The defeat and destruction of the Spanish Armada in 1588 is seen by many as the high point of Elizabeth I’s of England’s reign. If the Armada had been successful, it could have changed the course of English and world… Read More ›
Military History
How did ancient Professional Armies develop?
Warfare has been a constant throughout human history and conflict can certainly be traced back to our hominid ancestors in our evolutionary past. While technology today is often used as the distinguishing characteristic of warfare, the development of the professional… Read More ›
The Origins of Drone Warfare
From History Today by James Rogers author of Drone Warfare: Concepts and Controversies: Drones are controversial weapons. For almost two decades, remotely piloted aircraft have provided the US military and the CIA with the capability to deploy precision strikes globally: killing… Read More ›
Why was Napoleon defeated at Waterloo?
The Battle of Waterloo is one of the most famous battles in history. The battle was between, France on side and Great Britain, Prussia and their allies on the other. The battle was a great victory for the British and… Read More ›
The Third Reich’s nuclear programme: Churchill’s greatest wartime fear
From History Extra from Damien Lewis author of Hunting Hitler’s Nukes: The Secret Race to Stop the Nazi Bomb: That Hitler’s Germany might win the race to build the world’s first atom bomb was arguably one of Winston Churchill’s greatest wartime concerns,… Read More ›
Why did Charles XII of Sweden fail to conquer Russia in 1708?
The failed invasion of Russia by Hitler and Napoleon are well known. Less well-known is invasion of Russia by the Swedes under their most famous king, Charles XII. Sweden in 1700 was the greatest Northern European power and this… Read More ›
Female Firsts: Pioneering Women Veterans through the Years
From Folklife Today (Library of Congress) by Andrew Huber The story of women in the military is a story of firsts. Women have only been allowed to serve in permanent positions in the military since 1948, and even then were… Read More ›
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
From the Holocaust Encyclopedia of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum On April 19, 1943, the Warsaw ghetto uprising began after German troops and police entered the ghetto to deport its surviving inhabitants. By May 16, 1943, the Germans had… Read More ›
5 tanks that changed the course of the First World War
From History Extra by Craig Moore author of Tank Hunter: World War One The British Mark I Tank The rhomboid shape of the first British battle tank enabled it to cross enemy trenches, while the tank’s armour plating allowed it to… Read More ›
Why did the German Spring Offensive of 1918 fail?
The German Spring Offensive of 1918 was one of the last great offensives of the First World War. The offensive ultimately failed and the allies were able to beat back the German attacks. The German Spring Offensive of 1918 was… Read More ›
What Mistakes did the Allies make during Operation Overlord on D-Day?
June 6, 1944 was arguably the most pivotal day of World War II. Operation Overlord was set to be launched and if successful, was to open a second front in Europe so as to attack Germany from all sides. Stalin’s… Read More ›
What Was the Importance of Bill Mauldin to WWII Infantrymen?
Bill Mauldin once said that the infantryman “gives more and gets less than anybody else.”[1]He knew this from his experience on the front lines with K Company, 180th Infantry Regiment, of the 45th Division. Mauldin went through basic training as… Read More ›
How Was Hitler Responsible for the German Defeat in World War II?
There were a plethora of factors that went into deciding the outcome of World War II. Political ideologies and national opinions were vastly different for the combatants, even amongst allied countries such as the United States and the Soviet Union…. Read More ›
Why did Napoleon win the Battle of Austerlitz?
The Battle of Austerlitz also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors was one of the most important battles in European History. It was also Napoleon’s greatest victory. At the battle, Napoleon’s employed a brilliant strategy to defeat the… Read More ›
Why did Germany lose the Battle of Stalingrad?
The Battle of Stalingrad, between Germany and the Soviet Union, is considered not only the most important in World War II, but one of the most important in military history. The battle proved to be decisive for the Soviet Union… Read More ›
Why did the Gallipoli Landings fail in WWI?
The Gallipoli campaign was an amphibious landing in the Dardanelles Strait in modern Turkey, that sought to knock the Ottoman Empire out of WW I. The landings were exceptionally daring for the time, but they failed to achieve their objectives…. Read More ›
Why did the Battle of the Somme fail to achieve its objectives?
The Battle of the Somme or the Somme Offensive was a series of battles that occurred during the Summer and Autumn of 1916. It involved British and French forces launching a massive assault on the German lines in an effort… Read More ›
Why was Rommel defeated at El Alamein?
The Battle of El Alamein was the most important battle of the North African conflict between German and Italy and the British Empire. The battle, which was in reality, a series of battles, has entered military legend and it is… Read More ›
Was the Destruction Perpetrated by Lincoln, Grant, and Sherman Necessary to End the Civil War?
January 1, 1863 marked a pivotal moment in the American Civil War. On this date the Emancipation Proclamation, the preliminary of which was issued by President Lincoln on September 22, 1862, took full and permanent effect, thus changing the Union’s… Read More ›
African American Soldiers During the Civil War: Interview with Author Bob Luke
Here’s an excerpt from our interview with Bob Luke about his book Soldiering for Freedom that looked at African American soldiers during the Civil War: What drew you initially to the story of black Union soldiers? How did you first… Read More ›
