Christian Oord

Christian Oord is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by Christian Oord:

Heinrich Himmler’s Descendant who Defied her Family’s Nazi Legacy

“The family considered him the nice uncle,” said Katrin Himmler during an interview with the Neu Westfälischer newspaper in 2010. She shares a surname with…

U-96 & The Incredible Tale Behind the Movie Das Boot

“We all wanted the boat to be successful and to sink as much as possible, regardless of our losses,” The myth of U-96 lives on…

The US Army’s 5 Biggest Military Defeats

It was in such moments when American pride was dented and the nation’s air of invincibility tarnished. These are the US Army’s five biggest military…

The 5 Most Cringe-Worthy Military Mistakes of All Time

“If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.” War is no laughing matter. However, there have been incidents…

Lawrence of Arabia: Archeologist, Writer, Warrior, Spy

In an audacious desert crossing, Laurence and his Bedouin group reached Aqaba and launched an attack against the bastion on the morning of July 4,…

The Hidden Dangers of Serving on a German U-boat During WW2

Despite VII C U-boats having a hull with similar dimensions to a Boeing 767, most of the interior was crammed with survival equipment. Life on…

The Master German Interrogator who Used Country Walks & Home Baked Cakes!

A prisoner once quipped Hanns Scharff “could get a confession of infidelity from a Nun.” His wife’s freshly baked pastries and cookies, and pleasant strolls…

El Cid: The Iconic Warrior who Inspired a 1960s Hollywood Movie

Everyone fought against everyone else. It wasn’t just Moors against Christians, as is often assumed, but Christian against Christian and Moor against Moor. The figure…

Ten Famous Things Napoleon Bonaparte Never Said

“An army travels on its stomach.” Or does it? Napoleon Bonaparte is probably one of the most quoted men in history. Take, for example, his…

Boudicca: The Warrior Queen who Defeated the Mighty Romans

All of the infantry, approximately 2,000 men, was wiped out on a field close to the settlement. Only Cerialis and his cavalry managed to escape.…

The Maid of Orléans : How Joan of Arc defeated the English

An old prophecy said that a virgin from the people would save France after a queen from abroad would nearly destroy the kingdom. This young…

Knights of the Desert: The Myth Behind the Deutsche Afrika Korps

On November 2, 1942, British and Commonwealth troops broke through the German lines, heralding a climactic moment in the Second Battle of El Alamein. Heroic…