World War II | War History

Before Becoming Hollywood’s Leading Man, Kirk Douglas was Chasing Japanese Submarines In the Pacific

Kirk Douglas as Col. Dax in 'Paths of Glory'

Kirk Douglas is arguably one of the most famous names to emerge during Hollywood’s heyday in the 1950s and ’60s. Known for taking on particularly…

The M18 Recoilless Rifle Obliterated Enemy Machine Gun Nests In Korea

Group of men standing near an M18 recoilless rifle in the snow

The M18 is a 57 mm shoulder-fired, anti-tank recoilless rifle the US Army equipped troops with during the Second World War and in Korea. The…

Denholm Elliott Scored His First Acting Gigs While a Prisoner of War

Portrait of Denholm Elliott

Denholm Elliott was known for his versatile performances in numerous films and television shows. However, before he became a famous actor, he was a member…

Chuck Yeager: From WWII ‘Ace in a Day’ to Breaking the Sound Barrier

Chuck Yeager standing in front of an aircraft

Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager is widely regarded as one of the greatest aviators of the 20th century. Best known for being the first pilot to…

INTERVIEW: Director Steven Luke Talks New WWII Film, ‘Come Out Fighting’

Still from 'Come Out Fighting'

Filmmaker Steven Luke is no stranger to bringing World War II-era events to the big screen; over the course of his career, he’s teamed up…

The ‘Rats of Tobruk’ Lived Underground During the Second World War

Soldier standing at the entrance of a cave used by the Rats of Tobruk

During the Second World War, a remarkable and brave group of Australian soldiers became known as the “Rats of Tobruk” for their tenacious defense of the…

These Nurses Had a Front Row Seat to the Battle of Monte Cassino

Two nurses and one soldier watching the fighting that occurred during the Battle of Monte Cassino

The Battle of Monte Cassino was fought between the Allies and Germans in the historic Monte Cassino Abbey, at the entrance to the Rapido and…

Cargo from German Ship Sunk During WWII Washing Up On American Beaches

Remnants of a sunken ship on the ocean floor

Several tons of cargo went down with German ships that were sunk by enemy action or intentionally scuttled during the Second World War. Rarely, however,…

The Ingenious Reason Farmers Painted Stripes On Their Cows During the Blitz

Woman painting white stripes on her cow during the Blitz

While facing the Blitz during World War II, British farmers resorted to an unusual and creative tactic to protect their livestock and the public from…

Philip Toosey Served As the Inspiration for Lt. Col. Nicholson In ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’

Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa as Lt. Col. Nicholson and Col. Saito in 'The Bridge on the River Kwai' + Military portrait of Philip Toosey

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) was a sensational film so well-received that it earned several Academy Awards. What most people don’t realize is…

Henschel Hs 129 :The Luftwaffe’s Soaring Tank Buster Armed With a 75 mm Cannon

Sky at sunrise + Drawing of a Henschel Hs 129

As tank warfare evolved and became a key strategy during the interwar period, the German Wehrmacht envisioned a new kind of blitzkrieg – one that…

Harry Belafonte Narrowly Missed One of WWII’s Deadliest Disasters On US Soil

Portrait of Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte passed away in April 2023, ending a decades-spanning career that forever changed the faces of music, cinema and activism. Prior to becoming a…