Shell Shock: A Sad Side-Effect of the First World War
Shell shock was one of the major side effects of WWI. Many soldiers suffered from it, as it was caused by the heavy explosions and constant…
General James “Jumpin Jim” Gavin – WWII Airborne Division
James Maurice “Jumpin’ Jim” Gavin was the youngest lieutenant-general in the US Army ever, and the only general to make four combat airborne jumps in…
The Drafts – Building the armies of the American Civil War
In America, the draft is a controversial subject. Many people support it, as they feel it is necessary for a country at war, while many…
Stonewall Jackson – A Flawed but Brilliant Commander
One of the greatest commanders of the American Civil War, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was also one of the most difficult to work with. Fierce, secretive,…
Heinz Guderian: A Great German Commander of WWII – He Stood Up To Hitler
General Heinz Wilhelm Guderian was one of the most innovative military commanders of the 20th century. He helped to develop modern tank warfare, bringing success…
Forces of Nature – Dealing with Weather in the Trenches of WW1
One of the most important battlegrounds of WW1 was the battle in the trenches. It was gruesome, for many reasons. At times the soldiers would be…
Tibor “Ted” Rubin: How Mauthausen Concentration Camp Helped Him Survive the Korean War
None who survived the German concentration camps of WWII remember them fondly. Except for one man. As far as he was concerned, it is what…
Otto Skorzeny: Hitler’s Elite SS Commando Leader of World War Two
In September 1943, Hitler sent SS commandoes to rescue his ally Mussolini from the new Italian government. For the man leading the raid, Otto Skorzeny,…
The Valley Campaign: Stonewall Jackson Defeats Four Union Armies
Stonewall Jackson was one of the most daring and eccentric commanders in American history. Nowhere was his leadership and tactical greatness better displayed than in…
Patton, Guderian, Rommel – Three Great Tank Commanders of WWII
The Second World War saw tanks dominate the battlefield for the first time. Gifted commanders seized this way of fighting, becoming legends. Heinz Guderian As…
US Fighter-Bomber Veteran Recalls Flying Missions Over Italy in World War Two
Ronald Bade served in the US Army from 1943 to 1945. He flew 122 fighter-bomber missions in Europe during World War II while he was…
Vietnamese Bride Still Loves Her Japanese Husband – 60 Years After He Left
Over 60 years after her Japanese husband left her in Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Xuan still sleeps with a body pillow made from his military uniform.…