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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.
The Germans believed their castle prison was inescapable—they were wrong.
The German soldier nodded in thanks, then disappeared.
Her tragic demise raises questions to this day.
By Robert Walsh
It was one of the bloodiest campaigns of the Vietnam War.
Did a Soviet captain sacrifice his ship and crew to divert an apocalyptic scenario?
The new film, based on the book of the same name by Daniel Finkel, highlights the realities of soldiers returning home from war with PTSD.
On May 5, 1945, Allied and German troops fought side-by-side against the SS.
By Robert Walsh
Author Mack Maloney interviews his father-in-law, Dick Kennedy, who enlisted in the Marines as a teenager in 1943.
By Mack Maloney
Powerful portraits by masters, both old and new.
By Sara Barry
These momentous clashes toppled empires, ended conflicts, and changed history.
By Orrin Grey
Master documentarian Ken Burns takes on a story that is still struggling to be told.