World War I | War History

Historic Deception and Camouflage Techniques Used By Militaries

Dummy tank on display

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

Military portrait of Lt. Gen. Larry Jordan

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

The RMS Olympic in dazzle camouflage

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

Elisabeth Edwards
Soldier preparing to throw a hand grenade

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

Konstantin Rokossovsky dressed in winter gear

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

Artist's portrait of Adrian Carton de Wiart + Adrian Carton de Wiart sitting in a chair

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

Mark IV tank stuck in the mud

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

US Air Force helicopter spraying Agent Orange over the jungle

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

Humphrey Bogart dressed in his US Navy uniform + Military portrait of Spencer Tracy

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…

Frederick Banting: The Co-Discoverer of Insulin Served in Both World Wars

Frederick Banting working at a desk

Shortly before 2:00 AM on October 31, 1920, Frederick Banting woke up from a dream that would change the lives of millions. He quickly scribbled…

USS New York (BB-34): The Only US Ship to Sink a German U-boat In WWI

Naval guns firing on the deck of the USS New York (BB-34)

The USS New York (BB-34) was a US Navy battleship and the lead vessel of her class. Named after the state of New York, she was…

The History of Snake Island: From WWI to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

Ukrainian flag flying on Snake Island

One of the most contentious places in Eastern Europe is Snake Island. Located 30 miles off the southern coast of Ukraine in the Black Sea,…