Culture
History of War
HOME GUARD
Beginning as veteran volunteers in Britain's 'Darkest Hour', the nation's defence forces grew to take on a range of dangerous and secretive roles
10+ min |
Issue 136
History of War
THE OTHER OPERATION OVERLORD D-DAY'S GHOST ARMY
Historian Taylor Downing discusses the cunning use of intrigue and deception during Operation Fortitude
10+ min |
Issue 133
History of War
D-DAY LANDING CRAFT
Over 4,000 Allied landing craft took part in the Normandy Landings with a huge range of designs created for specific roles and capabilities
3 min |
Issue 133
History of War
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Spearheading the invasion of occupied France in 1944 were a small number of Special Forces soldiers dropped deep into enemy territory. Among them was a young Londoner, fresh from training here he reveals how he survived guerrilla warfare in France and beyond as part of the fledgling Special Air Service
5 min |
Issue 133
History of War
JIMMIE MONTEITH
In the crucible of battle at Omaha Beach on D-Day, this officer of the famed 1st Infantry Division earned his nation’s highest honour at the cost of his life
6 min |
Issue 133
History of War
KLEINKAMPFVERBÄNDE - GERMANY'S COUNTER-ATTACKS
As Allied forces crossed the Channel and stormed into Normandy, Hitler's navy fought back using a deadly new breed of maritime weaponry
8 min |
Issue 133
History of War
STORMING GOLD BEACH
War veteran Ron Peet helped assault Gold Beach on D-Day Here he shares his experiences
3 min |
Issue 133
History of War
UNDERGROUND WREN
Deep in the bowels of Fort Southwick, radio operator Marie Scott was one of the first to hear reports as Operation Overlord got underway, passing critical communications between the men on the beaches and high command
6 min |
Issue 133
History of War
MINESWEEPER OFF NORMANDY
After helping clear the path to France, Royal Navy veteran Claude Sealey and his crewmates experienced a deadly encounter with their own countrymen
7 min |
Issue 133
History of War
THE RECCE RIDER OF RANVILLE
After fencing behind enemy lines in Normandy, William Bill’ Gladden conducted us reconnaissance on his motorcycle
6 min |
Issue 133
History of War
SWORD BEACH
The easternmost sector of the 6 June Normandy Landings was a mostly British affair, and Saw some of the biggest territorial gains of the first day of the Allied invasion
9 min |
Issue 133
History of War
THE FIRST ON JUNO BEACH
As a member of the RAF Beach Squadrons, Teacher's job was to help unload and dispatch personnel and equipment
4 min |
Issue 133
History of War
WHAT IF...D-DAY HAD FAILED?
The consequences of an unsuccessful invasion would have been felt for decades to come
6 min |
Issue 133
History of War
THE IRA'S WAR IN COUNTY TYRONE
The IRA's East Tyrone Brigade was one of its deadliest units. This is the inside story of how one of its attacks triggered a retaliatory ambush by the SAS
10+ min |
Issue 122
History of War
'HATRED IS NOT THE WAY'
Speaking to mark the publication of his new memoir, Ivor Perl describes how he survived both Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps during the Holocaust
10+ min |
Issue 122
History of War
JOHNSON BEHARRY
Two acts of valour from this young private saved the lives of his comrades in the narrow streets of Al Amarah, Iraq
6 min |
Issue 122
History of War
SUPER SPREADERS IN THE TRENCHES
During the latter period of WWI, infection and disease were a universal enemy on both sides of no man’s land. Vaccination and prevention methods became essential for survival, never mind victory, on the frontline
10+ min |
Issue 122
History of War
PROKHOROVKA AND THE FIGHT FOR HILL 252.2
The Battle of Prokhorovka, on 12 July 1943, was the culmination point of the southern pincer of Operation Citadel. The Soviets ultimately emerged victorious, despite suffering extremely heavy losses to their armour. Here, Dr Ben Wheatley recounts the struggle for one critical position during the battle: Hill 252.2
8 min |
Issue 122
History of War
AIR BATTLE FOR KURSK
On the eve of Operation Citadel, the Red Air Force sought to pre-empt the attack by smashing the Luftwaffe. The risky spoiling operation failed spectacularly
7 min |
Issue 122
History of War
ITALIANS IN THE EAST
Reeling from his setbacks in North Africa, and eager to prove his forces’ worth against the communist foe, Il Duce sent a large expeditionary force to join the Nazi invasion of the USSR
3 min |
Issue 122
History of War
SHOWDOWN IN THE DESERT
The Italian campaigns in Africa sought to end British rule over Egypt and control of the Suez Canal, strengthening Mussolini’s dominance over the Mediterranean
4 min |
Issue 122
History of War
CORPO TRUPPE VOLONTARIE
During the Spanish Civil War, tens of thousands of Italian soldiers fought in Spain to support the fascist Nationalist forces of Francisco Franco
4 min |
Issue 122
History of War
STRIKE AT AFRICA
Mussolini envisaged building an empire to rival Ancient Rome. Once he’d established his grip on Italy, he set his sights on Abyssinia as the place to begin
3 min |
Issue 122
History of War
PREPARING FOR KURSK
Dr Ben Wheatley of the University of East Anglia reveals the huge German and Soviet preparations for the largest tank battle in history
9 min |
Issue 121
History of War
BATTLE OF JINGXING
Strategic brilliance and an audacious plan ensured victory for the underdog in this legendary clash in ancient China
7 min |
Issue 121
History of War
WWII'S FORGOTTEN V-2 HEIST
In the summer of 1944, a daring mission was launched to retrieve an intact German rocket, recovered by the Polish Home Army, to analyse and counter Hitler’s devastating vengeance weapon
10+ min |
Issue 121
History of War
AUBREY COSENS
In February 1945, as the Allies began a renewed push into Nazi Germany, a Canadian sergeant single-handedly cleared three enemy-held buildings to earn the Commonwealth’s highest military honour
6 min |
Issue 121
History of War
SAS IN SICILY
How the elite unit emerged from chaotic beginnings to spearhead the Allies' 1943 invasion of the Mediterranean island fortress
10+ min |
Issue 121
History of War
BATTLE FOR SICILY THE 'SOFT UNDERBELLY'
Eighty years ago, Allied forces invaded the Axis homeland for the first time in a huge, complex operation that involved airborne and amphibious landings
10+ min |
Issue 121
History of War
COLD WAR
After the defeats and divisions of WWII, the Armée de L’Air struggled for aircraft and a role for them. Ironically, breaking away from NATO united the force behind a single aim
3 min |