PRUSSIAN DEVELOPMENTS
Powered rail transport is a relatively new concept and soon put to military use. Prussia transports soldiers and materiel by railway to Kraków in 1846. It then transports troops by rail during the First Schleswig War against Denmark.
GRAND CRIMEAN CENTRAL RAILWAY 01
The British build a military railway during the Crimean War to supply Allied forces at the Siege of Sevastopol. Headquartered at Balaklava, the line eventually runs for 23km (14 miles) and plays a crucial role in helping the Allies defeat the Russians at the siege.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 02
Railways play a major role in this conflict. They are used by both Union and Confederate forces as a major logistical tool and become military targets. Railways even have a direct effect on battles such as the First Battle of Bull Run.
SECOND ITALIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
The French Army transports tens of thousands of soldiers into Italy to fight the Austrians. The French use of trains prompts the Austrians to destroy the Valenza railway bridge in Piedmont. This is possibly the first military action against a rail network.
SECOND BOER WAR 03
The British use railways built for South African mineral wealth as logistical routes against the Boer republics. Boer commandos often attack trains, demolish bridges or sabotage rail lines, with the British responding with armoured trains.
WORLD WAR I 04
This story is from the Issue 113 edition of History of War.
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This story is from the Issue 113 edition of History of War.
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THE IRA'S WAR IN COUNTY TYRONE
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'HATRED IS NOT THE WAY'
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JOHNSON BEHARRY
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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
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
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
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
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
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