David Baker

David Baker is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by David Baker:

French Foreign Legion A Valiant Fight To The End – 62 Against 3000

In the 1998 film, Legionnaire, martial arts superstar Jean Claude Van Damme plays a boxer who signs up with the French Foreign Legion to escape…

1860: The First U.S. Navy Submarine: “Alligator”

Submarines did not become common in naval forces around the world until the 20th century. But one did exist in 1860s America during the Civil War–the…

Pedro de Lara: From Powerful To Penniless

A man in the midst of a mid-life crisis is not a pretty sight. His mood can trigger all kinds of ill-advised behavior and foolish…

Defying His King: How The Battle Of Arsuf Was Won

Defying a king is no way to win medals, approval, or an invitation to court. Under certain kings of England, defiance could lead to time…

Operation Citadel & The Battle Of Kursk: Biggest Tank Clash of All Time

No battle of World War II has been more discussed – or debated – than the Battle of Kursk, which was part of Hitler’s “Operation…

The A-10 Warthog: How do You Improve the Best Close Combat Jet Ever?

The United States Air Force is considering whether to continue with, modify, or replace the venerable A-10 close-air-support aircraft, fondly nicknamed “Warthog,” which was first…

Cool Stuff We Use Everyday That Came From the Military

War and innovation go hand in hand. Some of our greatest leaps forward have come at times of the most urgent necessity. Most of the…

Norway Apologizes to “German Girls” Who Were Mistreated in WWII

The Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg, issued an official apology from the Norwegian government to women who were mistreated because they had relationships with…

He Saved The World – This Man Refused To Launch Nuclear Missiles During The Cuban Missile Crisis

It’s commonly assumed that the crisis was avoided because U.S. President, John F. Kennedy, and Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, used all their diplomatic powers to…

Over The Centuries: The Evolution of Western Military Uniforms

Today we are familiar with the differences between dress uniforms, fatigues, and combat gear, but military uniforms are a relatively recent invention in the Western…

An Officer, Not A Gentleman: Earned Both Praise & Scorn From His British Comrades

Men whose military careers stand out when they’re serving and endure throughout history are often not the men who simply salute and say “yes, sir.”…

Constantine: One Of Rome’s Greatest Emperors

Some men are born into greatness, while others seize the opportunity to become great. And there are some men who, by luck and birth, are…