World War Two
All category topics on the military, political, social, and cultural aspects of the Second World War.
Pearl Harbor: The Ultimate Guide to the Attack
The attack on Pearl Harbor ranks as the most successful military surprise attack in the early years of combined naval/aerial combat. On December 7, 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service struck the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory. The...
The Road to War: Germany: 1919-1939
The Weimar Republic WWI fighting ended with the armistice of November 11, 1918. Post-war peace was achieved with the abdication and exile of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the creation of the Weimar Republic, and German acceptance of the Treaty of Versailles. The Weimar...
Reasons Against Dropping the Atomic Bomb
Note: This section is intended as an objective overview of reasons against dropping the atomic bomb. For the other side of the issue, go here. Reasons Against Dropping the Atomic Bomb — Argument 1: The Bomb Was Made For Defense Only The origins of the Manhattan...
The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb: Arguments in Support
Note: This section is intended as an objective overview of the decision to use the atomic bomb for new students of the issue. For the other side of the issue, go here. Argument #1: The Bomb Saved American Lives The main argument in support of the decision to...
The Last Fighter Pilot: An Account of the Final Combat Mission of World War Two
The following is an account of Captain Jerry Yellin, who flew the last combat mission of WWII on the morning of August 15, 1945, out of Iwo Jima. From April to August 1945, Yellin and a small group of fellow fighter pilots flew dangerous bombing and strafe missions...
Guest Post: Four Things Dunkirk Gets Right About the Iconic Evacuation
The following is a guest post from Warfare History Network. You can view the original post by clicking here. Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan’s latest film, has wowed critics since it hit theaters in the U.S. last week, and for good reason. The amazing depiction of...5 Compelling D-Day First-Hand Accounts, From Warfare History Network
The following article on D-Day first-hand accounts is a guest post from Warfare History Network. Please visit their site for photos, maps, and first-hand accounts from history’s most important conflicts. A paratrooper, a beachmaster, a combat engineer, British...
79th Armoured Division: Britain’s Normandy Tank Force
The following article on the 79th Armoured Division is an excerpt from Barrett Tillman’ D-Day Encyclopedia. It is available for order now from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Maj. Gen. Sir Percy C. S. Hobart commanded the 79th Armoured Division, the primary...
Phonetic Alphabet: How Soldiers Communicated
The following article on the military phonetic alphabet is an excerpt from Barrett Tillman’ D-Day Encyclopedia. It is available for order now from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Phonetic alphabets are at least as old as radio communications, meeting the need...
