The Celebrities who Fought for Their Country During WWII
Celebrities and war only seem to come together in the movies these days. However, after the outbreak of WWII, things were different. Both average people…
The Magician of WWII who Made Tanks Disappear
Maskelyne was approached by Brigadier Dudley Clarke who asked whether he would consider adapting his skills for espionage with MI9 as part of ‘A Force’.…
Over the Top: Why Were Whistles Used in the Trenches of WWI?
Artillery shells and bullets whizzing over the trenches created a cacophony of noise. With all of this noise, shouted commands could go unheard. Trench whistles…
The Home Guard: The Real Story Behind Britain’s WWII Dad’s Army
Over the course of the war, the Home Guard would gradually become a better equipped and better-trained army of 1.7 million men. The image of…
When Were Dog Tags First Used in the Military?
These were metal discs on a bracelet which held the name of the soldier, their rank, and their formation. Dog tags and the military are…
The Concentration Camps of the Anglo-Boer War
Concentration camps are usually linked to WWII and the horrors of the Holocaust. However, they were around long before this and were used by many…
Military Inventions We Use Every Day
When thinking about military inventions, weapons of war are what come to mind. Tanks, bombs, and guns are what we expect the military to create…
The $5 Billion Army Camouflage That Failed to Hide its Soldiers
The Universal Camouflage Pattern used grey, beige, and green as the primary colors. It was intended to help disguise soldiers in both desert and temperate…
Everyday Slang That Originated In the Trenches of World War I
The English language is constantly evolving, with new words being added all the time. This isn’t a new phenomenon, with terms and expressions from across…
The Legend of Black Caesar: The Pirate who Buried $6 Million Worth of Gold
Henri Caesar is said to have buried between $2 million and $6 million in treasure across several islands in the area. At the height of…
“I See No Ships” Facts You May Not Have Known About Horatio Nelson
At the Battle of Cape St. Vincent, his right elbow was shattered by a musket ball during the attack, with the arm being removed by…
From Booze to Bombs: The Beer Carrying Spitfires of WWII
To prepare for a beer run, the fuel tanks attached to the pylons would be steam cleaned by ground crews. The tanks would then be…
Charged at 12 Germans With His Bayonet – Double Medal of Honor Recipient
The Battle of Belleau Wood would mark a turning point as the American forces helped to stop the final German offense of WWI. June 6,…
What if Britain had Lost the Battle Above its Skies in WWII?
The most likely result of German victory and the success of Operation Sea Lion would have been a new government in the UK. During the…
Web of Intrigue: How a Spider Helped With Scottish Independence
It is here, the tales tell us, that Robert came into contact with a spider, and the future of Scotland was shaped. Robert I, commonly…
Strange But True: When US & German Forces Defeated the Waffen SS
The inmates broke into the weapons room but could not leave the castle. The woods surrounding them were full of Waffen SS and Gestapo. Wars…
When The Earth Had a Ring About it- Project West Ford
The US military believed that the Soviet Union could attack an undersea cable. The American space program landed people on the moon and has contributed…
Whoops – When The USA Dropped a Nuclear Bomb onto a Farm in North Carolina
In January 1961, President John F. Kennedy was inaugurated and the Cold War was in full force. US Air Force bombers and fighter planes were…
The Irony – Nobel Peace Prize nominees included Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini
The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded yearly since 1901 with only 19 instances of no prize being awarded. The winner is determined by the…
Punch Drunk at Karansebes –The Austrian Army That Fought Itself
Battles generally consist of two opposing forces often from different countries or factions. The Battle of Karansebes is an exception: this deadly battle was fought…
The “Ceramic Grenade”: Japan’s last-ditch weapon of WWII
Grenades have long been used in warfare across the world. However, their manufacture requires certain industrial materials and production lines. In the closing stages of…
The truth About Erwin König Sent to Stalingrad to Take on The Very Effective Soviet Snipers
Vasily Zaytsev was one of the most successful snipers in the Soviet army. According to documents from the time, he was so prolific that the…
Differing By Just 1mm The US 76mm Guns Were So More Effective Than The 75mm Guns
The cannon on a tank is vital in any battle particularly when there are other tanks on the battlefield. According to tank destroyer doctrine, only…
Did The US Government Ever Plan to Use The Atomic Bomb on Germany?
The atomic bomb created by the Manhattan Project was the most powerful bomb of its time. The United States used two bombs called “Little Boy”…
Strange But True: During WWII the British Government Bought all of The World’s Tea
The British and drinking tea are two things that go hand-in-hand. Everyone knows that the English love a good cuppa, but most do not…
Why JFK Kept a Coconut Shell in the Oval Office, as We Know He Had to Abandon His Torpedo Boat
Before John F. Kennedy was the 35th President of the United States, he was a lieutenant in the US Navy during WWII. During his time…
Irish President Gave Official Condolences to Nazi Germany on the Suicide of Hitler
Eamon de Valera has largely been forgotten by most of the world outside of the British Isles. However, he was an imposing figure in Irish…
The Unsolved Mystery of Nanjing Battalion, Did 3,000 Chinese Troops Really Disappear in 1939?
The Second Sino-Japanese war was brutal, with Japan ravaging China. Many lives were lost on both sides, but the strangest loss was that of the…
During the Draft in America, how did they choose who went to which branch and did what job?
The draft was never popular, but during WWII it was deemed necessary. When the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 was signed by President…
Charles Lightoller Stayed Aboard The Titanic Until The End. In WW2 He Volunteered to Help Evacuate Over 120 Men from Dunkirk
The sinking of the Titanic is an infamous event in history. Most people know about the iceberg and the fact that there were too few…
Why Did the Japanese & Germans Form an Alliance in WWII?
Alliances during a war can change the outcome, but the alliance between Japan and Germany is one that baffles many people. Most people can understand…
Japanese Fighter Pilot Who, after Pearl Harbor, Crash-Landed on Hawaiian Island & Terrorized the Residents
December 7, 1941, is remembered as the day Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, but it is also the day the Niihau Incident began. The incident involved…
Movie Myth or Did Dropping a Grenade Into an Open Tank Hatch Actually Happen?
In the movie Saving Private Ryan, there is a scene where American soldiers drop a grenade into a Tiger tank. This is an exciting cinematic…
Largest Transfer of Wealth From one Country to Another, How Britain Hid Gold in Canada
In 1939, war had broken out in Europe. Germany annexed Austria and invaded Poland. They crushed the armies of Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and…
Carrots Improve Your Night Vision: Fact or Propaganda From the RAF?
As children, we are told to eat carrots to improve our eyesight. Carrots, we are informed, will help us see at night and will be…
This Dentist Died In a Japanese Banzai Attack But He Took Over 90 Enemy Soldiers With Him
The medical personnel of the armed forces are often unsung heroes. They serve and protect like every other serviceman, but are not often awarded the…
Did German Americans Actually Leave the US to Fight for Germany During WWII?
In the acclaimed HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers (2001), Tech. Sgt. Donald Malarkey, played by Scott Grimes, asks a German prisoner of war (POW) where…
Mitchell Paige: The Man Who Took on 2,500 Japanese Soldiers & Won
History has shown us that one person can turn the tide of a battle. There is no better example of this than Mitchell Paige. Paige…
A Reindeer Lived on a British Sub, Ate a Navigation Chart, Got so Fat it Couldn’t Get Back Out
There are a lot of unusual moments from WWII that create some of the most interesting stories. One of these is undoubtedly the story of…
Last Seen Propped Against a Tree, Pistol in His Hand, 8 Japanese Lie Around Him
The Medal of Honor is the greatest and most esteemed American military decoration that can be bestowed. The soldiers who have received this honor are…
Took on 22 Japanese Fighters: Then Led an Infantry Charge on The Beach
Of the circumstances surrounding the US involvement in WWII, Pearl Harbor is the attack that stands out. However, this was not the only US military…
The submarine commander who sank a ship with Molotov cocktails
Submarines use torpedoes to sink ships. This is something that everyone knows and accepts. But while this fact applies to almost all of the campaigns…
1000’s Still Missing: Do You Have a Famous Masterpiece Looted During WW2 in Your Basement?
During WWII, looting was common. Most people know that the Nazi Party took valuables from Jewish families, but many people do not realize that Nazi…
In Band of Brothers GIs Could Retun Home if They Had 85 Points, Was This True?
The TV miniseries Band of Brothers provided information about WWII to many people. While some of the facts in the show were exaggerated, was the…
The Highest-Scoring Female Fighter Ace Ever: The Short but Daring Life of Lydia Litvyak
In June 1941, the Axis powers launched an ill-fated invasion of Russia. The 3 million soldiers that swarmed the Russian border overwhelmed the Soviet defenses.…
Crimes committed by the United States during WW2
When thinking about war crimes in World War II, the Holocaust, the Nazi Party, and the Nuremberg trials come to mind. War crimes perpetrated by…
In Band of Brothers Holocaust victims were locked back in the camp, did this really happen?
The TV miniseries Band of Brothers was nominated for 20 Primetime Emmy Awards. The show is entertaining, although it has issues with historical accuracy. One…
A Drunk Conversation Stopped the German Attempt to Assassinate the Big Three
Operation Long Jump was perhaps the most audacious idea executed by the Nazi Party. The operation would have had the greatest consequences on the outcome…
The ‘Stars’ of the Nuremberg Trials: War Criminals Convicted There, Some Faces You May Have Forgotten About
On November 19, 1945, the Nuremberg trials started with indictments against 24 major war criminals and seven organizations. All of the criminals tried were members…
Why there are only 2 flyable Ilyushin Il-2 aircraft left
Of all the Soviet combat aircraft in WWII, the Ilyushin Il-2 was one of the most important. This Russian plane was produced in great quantities…
Creepy stories from WWII, Normandy Ghosts, Disappearing Aircraft
Wars are full of inspiring stories and tales that defy the odds. They are also the best place for creepy stories that will keep you…
Amputation Without any Surgical Tools: Amazing Story of a Daring Escape From German Troops
Snow blindness, frostbite, gangrene, and amputation without any surgical tools. These are all things that can kill a person, and adding in WWII as well…
Rick Rescorla: True American Hero Led a Bayonet Charge in Vietnam, Saved Thousands from the Twin Towers 9/11. His Body Was Never Found
The Battle of la Drang Valley was the first major battle in the Vietnam War. 36 years later, the first major battle of the War…
How Reliable Were WWII Pilot Kill Counts?
In the heat of an aerial battle, can you really keep track of how many planes have been shot down? During WWII, intelligence officers believed…
Debunked: 5 Myths About Pearl Harbor Attack
A lot is known about the attack on Pearl Harbor, but how much is true and what has become twisted over the years? The…
Rescuing 500 Airman Behind Enemy Lines: The daring Operation Halyard
George Vujnovich was known to his friends as a mild-mannered businessman who owned an airplane parts supply company. In 2007, when Vujnovich was 92, that…