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.
These women risked their lives to assist the Allies' cause in World War II.
By Robert Walsh
Christopher Nolan’s film brought Dunkirk back to life; but there’s more to the story than survival.
His captivity began with the infamous Bataan Death March and only ended with the surrender of Japan.
His exploits as an escapee may have earned him a spot in Hollywood lore.
As hate tore the world apart, love brought people together.
By Olivia Mason
Someone decided to take home a macabre souvenir.
It was known as the “Havoc”—and for good reason.
The schooner, lost since 1860, is the last confirmed ship that brought captives from Africa to the United States.
Lewis Sorley offers a shocking new perspective on the Vietnam War, through access to classified documents.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Toland recounts the devastating conflict in his book “In Mortal Combat: Korea, 1950-1953.”
In 1971, the "Washington Post" risked everything to publish government secrets after their competitor was indicted for the same crime.
By Olivia Mason
Enter to win a set of books that are mandatory reading for World War II scholars and military history enthusiasts.
He theorized that the Earth was hollow and "stocked with thrifty vegetables and animals if not men."
Combat correspondent Richard Tregaskis recounts what he saw when the Allies invaded the island of Guadalcanal in 1942.
Ghost trains, unexplained aerial phenomena, and disappeared men still haunt World War II scholars.
By Orrin Grey
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?