Military History
Napoleon Bonaparte’s Unlikely Comeback at Lutzen
By Frank James RottmanAfter his disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812, French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte desperately needed to reassert his military dominance over Europe. Read more
Military History
Military History
Why Kaiser Wilhelm II Almost Attacked America’s East Coast
By Frank ZedeckIn the latter part of the 19th century, Germany’s young Kaiser, Wilhelm II, was anxious to play Weltpolitik (global politics) and expand his country’s influence beyond the borders of Europe, where Germany was already an acknowledged power player. Read more
Military History
Brian Boru: Ireland’s Mighty Warrior King
By Ludwig Heinrich DyckIn 941 ad, in the fortress of Kincora overlooking the River Shannon just south of Lake Derg, Queen Be Bhionn gave birth to a son, Brian Mac Cennétig. Read more
Military History
Collecting Vintage GI Joes
By Peter SuciuFor centuries, battalions of enthralled boys—and not a few grown men—have enjoyed playing with toy soldiers. By the end of the Victorian era, these toys included highly detailed three-dimensional soldiers made of lead and accurately painted in the colors of the various armies that would soon engage each other in a European War that engulfed the entire world. Read more
Military History
“I Order You To Die”
By Victor J. KamenirIn the English-speaking world, most students of military history would be hard-pressed to identify the time, place, or antagonists of the Canakkale Campaign. Read more
Military History
Fighting for the Hook
By Al HemingwayPeering intently through a telescope, General Lemuel C. Shepherd, the commandant of the Marine Corps, scanned the shell-pocked Korean terrain in front of his position. Read more
Military History
Border Dispute Sparks the Mexican-American War
By R.L. HealyWhen Texas entered the Union in 1845, after nine uneasy years as an independent republic, the mutual grievances between Mexico and the United States threatened to erupt into open hostilities. Read more
Military History
Triumph of “The Nelson Touch”
By Jonas L. GoldsteinWhen the Treaty of Amiens was signed on April 1, 1802, bringing peace between France and Great Britain after nearly a decade of war, there was wild rejoicing in England. Read more
Military History
WWII Nonfiring Automatic Weapons
By Peter SuciuWorld War II saw great advancements in firearms technology. Many nations that entered the conflict with bolt-action rifles ended the war with a variety of complex submachine guns and assault rifles. Read more
Military History
Solferino: Birth of a Nation
By Eric NiderostLong columns of blue-clad French troops marched east though the sun-baked plains of northern Italy in late June 1859. Read more
Military History
Benedict Arnold’s Invasion of Canada
By Earl EchelberryFresh from his capture of Fort Ticonderoga, Colonel Benedict Arnold in the summer of 1775 lobbied hard to the Continental Congress for authorization to lead an expedition to the lower St. Read more
Military History
Charles Russell Lowell Memorials
By Helen HannonThe unique persona of Charles Russell Lowell, a gifted Union cavalry officer from Massachusetts, inspired a series of memorials in his honor, ranging from famous monuments to obscure frontier forts. Read more
Military History
The Battle of Buena Vista: Old Rough and Ready in Mexico
By Mike HaskewIt was the spring of 1846, roughly nine months before the Battle of Buena Vista. It had become apparent to everyone at this point that a Mexican-American War was inevitable, and diplomatic efforts between the two countries had failed. Read more
Military History
Defeat of the Spanish Armada
By Eric NiderostOn Friday, July 29, 1588, a group of English gentlemen decided to play a friendly game of bowls after a hearty midday meal. Read more
Military History
Baptism or Death: The Wendish Crusade, 1147-1185
By Kirk FreemanBy the middle of the 12th century, much of western Europe had settled into a tenuous, often interrupted peace, and many modern nation-states had begun to emerge. Read more
Military History
Blaise de Monluc
By William McPeakA hundred miles north of the mountainous region near the Pyrenees was the rolling land of the Garonne River, home of the Gascon noble families. Read more
Military History
Military Dioramas
By Peter SuciuThe scene appears to be one of utter chaos, as several dozen soldiers react to an enemy attack on their troop train. Read more
Military History
The Symbolism of the Berlin Wall During the Cold War
By Bruce L. BragerIn June 1961, Walter Ulbrecht, longtime Communist party leader of East Germany, denied that his government had any intention of building the Berlin Wall, which would separate East and West Berlin. Read more
Military History
Hernándo Cortés on the plains of Cintla
By Charles HilbertIn March 1519, a small square of 400 Spanish adventurers under the command of Hernándo Cortés stood at bay on the plain of Cintla in Tabasco, Mexico. Read more
Military History
The Battle of Edgehill: Halting the Royalist March on London
By William E. WelshRobert Devereux, the third Earl of Essex, was on his way to church in the small village of Kineton in Warwickshire on the morning of October 23, 1642, when he received word that the enemy was at hand. Read more
