World War 2 | War History

The Still-Unsolved Mystery of the US Navy’s ‘Ghost Blimp’

L-8 hovering above a building

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

Soldiers standing beside a wrecked Char B1

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

Todd Neikirk
Sailors standing on the USS Wahoo (SS-238) + Military portrait of 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

Todd Neikirk
Woman standing on the deck of the HMS Legion (G74)

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

American serviceman staring at pieces of stolen artwork

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

Rip sitting on a pile of rubble + Dickin Medal

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

Aerial view of Kaga at sea

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

Winston Churchill aiming a Thompson "Tommy Gun" while standing with American soldiers

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

Italian soldiers walking down a street while waving white flags

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 standing in military uniform

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

Naval officers standing on the deck of a ship that's docked off the coast of 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…

Odette Sansom: The SOE Agent Who Became the First Woman to Receive the George Cross

Odette Sansom standing with a group of young women

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…