33 Rare Photos of the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Dubbed “Operation Hawaii,” it was intended to prevent the United States from…
The Long Range Desert Group was the ‘Finest of All Units’ to Serve in North Africa
Throughout the Second World War, intelligence was key. Commanding officers tasked their sailors, soldiers and pilots with gathering important information, which could be used to…
The Five Sullivan Brothers Died Serving Aboard the Same Ship in the Pacific
For any family, the loss of a sibling, child or relative during war is devastating. For Thomas and Alleta Sullivan, their entire lives changed when…
The Residents of Graignes Saved the Lives of Over 100 American Paratroopers
The Battle of Graignes was fought between American paratroopers who’d accidentally been dropped off-target during D-Day and German soldiers attempting to provide support for their…
Ernest Evans Took On a Fleet of Japanese Warships, Despite Being Drastically Outnumbered
Escort carriers played a unique role during World War II, particularly in the Pacific Theater, where they faced attacks from above, below and from other…
Manila American Cemetery Is Home to More US WWII Dead Than Any Other Site
Some 16,859 American soldiers call the Manila American Cemetery their final resting place, making it the largest US site of World War II dead. It’s…
22 Images That Show the Many Faces of World War II
By Damian Lucjan and Clare Fitzgerald Society had never before experienced a conflict quite like the Second World War. While the Great War was the…
These Helicopters First Took Flight During WW2
Whenever someone uses helicopters and war in the same sentence, images of aircraft hovering over dense Vietnamese jungles immediately come to mind. However, while these…
The Sleeping Giant Awakes: American Assembly Lines During WWII
Throughout the Second World War, countries ramped up their production efforts to levels not previously seen. The one that stood out the most with regard…
Henry Fonda Served In the US Navy During WWII – He Didn’t Want to ‘Be a Fake In a War Studio’
Henry Fonda was one of the most famous actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Starring in over 100 films, television specials and theater roles,…
The Integral Role Air Gunners Played During the First and Second World Wars
Aircraft made their combat debut during the Italo-Turkish War of 1911-12. Just a few years later, during the First World War, they appeared in much…
High School Project Reunites Twin Brothers Seven Decades After WWII
On June 19, 2018, twin brothers Ludwig Julius Wilhelm “Louie” Pieper and Julius Heinrich Otto “Henry” Pieper were laid to rest side-by-side, some 74 years…
The Allies Faced Many Difficult and Ingenious Beach Obstacles During WWII
The Second World War saw the implementation of a number of new weapons and devices. In particular, the Allied forces had to contend with many…
Bill Mauldin: The Unofficial Cartoonist of the Second World War
Journalism and war have gone hand in hand for many years, with the field truly coming into its own during the Second World War. On…
Jock McLaren: The Soldier-Turned-Guerrilla Fighter Who Performed Major Surgery on Himself In the Jungle
Throughout World War I and II, soldiers came from all backgrounds. Robert Kerr “Jock” McLaren was a veterinarian by trade, but during his service with…
Ernest Borgnine: The ‘McHale’s Navy’ Star’s Service During World War II
Ernest Borgnine had an incredible acting career that spanned decades, with arguably his most notable role being Lt. Cmdr. Quinton McHale in the ABC sitcom,…
The Good, the Bad and the Dirty: Understanding WWII Letter Acronyms
Letter writing was used on all fronts of the Second World War as a way for soldiers to keep in touch with friends and family.…
Wait for Me, Daddy: The True Story Behind the Iconic World War II Photo
The Wait for Me, Daddy photograph became one of the most famous images to come out of Canada during the Second World War. A seemingly…
Sinking of the HMT Rohna: The Largest Loss of American Life At Sea During WWII
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 saw 1,177 sailors and crewmen onboard the USS Arizona (BB-39) lose their lives. While a…
The Price of Freedom: The Forgotten Civilian Deaths of D-Day
Operation Overlord, better known as D-Day, is often remembered for being one of the most intense battles in military history. Films like 1998’s Saving Private…
USS Thresher (SS-200): The Most Decorated American Submarine of WWII
During the First World War, Germany deployed a number of vessels that turned naval warfare on its head. Among them were bigger and more effective…
Operation Tannenbaum: Why Didn’t Germany Invade Switzerland?
Switzerland was able to remain neutral throughout the Second World War. As soon as the conflict broke out in 1939, the nation prepared itself for…
Norman Lear Flew 52 Combat Missions with the US Army Air Forces During WWII
Norman Lear is one of the most important individuals in the history of television. Active in the industry since the mid-20th century, he created such…
10 Surviving Buildings From Germany’s Era of Power
The long-term effects of war are felt by all sides. This is even more evident in the case of the two World Wars, given the…
Project Fantasia: When America Planned to Use Glow-In-the-Dark Foxes Against Japan
When the United States entered the Second World War following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it seemed as though the country had a “no…
Three Aircraft Defended Malta from the Entire Italian Air Force
When Italy joined the Second World War, the island of Malta found itself immediately under attack. The only defenses available were three Gloster Sea Gladiators…
The Surprisingly Sweet Role Ice Cream Played During WWII
Whether it’s a photograph of a loved one, a favorite meal or one of the many simple commodities we take for granted at home, the…
Relic Hunters Surprised By What They Discovered In WWII-Era Bomber
While flying over Papua New Guinea in 1972, airmen from the Royal Australian Air Force spotted something strange in the swamplands below. The large object…
Colditz Cock: The Glider Constructed By POWs to Escape from Colditz Castle
Throughout World War II, prisoners of war (POWs) were taken by both sides. They were kept under constant guard, forced into work details and kept…
Jagdtiger: The German Tank Destroyer That Was Both Devastating and Problematic
Throughout the Second World War, the Wehrmacht used some of the best equipment of the era. This was largely due to the fact the German…
The Douglas SBD Dauntless Changed the Course of the Second World War In a Single Day
Throughout the course of the Second World War, the US Navy and Marine Corps flew the Douglas SBD Dauntless, a naval scout aircraft and dive…
The US Army Air Forces Accidentally Dropped Bombs on Boise City, Oklahoma
Accidents happen. Some, however, are far worse than others, such as mistakingly attacking one’s own country during a practice aerial bombing mission. As ridiculous as…
Operation Tonga: 150 British Paratroopers Took the Merville Gun Battery Before D-Day
Then the largest seaborne invasion in history, the D-Day landings were planned down to the last detail. One of the most important parts of this…
Tony Rolt Escaped from POW Camps Seven Times Before Becoming a Successful Racing Driver
It’s safe to say Tony Rolt’s life after the Second World War was just as impressive as his time overseas. Rolt is best known for…
The Tragic Fate of the USS Grenadier (SS-210) and Her Crew
For over 70 years, nobody knew the fate of the USS Grenadier (SS-210). Struck by a Japanese aircraft, the submarine sank to the bottom of…
Mitchell Paige: The MoH Recipient Who Took On 2,700 Japanese Soldiers on Guadalcanal
World War II produced a number of heroes, particularly within the US military. A total of 473 service members were presented with the Medal of…
The MI5 Used Falcons to Catch German Carrier Pigeons
The use of pigeons on the battlefield is often associated with the First World War. Homing pigeons, in particular, were used the most, with the…
Al Schmid: The US Marine Who Continued to Man His Machine Gun After Taking a Grenade to the Face
Al Schmid, an apprentice steel burner, enlisted in the US Marine Corps after hearing about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Once on the battlefield,…
Frogmen: Before Navy SEALs, Underwater Demolition Teams Were Making a Splash on the Battlefield
The Navy SEALs are among the most highly-regarded Special Operations forces in the United States, only made more illusive by stories of their various units,…
Road Workers Amazed By WWII-Era Discovery in Chartres
During the six years that made up the Second World War, both the Allied and Axis powers deployed an astonishing number of troops and armaments.…
Teresio Martinoli: The Italian Ace Who Flew for Both Sides During WWII
For those who won the war, their flying aces go down in history for their brave actions and heroic deeds. Even those who didn’t win…
Van Barfoot: MoH Recipient Who Singlehandedly Captured 17 German Soldiers and Disabled a Tiger Tank
The Second World War featured countless examples of heroism. Still, the efforts of Van Barfoot stand out to this day. When faced with multiple German…
USS Grayback (SS-208) Found After 75 Years; What Was Onboard Was Unexpected
Seventy-five years after she first disappeared off the coast of Okinawa, the wreck of the USS Grayback (SS-208) was discovered at the bottom of the…
The USS Texas (BB-35) Was Intentionally Flooded During D-Day
The USS Texas (BB-35) saw more combat action in her lifetime than most other US battleships. Serving in both World War I and II, she…
Joe Foss: The MoH Recipient Who Took Out Japanese Aircraft Over Guadalcanal
Joe Foss lived for 87 years, and he packed more living into those 87 years than any other American in recent history. Not only was…
Proposed D-Day ‘Theme Park’ Could Be Opening Near Where the Allies Landed at Normandy
Local residents and the family members of veterans are up in arms over a proposed D-Day attraction, named the Hommage aux Héros, that could be…
Queen Elizabeth II Snuck Out In Disguise to Join V-E Day Celebrations
Britain’s longest-ruling monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96. The news was shared by Buckingham Palace, which…
Red Army Cook Ivan Pavlovich Sereda Took Out a German Tank With Just an Axe
Over the course of human history, unlikely heroes have emerged from surprising places, and the battlefields of World War II were no exception. Ivan Pavlovich…
American Fighter Pilot Clarence “Bud” Anderson Was a World War II Triple Ace
It was late in the Second World War – 1944, to be exact – when Clarence “Bud” Anderson shot down his first enemy aircraft near…
Poland Demanding $1.3 Trillion in World War II Reparations from Germany
Poland’s right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party has released a report, which puts the country’s monetary losses during World War II at $1.32 trillion (6.2…
Snipers: The Four Greatest Marksmen In Military History
Becoming one of the greatest snipers in history isn’t an easy feat to accomplish. The following four snipers, however, proved themselves worthy of the title…
Bruce Carr Was Shot Down Behind Enemy Lines and Flew Back In a Stolen Aircraft
There were many astounding feats accomplished by flying aces throughout the course of the Second World War. Earning the title of “flying ace” is itself…
Lauri Törni: The Only SS Member to Be Buried At Arlington National Cemetery
Finland was in a strange place during the Second World War. At first, the nation hoped to stay out of the conflict. That became impossible…
Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer Was the Luftwaffe’s Best Night Fighter Pilot
Between World War I and II, a number of advancements were made in aviation. Despite this, there were still some conditions that made flying difficult,…
The Incredible Military Career of Graves Erskine, the US Marine Who Escorted the Unknown Soldier
When John Wayne and Republic Pictures needed a technical adviser for the 1949 film Sands of Iwo Jima, they reached out to Graves Erskine. It…
Only 10 Crewmen Survived the Sinking of the Japanese Battleship Fusō – Out of 1,600
Prior to the First World War, Japan designed two dreadnought-style battleships. They were developed at a time when international players were engaged in a naval…
The Still-Unsolved Mystery of the US Navy’s ‘Ghost Blimp’
Today, blimps are a common sight at college football games. Goodyear has been advertising during big games for decades. However, back in the 1940s, blimps…
The Char B1 Tank’s Superiority Couldn’t Stop France’s Fall to Germany
When the Second World War began, German leadership ordered the use of blitzkrieg tactics to quickly overwhelm their enemies. One of the key aspects of…
The Enduring Legacy of Submarine Commander Dudley Morton
Many heroes from the Second World War became famous upon returning to the United States. Audie Murphy became an actor and songwriter, while Dwight D.…
Operation Claymore: A Daring British Commando Raid in Norway
The German Army was riding high in the early part of 1941. The country’s occupation of France had begun in June 1940, and the US…
New York State Passes Legislation Requiring Museums to Acknowledge Artwork Stolen By German Army in WWII
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed into law new legislation that broadens the state’s accountability when it comes to Jewish survivors of the Holocaust…
Rip the Terrier-Mix Rescued Over 100 People During The Blitz
Throughout the Second World War, a number of animals stepped up to the plate to help their human companions. Some served on the front after…
The Loss of Kaga and Three Other Aircraft Carriers Ultimately Led to Japan’s Defeat in WWII
Early on in World War II, it looked like the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy would be an unstoppable force. Their servicemen were brave and…
Operation Unthinkable: Winston Churchill’s Plan to Invade the Soviet Union
The “Big Three” heads of the Allied countries during the Second World War – British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and…
Seven Reasons Why the Italian Forces Performed So Poorly During World War II
When it comes to the Second World War, France is often made the butt of the joke for its surrender to Germany in 1940. However,…
Why Do American Military Enthusiasts Put George Patton on a Pedestal?
George Patton is among the most famous American generals of all time. Known as “Old Blood and Guts,” he made a name for himself during…
Operation Tracer: The Secret British Military Operation for Gibraltar
Of all the secret operations of the Second World War, none were less appealing than Operation Tracer, which involved spies being buried alive (literally). This…
SOE Agent Odette Sansom Was the First Woman to Be Awarded the George Cross
In 1942, a young Odette Sansom responded to a call from the British Admiralty, asking for individuals to send postcards or family photographs from the…
Luck of Kokura: The Japanese City That Avoided Atomic Bombing – Twice
Kokura is located on the northern tip of Japan’s Kyushu island. Housing one of the country’s largest military arsenals, it was a key target in…
One of Germany’s Top Test Pilots During World War II Was a Woman
As with other countries, Germany had a number of pilots to test out new aircraft. While the majority were male, there were some females who…
How Norwegian Commandos Sabotaged Germany’s Atomic Bomb Research
As the Second World War dragged on, both the Allied and Axis powers invested heavily in research that would create the first atomic weapons. The…
Gold Dust Twins: The Two Coast Guardsmen Who Saved Chesty Puller’s Marines on Guadalcanal
The Guadalcanal campaign – also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal – is among the most well-known engagements to occur in the Pacific Theater during…
A Lone KV-1 Tank Held Off German Advances During the Battle of Raseiniai
On June 22, 1941, Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, the World War II invasion of the Soviet Union. Despite signing the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact in 1939,…
Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Body and a False Identity Helped the Allied Invasion of Sicily
In the years since the Second World War, many documents have been released, detailing the covert operations undertaken by the UK’s Special Operations Executive (SOE),…
Patrick Fleming: The Flying Ace Who Shot Down 19 Japanese Aircraft In Just Six Sorties
Patrick Dawson Fleming was born an Army “brat” on January 17, 1918. He took an interest in flying at an early age and became the…
Clarence L. Tinker: The First Native American to Be Promoted to Major General in US Army History
They don’t make soldiers like Clarence L. Tinker anymore. Born on a Native American reservation in 1887, Tinker was inspired to serve the United States…
All Five of the Second World War’s Triple Aces in a Day Flew for the German Luftwaffe
The Second World War saw thousands of air battles between pilots. Germany, which started the conflict in 1939 with its invasion of Poland, held a…
MoH Recipient Gregory ‘Pappy’ Boyington was Among the Most Famous Pilots of WWII
During World War II, ace fighter pilots became household names, and few were more famous than Gregory “Pappy” Boyington. The star swimmer and wrestler joined…
Horizontal Collaboration: How the French Dealt with Traitorous Women After the Germans Left
When France was liberated in 1944, foreign photographers and press were there to document the event. Among the photos taken were thousands of images of…
Panjandrum: Britain’s Failed WWII-Era Rocket-Propelled Explosive
By 1943, the Germans had heavily fortified the European coast against an Allied invasion. This defense system, known as the Atlantic Wall, spanned along the…
Mass Graves of 8,000 Concentration Camp Victims Discovered in Polish Forest
Investigators with the Polish Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) have discovered what they claim are two mass graves containing the ashes of at least 8,000…
Men Were Too Scared to Fly B-29 Superfortresses – Until Two Women Did
In the lead up to the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Paul Tibbets was tasked with training a group of pilots on the newly-produced Boeing…
A Brazilian Air Force Pilot Managed to Fly His P-47 Home – With Part of Its Right Wing Missing!
While it took a while for Brazil to enter the Second World War, the country’s forces certainly left their mark. The Brazilian Air Force, in…
MoH Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams Destroyed Enemy Pillboxes During the Battle of Iwo Jima
Over the course of the Second World War, 473 military members received the Medal of Honor. They’ve all since passed away, with the last remaining…
Paul Tibbets Dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Was Given No Funeral or Gravestone
Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, better known as the man who piloted the Enola Gay during the bombing of Hiroshima, became a well-known figure in the…
Elvis Presley’s Fundraising Efforts Helped Erect the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
In the 1950s, any American of a certain age could be drafted into the US military. Famous athletes and actors regularly served, as did musicians…
Ray C. Hunt: US Army Air Corps Mechanic Turned Guerrilla Fighter
Ray C. Hunt signed up for the US Army Air Corps at the start of the Second World War. He trained as an aircraft mechanic,…
Operation Wikinger: The Kriegsmarine’s Disastrous Mission in the North Sea
The Luftwaffe was the main arm and, arguably, the most dangerous aspect of the German military. Another branch intended to be just as strong was…
Dean ‘Diz’ Laird: The Only Navy Flying Ace to Down Both German and Japanese Aircraft During WWII
There were numerous flying aces during the Second World War. These aviators exhibited bravery and courage in the face of extreme danger, earning the status…
Lee Van Cleef was a World War II Hero Prior to Being a Famed Western Actor
Lee Van Cleef was a regular fixture during the boom-time of Western films in American cinema. His sharp features and stoicism made him the ideal…
The OSS Manual That Encouraged Axis Citizens to Sabotage the War Effort
As the Second World War raged on, the Allied and Axis powers employed various tactics to gain ground. One way was to utilize spies and…
Ex-Concentration Camp Guard Sentenced to Five Years in Prison By German Court
A 101-year-old German man has been found guilty of 3,518 counts of accessory to murder for serving as an SS guard at Sachsenhausen concentration camp…
Fact or Fiction: Did Christopher Lee Embellish His World War II Service?
Written by Todd Neikirk and Clare Fitzgerald. Christoper Lee had an incredibly long acting career that began in the late 1940s. He gained notoriety for…
Allied Snipers and Their Effectiveness During the Second World War
Snipers have played an important part in warfare for hundreds of years. The term was first officially used during the American Civil War, but sniper-like…
Richard H. Best: The Only WWII Pilot to Bomb Two Japanese Aircraft Carriers in One Day
Of the four Japanese aircraft carriers sunk during the Battle of Midway – one of the most critical battles to occur in the Pacific Theater…
What Made the Polish No. 303 Squadron the Most Effective Pilots During the Battle of Britain?
At the outset of World War II, the Germans decided to treat Poland like a prize for the taking. What they didn’t realize, however, was…
American Soldiers Teamed Up with Germans and Cossacks to Save Horses from the Red Army
On April 28, 1945, a portion of the American forces set off on an incredibly dangerous and unique mission. Dubbed Operation Cowboy, it saw them…
The Doolittle Bombers Traded Their Tail Guns for Broomsticks
On April 18, 1942, the United States responded to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor by doing something that had never been done before: launching bombers…
Why the Battle of Ortona Was Nicknamed the ‘Italian Stalingrad’
While initially intended to be a super power on the Axis side during World War II, Italy wound up playing a smaller role in the…
The Battle of Castle Itter Saw Germans Team Up with the American Forces
The Allies fought fiercely against the Germans in both World War I and II. By the end of the Second World War, some Germans were…