World War II | War History

MG-42: The German Machine Gun That Mowed Down Enemies On the Battlefield

Todd Neikirk
German soldier lying beside an MG-42

The Second World War was fought with a number of new technologies and weapons. In a conflict this intense, each nation was desperate to get…

The Tragic Fate of the USS Grenadier (SS-210) and Her Crew

Memorial for the USS Grenadier (SS-210)

For over 70 years, nobody knew the fate of the USS Grenadier (SS-210). Struck by a Japanese aircraft, the submarine sank to the bottom of…

S-Mine: Nicknamed ‘Bouncing Betty,’ It Struck Fear Into Allied Soldiers

Samantha Franco
Soldier searching for landmines

The S-mine, originally named the Schrapnellmine, was a German bounding mine used extensively by Wehrmacht troops throughout the Second World War. When detonated, it thrust…

Mitchell Paige: The MoH Recipient Who Took On 2,700 Japanese Soldiers on Guadalcanal

US Marines crossing Lunga River + Military portrait of Mitchell Paige

World War II produced a number of heroes, particularly within the US military. A total of 473 service members were presented with the Medal of…

USS Nevada (BB-36): The Battleship That Survived Pearl Harbor and An Atomic Bomb

USS Nevada (BB-36) at sea

The USS Nevada (BB-36) was the first of a class of two 27,500-ton battleships launched in 1914, rendering all first-generation vessels obsolete. She had a remarkable…

Lionel Crabb: The Mystery Behind the Missing British Frogman

Rosemary Giles
Soviet cruiser Ordzhonikidze at sea + Lionel Crabb wearing a suit

During the Second World War, there were a variety of special units created to deal with threats from enemies both at home and overseas. One…

The MI5 Used Falcons to Catch German Carrier Pigeons

Ursula, a peregrine falcon, swooping down to attack a carrier pigeon + Two soldiers releasing a carrier pigeon into the air

The use of pigeons on the battlefield is often associated with the First World War. Homing pigeons, in particular, were used the most, with the…

Frogmen: Before Navy SEALs, Underwater Demolition Teams Were Making a Splash on the Battlefield

Three Frogmen walking in front of a stopped truck

The Navy SEALs are among the most highly-regarded Special Operations forces in the United States, only made more illusive by stories of their various units,…

Road Workers Were Amazed By An Unexpected World War II-Era Discovery In Chartres

Crew using a mechanical digger to lift a mud-covered M5 Stuart from the ground

During the six years that made up the Second World War, the Allied and Axis nations deployed an astonishing number of troops and armaments across…

Teresio Martinoli: The Italian Ace Who Flew for Both Sides During WWII

Two Fiat CR.42 Falcos in flight + Teresio Martinoli standing near an aircraft in his pilot's jacket

For those who won the war, their flying aces go down in history for their brave actions and heroic deeds. Even those who didn’t win…

Van Barfoot: MoH Recipient Who Singlehandedly Captured 17 German Soldiers and Disabled a Tiger Tank

Todd Neikirk
US soldiers walking by a smoking Tiger tank + Military portrait of Van Barfoot + Medal of Honor

The Second World War featured countless examples of heroism. Still, the efforts of Van Barfoot stand out to this day. When faced with multiple German…

USS Grayback (SS-208) Found After 75 Years; What Was Onboard Was Unexpected

USS Grayback (SS-208) at sea

Seventy-five years after she first disappeared off the coast of Okinawa, the wreck of the USS Grayback (SS-208) was discovered at the bottom of the…