World War II | War History

Operation Frankton: When ‘Canoeing Commandos’ Took On the Enemy In Kayaks

Herbert Hasler and Bill Sparks looking out over the water

While some engaged the enemy with the use of high tech aircraft or well-armored tanks during World War II, others were sent on missions using…

Polish Submarines Nicknamed the ‘Terrible Twins’ Struck Fear Into the German and Italian Navies

Crew aboard the ORP Sokół

The United States and United Kingdom were undoubtedly best known for their navies during the Second World War. There were, of course, others involved in…

Sonderkommando ‘Elbe’ – Germany’s Aerial Kamikaze Force

Three Messerschmitt Bf 109s in flight

Japanese kamikaze pilots were well known during the Second World War for their sacrificial bombing tactics against enemy naval vessels. They would put their aircraft…

What Is the Real Story Behind WWII’s Famous Crying Child-Soldier Photograph?

Hans-Georg Henke crying in uniform

This photograph of a crying child-soldier, taken in 1945, shows a young German, identified as Hans-Georg Henke. The image has served to illustrate the feelings…

What Happened to the Jewish Soldiers Who Served with the German Army in World War I?

Jewish German soldiers gathered together for a Yom Kippur service

Prior to the Second World War, Jewish soldiers actively fought in the German Army. This included World War I and a number of conflicts fought…

MoH Recipient George Andrew Davis Jr. Made the Ultimate Sacrifice in MiG Alley

Four North American F-86 Sabres in flight + Military portrait of George Andrew Davis Jr.

George Andrew Davis Jr. was a Medal of Honor recipient who valiantly served during World War II and the Korean War. Born on December 1,…

Rod Serling’s Service In the Pacific Influenced the Anti-War Attitudes of ‘The Twilight Zone’

Promotional portrait of Rod Serling on the set of 'The Twilight Zone'

Rod Serling was among the most prolific television writers of the 20th century. The mastermind behind the cult classic anthology series, The Twilight Zone (1959-64),…

Operation Chariot: The Daring British Raid on St. Nazaire

HMS Campbeltown (I42) on top of the gates at Normandy dry dock

By early 1942, the British had faced continued setbacks as a result of Germany’s escalation of the Second World War. Air raids decimated city streets,…

Loss of the SS Cap Arcona: The German Prison Ship Sunk By the RAF with 5,000 Concentration Camp Prisoners Onboard

SS Cap Arcona at sea

The SS Cap Arcona was at the heart of one of the largest loss of life incidents during the Second World War. Compared to events where…

Mariya Oktyabrskaya: The Red Army Tanker Who Avenged Her Husband

Mariya Oktyabrskaya standing in the hatch of a T-34

Mariya Oktyabrskaya was a telephone operator hellbent on revenge after finding out her husband had been killed in battle against the Germans. Taking matters into…

Aleksandra Samusenko: The Only Female Tank Commander of the Second World War

Red Army soldiers stood atop T-34s

Women during the Second World War were typically relegated to working as nurses, in factory production or, in some instances, in the military, to fill…

Oppenheimer’s Grandson Wishes Christopher Nolan Had Omitted One Scene From the Movie

Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in 'Oppenheimer'

The highly-anticipated biopic about notable theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer has officially been released. Directed by Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy, Dunkirk), the film…