The evacuation of Manhattan on 9/11 was America’s Dunkirk
The attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, paralyzed New York. Bridges and tunnels were closed all across the city stranding over 500,00 people in Lower Manhattan….
This is the ironic reason the Spitfire beat the Bf 109
Every student of history knows that the British won the Battle of Britain in August and September of 1940, and that the Spitfire played a key role. But why was that the case?
The answer is stunningly ironic, and it requires us to look at …
Here’s what happened to the French soldiers left behind at Dunkirk
Between May 26 and June 4, 1940, more than 338,000 Allied soldiers from England, France, Belgium and elsewhere escaped death or capture at the hands of the overwhelming Nazi blitzkrieg….
A brave Titanic officer somehow survived to rescue troops from Dunkirk
On Apr. 15, 1912, Charles Lightoller was the second officer aboard the ill-fated Titanic. After helping as many passengers and crew as he could into lifeboats, he refused an order to escape on one of the final boats to make it off the ship.…
Top 3 tactical withdrawals in military history
According to military strategists, retreating does not equate to surrendering. A retreat is a tactical strategy where an army withdraws from a battle upon realizing that they are in a…
This Kiwi pilot inspired Tom Hardy’s character in Dunkirk
The pilot checks his watch and does another calculation. The fuel gauge on his Spitfire had been shot out by a German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter, and he was reduced to estimating his remaining fuel level with quick arithmetic. As he approaches the…
This forgotten soldier survived 4 months in Dunkirk by himself
In 1940, the evacuation of allied forces from the beaches of Dunkirk commenced as approximately 338…
Today in military history: Operation Dynamo begins the evacuation of Allied troops from Dunkirk
On May 26, 1940, Operation Dynamo began, starting the evacuation of over 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk’s beaches in France. British and French armies were cornered by the advancing German…
5 times soldiers won against terrible odds
One of the better-known assumptions about combat is that the side with the greater numbers usually wins. Seems pretty self-explanatory, right? Being outnumbered puts you at an automatic disadvantage. Still,…
5 great military soundtracks to study or just relax to
The military isn’t all action and adventure. There are plenty of dull tasks required of service members that can send even the most motivated of troops to sleep. Whether it’s…