Military History Matters 151
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Charlemagne: King, conqueror, emperor
In the first part of our special feature for this issue, Stephen Roberts traces the life of this extraordinary individual; while in the second part, he looks in more detail at Charlemagne’s victory at Pavia, which helped him establish the foundations of the Holy Roman Empire.
The Siege of Pavia: Defeating the Lombards, 773-774
In the second part of our special, Stephen Roberts reveals how a key victory helped Charlemagne establish the foundations for the Holy Roman Empire.
War Classics – On the Psychology of Military Incompetence
Nick Spenceley reconsiders On the Psychology of Military Incompetence by Norman Dixon.
Life blood: Britain’s war-winning medical innovation.
One of the greatest contributions to Britain’s WWII success was made not by frontline troops, but by the transfusion pioneers who supported them on the battlefield. John Beales reports.
Berlin, year zero : The Iron Curtain falls – Part 4: a divided city
In the latest part of our series on the coming of the Cold War, Taylor Downing reveals how tensions mounted in Germany’s ruined capital.
Verdun by numbers
10 months. Duration of the battle: lasting from 21st February until 18 December 1916. Verdun was the longest conflict of the First World War.
Verdun: the longest battle
In our special feature for this issue, Graham Goodlad traces first the military career of Philippe Pétain, the French marshal later disgraced for his collaboration with Nazi Germany, and then looks at the battle of Verdun to understand how France’s eventual victory was achieved at such terrible human cost.
The Mill on the Meuse
In the second part of our special feature, Graham Goodlad examines the epic French defence of the fortress of Verdun in the longest battle of World War I.
Spitfire at 90
The maiden flight of the world’s most famous fighter took place 90 years ago this spring. Stephen Roberts reveals how it helped to win the war.
Military History Matters 149
The road to independence
In our latest four-part series, marking the 250th anniversary of US independence, Fred Chiaventone examines first the genesis of America’s Revolutionary War, how discontent exploded into open warfare, and then traces the history of a conflict whose repercussions are still being felt 250 years on.
A very bloody summer: The American Revolution: Part 2 – a game of cat and mouse
In the second part of our series, Fred Chiaventone looks at how the conflict escalated as the two sides struggled to gain the upper hand.
The American Revolution by numbers
£133 million – Britain’s national debt after the Seven Years War. This enormous deficit prompted the introduction of unpopular new taxes in North America.
Balkan breakdown: The Central Powers at war: PART 4 – BULGARIA
Concluding our series on Imperial Germany’s Great War allies, Graham Goodlad examines Bulgaria’s belated and ultimately disastrous entry into the conflict.
Under the heel: The Iron Curtain falls – Part 3: the crushing of Eastern Europe
In the third part of our series on the coming of the Cold War, Taylor Downing reveals how Stalin consolidated military and political control over a new Soviet bloc.
War on Film – Goebbels and the Führer
Taylor Downing reviews the latest film and television releases.
Assault on Shaizar: How the Assassins met their match
They were the world’s most feared killers. But, in 1114, the Assassins were thwarted – not by elite bodyguards, but by a group of middle-aged women who weren’t prepared to be pushed around. Steve Tibble reveals all.
War Classics – The Right on the Line
Nick Spenceley reconsiders The Right of the Line by John Terraine
Lest we forget: A history of Britain in ten war memorials
Tessa Dunlop uncovers the stories behind some of the UK’s most fascinating monuments to conflict, and reveals what they tell us about changing attitudes to war.
Ian Knight
The winner of MHM’s 2025 Book of the Year award on redcoats, distant battlefields, and the film that started it all.
