Updated | War History

Wars That Nearly Happened – What Prevented Them From Breaking Out?

Portrait of Otto von Bismarck + Illustration of the Trent Affair, showing the RMS Trent and the USS San Jacinto (1850) at sea

Wars that nearly happened are some of history’s most fascinating moments. To ponder what could have been is both terrifying and intriguing. Often, they’re defined…

Sergeant Stubby: The Most Decorated War Dog of World War I

Sergeant Stubby wearing his chamois coat while standing outside

Animals have been a part of military units throughout history. From ancient times to modern conflicts, they’ve been of use on the battlefield and provided…

How the Biggest Traitors In Military History Betrayed Their Countries

Mildred Gillars holding her chin + Military portrait of Benedict Arnold + Military portrait of Fritz Duquesne

Military traitors are some of the biggest, most despised figures in history, but they’re also some of the most fascinating. It’s mind-boggling to consider how…

History’s Strangest Tanks – Including the Kugelpanzer!

Men standing with the Boirault Machine outside + Kugelpanzer on display

Since the development of the world’s first tank, Little Wille, in 1916, engineers have continuously strived to make these armored vehicles bigger, better, faster and…

Gremlins Were A Pilot’s Worst Enemy During World War II

Hawker Hurricane in flight + Illustration of a gremlin aiming a slingshot

A good portion of the fighting that occurred between the Axis and Allied powers during World War II took place in the sky, and pilots…

The Battle of the Bismarck Sea Made It Mandatory for Japanese Soldiers to Know How to Swim

Aerial view of a ship in the middle of the Bismarck Sea

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941, the United States and its allies in the Pacific were subjected to a series…

4,000 Sea Mines Were Set Off By the Sun During the Vietnam War

Illustration of solar flares on the surface of the Sun

In August 1972, American magnetic sea mines in the oceans surrounding northern Vietnam began simultaneously exploding. They had been strategically placed to detonate close to…

When Male Air Traffic Controllers Went to War, Women Stepped in to Fill Their Positions

AI rendering of two women working in an air traffic control tower

With men overseas in Europe and the Pacific during World War II, women were needed to fill the positions they’d previously had. Many male-dominated industries…

A ‘Spooky’ Aircraft Known as Puff, the Magic Dragon – The Story of the Douglas AC-47

Douglas AC-47 Spooky in flight

“Puff, the Magic Dragon” wasn’t just a popular ’60s song by Peter, Paul and Mary, it was also the nickname for the Douglas AC-47 Spooky,…

The Battles of Narvik Were Fueled By Allied and German Self-Interest

Remains of a destroyer half-submerged in water

The Battles of Narvik refer to the naval offensives and land battle that occurred between the Germans and Allies in Norway. It was one of…

Iron Dome: Israel’s Defense System That’s Up to 90 Percent Effective at Destroying Incoming Targets

Tamir interceptor missile being fired from a mobile launcher

Since 2011, Israel has operated one of the world’s most powerful and effective air defense systems. Designed to protect against rocket and artillery attacks, it’s…

Munitionettes: The Women Who Stepped Up to Build Munitions During World War I

Munitionettes working at machines

As World War I raged on, the British government ran low on both soldiers and munitions. While conscription rectified the troop shortage, it only fueled…