During the now-historic Operation Varsity, Canadian paratroopers attempted to pierce the Rhine in March 1945.   More »

By Michael Hull
As powerful, fast-moving German panzer and infantry columnsrampaged across Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, and into northern France early in May 1940, the British held their breath and watched apprehensively from across the narrow English Channel.
The lightning “blitzkrieg” advance split the retreating French and British armies, and the outlook was   More »

Winston Churchill’s Britain not only had to fend off the powerful Luftwaffe but also defeat isolationism in America.   More »

By Ray Argyle
Flying a tortuous route from North Africa tothe French coast of Normandy via Casablanca and Gibraltar, an unarmed Lockheed Lodestar of the Free French Air Force broke through cloud cover over the English Channel on the morning of Sunday, August 20, 1944.
The plane carried Free French leader General   More »

By David A. Norris
 Captain Daniel Lienard de Beaujeu rushed to save the remote French outpost of Fort Duquesne in early July 1755. Weeks away from receiving substantial reinforcements, the fort was the target of British Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock. With Braddock was the largest army in the North American frontier,   More »

By Michael D. Hull
Of all the workhorse weapons in the Allies’ World War II arsenal, from the American M-4 Sherman medium tank and jeep to the British Handley Page Halifax bomber and 25-pounder field gun, none was more widely and effectively deployed than the Douglas C-47 transport plane.
Dubbed the Skytrain by   More »

By Michael E. Haskew
The concept of elite or “special” forces matured during World War II, and the term became synonymous with extraordinary heroism, particularly against long odds. The editors of WWII History magazine have put together a Special Issue, World War II Special Forces, entirely devoted to these units and   More »

The World War II odyssey of Bob Max made a lasting impression and fueled educational and philanthropic pursuits later in life.   More »

On October 31, 1941, the USS Reuben James became one of America’s first casualties of war—even before war was declared.   More »

The bolt-action British Lee-Enfield rifle proved to be robust, reliable, and effective during the global conflicts of the 20th century.   More »