Cover Story
When Europe went to war: five steps to catastrophe ‘No part of the Great War compares in interest with its opening,’ wrote Winston Churchill of the world changing events that took place 110 years ago this summer, as Europe’s ‘Great Powers’ found themselves sliding inexorably towards a new type… Features
Miracle on the Marne Graham Goodlad analyses the battle that saved Paris but initiated four years of trench warfare. 
Countdown to war: How a diplomatic crisis in the Balkans led to a Europe-wide conflagration FROM 28 JUNE 1914 TO 4 AUGUST 1914 28 June – Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, having met his good friend Kaiser… 
Churchill and the scientists: Winning the ‘Wizard War’ In the second part of our series to mark Winston Churchill's 150th birthday, Taylor Downing explores his relationship with the difficult but brilliant scientist who restarted Britain’s controversial World War… 
Crusader criminals: The other side of soldiering The Crusades are known for spectacular military engagements. But they also saw all manner of crimes committed beyond the battlefield. In a new book, Steve Tibble uncovers some dark secrets. 
An armoured Balaklava: Lessons from the Gothic Line Less well-known than the invasion of Normandy, the Allied campaign in northern Italy saw some of the bloodiest fighting of the Second World War. Eighty years on, Patrick Mercer looks… 
The shock of the new Marshal Turenne’s bold Winter Campaign of 1674-1675 defied the norms of 17th-century warfare, says William E Welsh. It also sealed his reputation as one of France’s greatest commanders. News
Research finds that ancient Greek armour may have been used in battle after all New research has found that an ancient suit of armour may have been used in battle, and not just for ceremonial purposes as was previously thought. The 3,500-year-old Mycenaean armour… 
Remains of lost barracks from revolutionary times uncovered in Virginia Archaeologists have found the remains of a Revolutionary War-era barracks near the Colonial Williamsburg visitor centre in Virginia. The discovery was made during construction of a new indoor sportsground near… 
‘Brilliant’ World War II codebreaker honoured with blue plaque A ‘brilliant’ mathematician who helped break the Nazi Enigma codes at Bletchley Park during World War II has been honoured with a blue plaque outside her childhood home. The memorial… 
Wreck of ‘legendary’ American submarine discovered 80 years after sinking The wreck of the ‘legendary’ American submarine that sank the most Japanese warships during Second World War has been found, 80 years after she was lost. USS Harder was discovered… Views
Napoleonic-era graffiti found at Dover Castle The Picture Desk This image shows a castle door, which was etched with some macabre graffiti by English soldiers during the Napoleonic era. The simple wooden plank door, from the top of a… 
Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park Museum, What's on Everyone has a story to tell. So do warships. The saga of the USS The Sullivans, which was launched in April 1943, is still making headlines today. The Fletcher-class destroyer… 
MHM 141 Competition Competitions Put your military history knowledge to the test with our competition. 
War Classics – The Reason Why Comment Nick Spenceley recalls one of the great works of military history 
Back to the drawing board: The Great Panjandrum Ideas David Porter on Military History's doomed inventions. Reviews
Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park Everyone has a story to tell. So do warships. The saga of the USS The Sullivans, which was launched in April 1943, is still making headlines today. The Fletcher-class destroyer… 
War on Film – Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (2024) TAYLOR DOWNING reviews the latest film releases. 
Sword Beach: The untold story of D-Day’s forgotten victory REVIEW BY NICK HEWITT Sometimes books teach us something new, but sometimes they inspire us to reconsider something that we thought we understood. Historian and archaeologist Stephen Fisher’s excellent debut… 
Far from Suitable? Haig, Gough and Passchendaele: A reappraisal REVIEW BY PATRICK MERCER Stand on any part of the battlefield of Passchendaele and you will be struck by how unremarkable it looks. Gentle slopes are topped by woods, while… 
Sky Warriors: British airborne forces in the Second World War REVIEW BY GRAHAM GOODLAD The Second World War saw the parachute and glider used to deploy troops in large numbers for the first and last time in military history. The… 
Operation Biting: the 1942 parachute assault to capture Hitler’s radar REVIEW BY JONATHAN EATON Sir Max Hastings has an established reputation as a leading writer on 20th-century conflicts, drawing on his previous experience as both a war correspondent and newspaper… 
Image: Stefano Bianchetti / Bridgeman Images
From the editor
The First World War began 110 years ago this summer. Though widely expected to last only a few months – and to be ‘over by Christmas’ – the conflict would drag on for four long years, claiming more than 15 million lives.
Today, it is often remembered for the appalling conditions of the trenches, where deadlocked forces sometimes found themselves quite literally stuck in the mud. But as we are reminded in this issue, it began as a war of movement, as the invading German Army smashed its way towards Paris.
In our two-part special feature, Graham Goodlad examines first how Europe slid inexorably towards war, and then looks in detail at the ‘Miracle of the Marne’ – the key early battle which checked the German advance but in doing so paved the way for years of bitter stalemate.
Elsewhere, we travel further back in time to discover what happened when medieval knights went rogue, as Steve Tibble, the author of a new book on the subject, goes in search of Crusader criminals.
Also in this issue, Patrick Mercer reveals why Italy’s Gothic Line saw some of the fiercest fighting of World War II; and William E Welsh explains how Marshal Turenne’s celebrated Winter Campaign of 1674-1675 sealed his reputation as one of France’s great generals.
Finally, in the second part of his fascinating series to mark the 150th birthday of Winston Churchill, Taylor Downing uncovers the wartime PM’s unlikely friendship with the difficult but brilliant scientist who restarted Britain’s controversial WWII bombing campaign.
We hope you enjoy the issue!
LAURENCE EARLE
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