Summer 2021

Volume 23, No. 2

Cover: German grenadiers file past a damaged Elephant tank destroyer d
uring fighting near Nettuno, Italy, shortly after the Allied landings at Anzio.
Photo: Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-311-0940-35; Photo: Lutz Koch

Allied forces achieved complete surprise when they stormed ashore 40 miles south of Rome on January 22, 1944, but they failed to exploit their advantage with a rapid advance inland.

Military Heritage

Brutal Slugfest at Anzio

By Joshua Shepherd

For the Americans of 2nd Battalion, 13th Armored Regiment, their arrival at Anzio in early May 1944 was anything but heartening. Read more

Military Heritage

Napoleon’s Costly Victory at Eylau

By Victor Kamenir

After decisively crushing Austrian and Russian armies in the 1805 campaign, French Emperor Napoleon became the undisputed master of Central Europe. Read more

French soldiers launch a ferocious bayonets assault against German defenders inside Fort Douaumont in a successful counterattack against the strongpoint in October 1916.

Military Heritage

Heroic Stand at Verdun

By Mark Carlson

The morning of June 23, 1916, dawned over the broad crenellated valley of the Meuse River in northeastern France. Read more

Military Heritage

Death at the Crossroads

By Mike Phifer

An unrelenting rain soaked the gray-clad troops of Maj. Gen. George Pickett’s reinforced division of Confederate soldiers on the morning of March 30, 1865. Read more

Military Heritage

Ambush at Oriskany

By Eric Niderost

The young Oneida warrior paused, tensing as he spotted some activity in the forest just in front of him. Read more

Parthian cataphracts armed with long spears known as kontos assail Roman legionaries at Carrhae.

Military Heritage

Roman Disaster at Carrhae

By Ludwig Heinrich Dyck

Gigantic clouds of dust rose from the sun-baked plain. The ground shook under the hoofs of thousands of cavalry. Read more

English King Richard I wields a broadsword against his Muslim foes in the Holy Land. His leadership in the Third Crusade ensured his place in the pantheon of great medieval commanders.

Military Heritage

Crusader Triumph at Arsuf

By William E. Welsh

The advance of long ranks of scimitar-wielding Nubian and robed Bedouin archers on foot signaled a dramatic change in Ayyubid Muslim tactics against the Frankish army marching south along the Palestinian coast from Acre towards Jaffa. Read more

Napoleon enters Warsaw, November 28, 1806.

Military Heritage, Editorial

The Grande Armee Suffered During Winter War in Poland

The splendid days of conquest in which France’s Grande Armee had marched along well-constructed roads through wealthy and densely populated areas of Europe came to a close when Emperor Napoleon’s army entered Poland in late 1806. Read more

The heavily armed and highly maneuverable subsonic MiG-17 challenged U.S. strike aircraft in the skies over North Vietnam.

Military Heritage, Weapons

Weapons: The Soviet MiG-17 in Vietnam

By William F. Floyd, Jr.

The American pilots did not see the North Vietnamese Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 fighter jets approaching their strike aircraft as they zeroed in on Than Hoa Bridge on April 3, 1965. Read more

Soldiers of the 4th U.S. Colored Troops. The regiment participated in operations in Virginia and the coast of North Carolina.

Military Heritage, Valor

Fourteen black soldiers received the Medal of Honor for feats of valor at Chaffin’s Farm on the outskirts of Richmond, Va.

By William E. Welsh

Union soldiers streamed across the pontoon bridge at Deep Bottom on the tidal portion of the James River in the early morning hours of September 29, 1864. Read more

Military Heritage, Uniform

Uniform: Prussian Grenadier of the 12th Regiment, 1755-1756

By William Welsh

Miter Helmet: The tall miter design dated from the 17th century, when grenadiers threw grenades and needed a hat that would not impede their throwing arm. Read more

The Swedes proved it was possible to deploy artillery more than once in battle to support their musket and pike troops.

Military Heritage, Soldiers

Lennart Torstensson used gunpowder artillery in revolutionary ways to win victories for the Swedish army during the Thirty Years War.

By William E. Welsh

Thousands of Protestant Swedish and German soldiers struggled up the rain-slickened slopes of a high ridge in southern Germany on September 3, 1632. Read more

Military Heritage, Books

The Marines of Baker Company of the 5th Marine Regiment fought with great valor in some of the most desperate battles of the Korean War.

By Christopher Miskimon

The men of Baker Company of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines endured a freezing truck ride to Yudam-Ni, near the soon to be infamous Chosin Reservoir, on November 27, 1950. Read more

Military Heritage, Games

Chivalry II Preview

By Joseph Luster

Publishers Tripwire Presents and Deep Silver have been busy bringing developer Torn Banner Studios’ latest release to the world, and they recently put together an impressive cross-play open beta for Chivalry II. Read more

Military Heritage, Games

Preview: Toy Soldiers HD

By Joseph Luster

If you were playing games on Xbox Live Arcade back in 2010, you likely at least tried Toy Soldiers at some point. Read more

Summer 2021

From Around the Network

“It’s All Over, Over Here”

World War I’s Battle of the Somme: New Photographs

WWII Spies: Oreste Pinto

The French and Indian War: George Washington at Fort Necessity