MSN Slideshow | War History

Five of the Most Realistic Representations of War in Hollywood

Todd Neikirk
Willem Dafoe as Sgt. Elias in 'Platoon' + James D'Arcy and Kenneth Branagh as Col. Winnant and Cmdr. Bolton in 'Dunkirk'

War films have always seen a high degree of popularity, even while undergoing dramatic changes over the decades. In the early days of cinema –…

Historic Deception and Camouflage Techniques Used By Militaries

Dummy tank on display

Deception and military subterfuge have been used throughout history. The aim is to give armies the upper hand by tricking the enemy. The practice dates…

The Titanic’s Sister Ship Took Out a German U-boat in World War I

The RMS Olympic in dazzle camouflage

When the RMS Olympic was launched in October 1910, she was the largest man-made moving object in the world. At 882 feet long, Olympic set…

Six Things War Movies Get Wrong About Grenades

Elisabeth Edwards
Soldier preparing to throw a hand grenade

When it comes to explosive weapons, nothing is more recognizable (and misunderstood) than the hand grenade. Movies and video games usually depict someone pulling the…

What Happened to the ‘Lost’ Confederate Gold?

Portrait of Jefferson Davis + Pile of gold bars

Going to war can be incredibly expensive. As such, the Confederate States of America solicited donations from wealthy citizens. A lot of that gold –…

T-72: The Soviet-Era Tank That Continues to Serve the Russian Armed Forces

Russian soldier standing in the turret of a T-72 tank

Written by Lis Edwards and Clare Fitzgerald. During the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union was looking to develop a better tank, as…

The Titanium Used to Construct the SR-71 Blackbird Came from the Soviet Union

SR-71 Blackbird in flight

Aviation technology rapidly advanced during the 20th century, but as the aircraft advanced, so too did the machines and technology designed to detect them. In…

The Mark 14 Torpedo Scandal of 1941-43

Mark 14 torpedo on display + Military portrait of Rear Admiral Charles A. Lockwood Jr.

The Mark 14 Torpedo Scandal occurred during the period of 1941-43, with problems related to the weapon dating back almost 25 years. It was among…

Konstantin Rokossovsky Was the Marshal of Two Armies During the 20th Century

Konstantin Rokossovsky dressed in winter gear

Russia during the first half of the 20th century was both massive and constantly engaged in military conflict. One man who made a name for…

Adrian Carton de Wiart: The Unkillable Soldier Who Frankly Enjoyed War

Artist's portrait of Adrian Carton de Wiart + Adrian Carton de Wiart sitting in a chair

Adrian Carton de Wiart. Not many people know the name, but it belonged to one of the most battle-scarred soldiers in the history of the…

Operation Desert Storm: The Battle That Changed Modern Warfare Forever

Elisabeth Edwards
Two F-15C Eagle aircraft in flight

Operation Desert Storm changed modern warfare as we know it. Newly-introduced stealth technologies, GPS, advanced aircraft radar and missile warning systems employed by the US…

Anti-War Resistance in the US Military During the Vietnam War

Todd Neikirk
Newspaper clippings about resistance to the Vietnam War

Following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor during World War II, many American civilians were eager to go off to war. It was a much…