Updated | War History

Fish and Chips Boosted the British Public’s Morale During World War II

British soldiers lining up outside of a fish and chips stand

To defeat Germany during World War II, the British public had to give up many staple items, and, for the most part, they did so…

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 ‘Sturmböcke’ Was Designed to Take On the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 parked in grass

In the early stages of World War II, aerial combat over Europe was dominated by two particular aircraft: the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Supermarine Spitfire.…

Release Date, Behind-the-Scenes Featurette Released for Netflix Adaptation of ‘All the Light We Cannot See’

Louis Hofmann as Werner Pfennig in 'All The Light We Cannot See'

A behind-the-scenes featurette for the Netflix adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel All The Light We Cannot See has been released, along with a premiere…

USS Massachusetts (BB-59): The Battleship that Fired the Last Shot of World War II

USS Massachusetts (BB-59) at sea

The USS Massachusetts (BB-59), one of the fast battleships of the South Dakota-class, was built under the limitations enforced by the Washington and London naval…

The Second World War Helped Launch Dick Van Dyke’s Acting Career

Dick Van Dyke as Mr. Dawes Sr. in 'Mary Poppins'

Is the fountain of youth real? A lot of movie fans seem to think it is. Actors like Paul Rudd, Jenifer Aniston and, of course,…

Why Do US Navy Sailors Have 13-Button Pants?

Portrait of a US Navy sailor standing with his arms crossed and wearing 13-button pants

Navies across the world have traditions, some dating back hundreds of years. Many are so old that their origins have long since been forgotten. However,…

Aloysius Schmitt: The US Navy Chaplain Awarded the Silver Star for Saving 12 Sailors at Pearl Harbor

Rescue crews standing atop the capsized USS Oklahoma (BB-37) + Military portrait of Aloysius Schmitt

Regardless of religious practices, chaplains are critical to military operations. They support troops, ensure religious needs are met and negotiate peace with local religious leaders.…

The CIA Stole a Soviet Satellite During the Space Race

AI rendering of three CIA agents standing around a stolen Soviet satellite in a wooden crate

The Space Race was an amazing display of technological excellence, but it also doubled as a direct metric for the United States and Soviet Union’s…

Whisky War: The Most Polite Conflict In the History of War

Aerial view of Hans Island + Bottle of Canadian Classic whisky + Danish officers raising the Danish flag

Hans Island is a barren, uninhabited swath of land in the middle of the Kennedy Channel, in the Nares Strait, between Greenland and Ellesmere Island.…

Marcus Luttrell’s Dog Was Shot, so the US Navy SEAL Went ‘John Wick’ on the Culprits

Marcus Luttrell standing among a crowd + DASY sitting on Marcus Luttrell's lap

In a move reminiscent of the John Wick films, retired US Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell took extreme measures to corner the men who’d murdered his…

8 Times the US Was Attacked on Home Soil During World War II

Fu-Go floating over land

Many Americans assume that, prior to 9/11, the US hadn’t suffered an attack on its own soil since Pearl Harbor in World War II. However,…

These Unusual US Military Experiments Prove Nothing is Too Far-Fetched to Try

Military personnel standing in an ice tunnel + Camel + Pigeon flying

Some of the most interesting moments in military history are the experiments that happen behind the scenes and never see the light of day –…