The Lee-Enfield Repeating Rifle Has the World’s Second-Longest Service History
The first version of the Lee-Enfield repeating rifle entered into service in 1895. Since then, 17 million units and a number of variants have been…
Canadian War Crimes in WW1: How German Soldiers Were Exploited by Canadian Troops
As World War I dragged on, an unexpected group became known for being ruthless. Canadians, stereotyped as friendly, kind and agreeable, certainly displayed none of…
Aníbal Augusto Milhais: The Portuguese Soldier ‘Worth a Million Men’
The story of Aníbal Augustus Milhais, also known by the nickname Soldado Milhões (“Soldier Millions”), reads like something out of Star Wars. A simple farmer…
Historic Deception and Camouflage Techniques Used By Militaries
Deception and military subterfuge have been used throughout history. The aim is to give armies the upper hand by tricking the enemy. The practice dates…
Lt. Gen. Larry Jordan on His Military Career and the Service of African-Americans in WWI
The US military has a long and complicated history when it comes to the treatment of minorities within its ranks. While things have certainly improved,…
The Titanic’s Sister Ship Took Out a German U-boat in World War I
When the RMS Olympic was launched in October 1910, she was the largest man-made moving object in the world. At 882 feet long, Olympic set…
Six Things War Movies Get Wrong About Grenades
When it comes to explosive weapons, nothing is more recognizable (and misunderstood) than the hand grenade. Movies and video games usually depict someone pulling the…
Konstantin Rokossovsky Was the Marshal of Two Armies During the 20th Century
Russia during the first half of the 20th century was both massive and constantly engaged in military conflict. One man who made a name for…
Adrian Carton de Wiart: The Unkillable Soldier Who Frankly Enjoyed War
Adrian Carton de Wiart. Not many people know the name, but it belonged to one of the most battle-scarred soldiers in the history of the…
British Tank Crew Survived Being Stuck in No Man’s Land for Three Days
The Third Battle of Ypres – better known as the Battle of Passchendaele – is famous for the difficult conditions the British had to contend…
From the Scythians to Russia: The Use of Scorched Earth Tactics in War
Scorched earth tactics have been used nearly as long as armies have conducted military campaigns. While the practice is less common in modern times, it…
Classic Hollywood Actors Who Served During World War I
While it was still a relatively new phenomenon, Hollywood studios were cranking out film after film during the 1920s and ’30s. As a result, many…