Military History Articles

There’s no way around it; history has been shaped by the outcome of innumerable wars and battles fought over everything from religion to territorial disputes to outright revenge over a perceived injustice. Learning about these conflicts is vital to understanding the world we live in today.

Our military coverage spans the ancient world through the Cold War. Discover epic medieval clashes, or fierce battles that caused entire ancient civilizations to crumble. Examine the political intricacies of sprawling conflicts like the Seven Years’ War or the War of Spanish Succession. Explore the devastation of the World Wars, or the fresh conflicts they left in their wake.

There’s also the fascinating evolution of weapons from the Stone Age through the nuclear arms race, as well as the changing military theories and strategies (or lack thereof) powering key decisions. Or you can discover a unique study of how contagious diseases have impacted the outcome of every war in America’s history, from skirmishes with Native Americans to 20th-century biological warfare. 

True stories about the people who fought these conflicts put a human face to the cost of war. You can learn about the Soviet Union’s Night Witches (an all-female regiment of fighter pilots), discover the Mapuche people’s centuries-long military resistance against the Spanish conquistadors, or read war books written by those who were actually there. Whatever draws you into military history, we’re exploring every angle of the conflicts that caused empires to rise and fall, reshaping our world in the process.

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Checkpoint Charlie: That Time American and Soviet Tanks Faced Off in a Divided Berlin

The world watched with bated breath. Could this be the spark that set off WWIII?

Nancy Wake: The Fearless Resistance Fighter Who Led Over 7,000 Soldiers Against the Nazis

“Somebody once asked me ‘Have you ever been afraid?’ Hah! I’ve never been afraid in my life.”

Meet the Nightfighters, a Division of Allied Soldiers Who Attacked Nazis with Empty Rifles and Grenades

They launched their attacks under cover of darkness, equipped only with empty rifles, bayonets, and grenades.

That Time Imperial Japan Tried to Bomb the U.S. Using Hydrogen Balloons

Approximately 9,000 balloons packed with explosives drifted toward American shores...

A Most Dangerous Humanitarian Mission: When Allied Pilots Dropped Food Into Nazi Occupied Territory

The best planes for the job were bombers—aircraft that German artillery units fired upon at every opportunity.

Moe Berg: The Boston Red Sox Catcher Who May Have Changed the Course of World War II

The third-string catcher secretly served as a spy for American intelligence during WWII...

Jim Jamison: The U.S. Corporal Who Sought Out Scientists in Post-Nazi Germany

Jamison was part of a top-secret program, similar to Operation Paperclip, that recruited German scientists to work for the U.S. government after World War II.

Miracle at Dunkirk: 8 Things You Probably Don't Know About the Infamous Evacuation

Christopher Nolan’s film brought Dunkirk back to life; but there’s more to the story than survival.

This Hard-Luck WWII Soldier Survived the Bataan Death March, Torture, and the Atomic Bomb

His captivity began with the infamous Bataan Death March and only ended with the surrender of Japan.