWI Experience of Germany’s WWII Commanders
WWI shaped the German army of WWII. Bitterness at their loss encouraged Nazism among the Germans and created scores of highly driven soldiers. The experiences…
Erwin Rommel in the Invasion of France in WWII
Erwin Rommel is usually remembered for commanding German forces in North Africa during WWII. There, his mastery of tank combat brought surprise victories and a…
Field Marshal Erich von Manstein – German Commander in World War II
One of Nazi Germany’s greatest military planners, Field Marshal Erich von Manstein displayed a thorough understanding of the use of strategy. However, his conclusions were…