One-Man War Finally Ends March 9, 1974 — Nearly 30 years after the end of the Second World War Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda finally surrendered on this day. He had been waging his own war from a jungle and the mountains. In December, 1944, towards the end of the global conflict, Onoda, an intelligence officer, was…
Category: World War II History
Know Your WW2 History: Masters of the Air Twofer
DID YOU KNOW WHY THE GERMAN PLANES ATTACKED FROM THE FRONT IN MASTERS OF THE AIR? DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THE AERIAL ROCKETS SEEN IN MASTERS OF THE AIR? Highly recommend this mini-series along with the book upon which it is based: Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War…
In Memoriam: Major Mike Sadler, SAS (1921-2024)
Major Mike Sadler: Founding member of SAS dies at 103 Major Mike Sadler, a founding member of Britain’s Special Air Service, has died in Girton aged 103. The World War II navigator died at Arlington Manor Care Home on Thursday (January 4). His death was confirmed by John Allcock, the secretary of the Special…
Know Your WW2 History: The Failed Pledge that Sunk the Bismarck
The Failed Pledge that Sunk the Bismarck The U-boat’s captain was mischievous as he put his recently launched U-556 through its trials in the Baltic. It was the winter of 1941 and from his point of view,, it had been a good war. Britain’s merchant shipping convoys ensured the survival of Bolshevik Russia. These…
Infamy Indeed
Infamy Indeed For older generations, December 7th, 1941 is one of those dates that are mile-markers on the grand tapestry of the American story. An unsuspecting America, just minding our own business, was suddenly and without provocation attacked by the sneaky Japs. It is something so broadly and deeply accepted, without serious question, that…
Know Your WW2 Weapons: Japanese Model 89 Knee Mortar
Japanese Model 89 Knee Mortar For more than a century, American troops have given a wide variety of nicknames to their own weapons, and also those of their enemies. During World War II, American troops in the Pacific Theatre created a nickname for a highly effective Japanese weapon that was a bit misleading. The…
Anti-Tank 101: How Cumulative Projectiles Work
How Cumulative Projectiles Work Cumulative or HEAT warheads are the staple of infantry (man-portable) anti-tank weapons and are also used by artillery and various unarmoured and armoured vehicles for the purposes of anti-tank combat. Their main advantage over other types of anti-tank projectiles is that their effectiveness does not depend on the projectile’s velocity. As…
The Marine Corps Iwo Jima Stinger
The Marine Corps Iwo Jima Stinger Good God, do I love the United States Marine Corps. Not just because I served in the Marine Corps and because the cult brainwashing runs deep, but because of the Marine Corps attitude of improvising, overcoming, and adapting. Until recently, the Marine Corps has been famously known for…
Military History 101: How Siege Warfare Returned
How Siege Warfare Returned The history of war is never far removed from battles for cities. Many of us, of whatever creed, were brought up on the story of the walls of Jericho tumbling after the Israelites marched around the stronghold once a day for six days, seven times on the seventh day, and…
The Bad Ass Files: Lieutenant Colonel Ronald “Sparky” Spiers
Badass paratrooper or war criminal? It’s no secret this blog is a big fan of Ronald Spiers of Band of Brothers fame. I did a couple of pieces on him including When Men Were Men and All War Depends Upon It. This article is one of the most in-depth I have come across on…