World War II | War History

HMS Centurion (1911): The British Dreadnought That Saw Action At Jutland and Was Purposefully Sunk After D-Day

HMS Centurion (1911) at sea

The HMS Centurion (1911) was the second of four King George V-class dreadnought battleships. She served with the Royal Navy between 1913-44, seeing action throughout…

Grieving Mother Searches for Son Among Returning Austrian POWs

Grieving mother holding up a photo of her son to a returning prisoner of war (POW)

Following World War II, each nation began the intensive process of returning each other’s prisoners of war (POWs) home to their worried and grieving mothers,…

WWII Veteran Fred Taylor Walks Across Graduation Stage 80 Years After Completing College Degree

Fred Taylor walking across the stage at Cornell College's 2023 graduation ceremony

It wasn’t uncommon for men across the United States to put their education on hold once the country entered the Second World War. Some opted…

Gerda Weissmann Klein: The Holocaust Survivor Who Fell In Love With Her American Liberator

Gerda Weissmann Klein standing at a podium

While two people destined to fall for one another may seem like a thing of fiction, the story of Gerda Weissmann and Kurt Klein might…

Why Was ‘Casablanca’ Banned In Germany?

Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman as Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund in 'Casablanca'

Casablanca (1942), a cinematic masterpiece cherished by audiences worldwide, experienced a peculiar fate within the borders of Germany. Despite its popularity, this iconic film found…

‘Gilligan’s Island’ Star Russell Johnson Was a Bombardier During the Second World War

Still from 'Gilligan's Island'

Russell Johnson, the talented actor known for his role as Professor Roy Hinkley in Gilligan’s Island (1964-67), led a remarkable life both on- and off-screen.…

Before He Was Obi-Wan Kenobi, Alec Guinness Was Part of the Allied Invasion of Sicily

Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi in 'Star Wars'

Alec Guinness is renowned for his iconic roles in such films as the Star Wars franchise and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). Behind…

American Liberator Welcomed with Kisses from Elderly French Couple

American liberator being kissed on the cheek by an elderly couple

During the Second World War, the US involvement in the liberation of France stands as a remarkable chapter in history, serving as a turning point…

Clergyman Prays for Fallen GIs During the Battle of Ie-Shima

Clergyman praying while American servicemen watch from behind

The Battle of Ie-Shima from April 16-21, 1945 was a crucial engagement in the Pacific Theater during the latter stages of World War II. Fought…

Ryan FR-1 Fireball: The US Navy’s First Jet-Engine Fighter Was Also the Worst Aircraft of World War II

Ryan FR-1 Fireball in flight

The Ryan FR-1 Fireball was an American fighter designed by Ryan Aeronautical for the US Navy during the Second World War. It was a mixed-power…

Germany Used Circus Elephants to Clean Up Following the Allied Bombings of Hamburg

Circus elephants Mary and Kieri moving a damaged vehicle from a ruined building in Hamburg

The image above features Mary from Burma and Kieri from Ceylon, elephants who were brought to the Hamburg Zoo to train for the circus. At…

Sturmpistole: The German Handheld Grenade Launcher That Failed to Match More Powerful Anti-Tank Weaponry

German soldier aiming a Sturmpistole

The Sturmpistole was a multi-purpose weapon developed for the German Army during World War II. A modified flare gun, it was capable of firing a…