“Jews, Social Democrats, and Bolsheviks are the gravediggers of humanity. Therefore, we will fight until final victory!“ (Written on a Wall in France in 1944 by a German Wermacht Soldier)
Category: Military History
The Evolution of the Battle Rifle: From the FAL to Today’s AR-10
The Evolution of the Battle Rifle: From the FAL to Today’s AR-10 For firearm enthusiasts, military historians, and professional shooters, the battle rifle is revered as a symbol of the evolution of modern weaponry. From the iconic FN FAL, famously known as “The Right Arm of the Free World,” to the robust and versatile…
In Memoriam: G/C John “Paddy” Hemingway, RAF
The last surviving Battle of Britain pilot John ‘Paddy’ Hemingway has died, aged 105. The Royal Air Force said he passed away peacefully on Monday. Paddy Hemingway – one of “The Few” and a revered figure in British aviation history – played a key role in defending the skies over the United Kingdom against…
Know Your Military History: Night Jump into Dien Bien Phu
Night Jump into Dien Bien Phu: An Eyewitness Account From A French Paratrooper Captured by the Viet Minh Pierre Fauroux was born in 1921. He graduated from the French Military Academy at St. Cyr in 1942, when France’s Vichy government was dominated by Germany. In 1943 he escaped from France via Spain and joined the…
Operation Potok
Operation Potok Keen-eyed observers of the war in Ukraine may have noticed Ukrainian positions in the Kursk pocket folding up like a deck of cards, with the Russians recapturing over 12 settlements and 100 square kilometers of territory in 24 hours. Unusual, to say the least, in a war that’s been typically measured in…
A Father’s Love
H/T Wynn A Gift from his dad saved this Marine’s life in Fallujah The Trijicon ACOG on an M16 rifle is to GWOT Marines what the M1 Garand is to WWII Marines: iconic. In fact, Trijicon has a quote by General James Mattis on the company website that reads, “The ACOG® mounted on the M16 service rifle has proven to…
On This Day in History: February 23, 1945
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima A Great Book about the USMC and Iwo Jima is Flags of our Father’s by James Bradley. The two Movie adaptation’s, both from 2006, directed by Clint Eastwood, are definitely worth a look as well.
On This Day in History: Battle of Rorke’s Drift – January 22, 1879
Defence of Rorke’s Drift In January 1879, a British force commanded by Lieutenant-General Lord Chelmsford invaded Zululand aiming to extend British imperial influence in southern Africa. The army was split into three columns. Chelmsford led the central column himself, crossing the Buffalo River at Rorke’s Drift mission station to seek out King Cetshwayo’s Zulu army. But…
Happy (Belated) Birthday General Stonewall Jackson!
*Apologies, fully meant to post this yesterday morning but due to extreme weather conditions, it was delayed. I hope Stonewall can forgive me! Stonewall Jackson’s 200th Birthday Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson was born 200 years ago on this day in history, January 21, 1824, in Clarksburg, Virginia (now West Virginia). Fatherless at the…
DTIC AD509724: “Forest Fire As A Military Weapon”
DTIC AD509724: “Forest Fire As A Military Weapon” Pre-Requisite Reading: Wildfires As A Weapon: US Military Exposed.