Second World War

Inside the fortress

The ‘Flying Fortress’ became legendary for its ability to stay in the air even after taking a severe battering.

War of Words – ‘Kamikaze’

Marc DeSantis delves into the history and meaning of the word 'kamikaze.'

Left The American Air Museum at Duxford. Designed by Norman Foster, it received critical acclaim for its modern take on traditional aircraft hangars.

American Air Museum at Duxford granted listed status

It is the largest museum of its kind in Europe. Now the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford has been granted Grade II-listed status by English Heritage. The impressive building, which was designed by award-winning architect Norman Foster, was purpose-built…

Rare WWII Enigma machine uncovered in the Baltic

An incredibly rare Enigma machine from the Second World War has been recovered from the Baltic Sea. Divers made the discovery at Gelting Bay, east of Flensburg, while searching for discarded fishing nets. The cipher machine consisted of a keyboard,…

Prokhorovka: the greatest tank battle in history?

Bill Purdue takes a look at recent critical reappraisal of this famous clash of Soviet and Nazi armour in the summer of 1943.

Facebook steps in to save struggling Bletchley Park

It played a crucial role in World War Two and is considered the birthplace of computing. Now, the struggling museum at Bletchley Park has been given a bailout by Facebook.

Wreck off Norwegian coast confirmed as long-lost German warship

It was hit by Norwegian artillery and torpedoed by a British submarine before finally being scuttled by its own captain. But now, the long-lost wreck of the German light cruiser Karlsruhe has been identified off the coast of Norway.

Spies of WWII commemorated with blue plaques

Two spies who worked for Britain during the Second World War have been honoured with blue plaques outside their London homes.

Museum: the American Airpower Museum

Reviewing the best military history exhibitions, with Marc DeSantis

In View

MHM's round-up of the latest military history titles

Letters from MHM December 2020/January 2021

I commend Alexander Izza on his excellent article on Okinawa (MHM 119, October/November 2020) but would take issue with a couple of points.

Lancaster: the forging of a very British legend

Penned by former RAF Navigator and Gulf War veteran John Nichol, Lancaster is one of the most enthralling aviation history books I have read. But its succinct title does not do it justice. Its pages narrate not only the history of the legendary bomber but also of those who flew her.

The Glamour Boys: the secret story of the rebels who fought for Britain to defeat Hitler

To oppose the Munich Agreement of 1938 was once considered something close to treason. The prime minister of the day had met an intimidating opponent and had extracted from him a pact that would save the world from war. Who could possibly object to that?

Crucible of Hell: Okinawa: the last great battle of the Second World War

In this year of reflection on the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, too often our Western gaze falls solely on events in Europe. We rightly mourn those who died in the final, catastrophic battles in Nazi Germany and celebrate the final end of war in Europe on VE Day. But when the guns fell silent in Europe, the desperate fight between the Allies and the Japanese raged on. In Crucible of Hell, Saul David takes the reader on a journey to Okinawa, ‘the last great battle of the Second World War’.

Fleming’s War

With the latest James Bond blockbuster out next year, MHM assistant editor Calum Henderson explores the life of the man who created him: Ian Fleming, whose wartime adventures rivalled those of 007 himself.

Second World War wrecks: Brecon Beacons

Today this wreck, along with several others in the Beacons, stands as a monument, a tangible example of the enormous sacrifices that were made every day during the Second World War.

OPPOSITE US marines pass a dead Japanese soldier on Okinawa; a handful of the third of a million men who fought in the battle. RIGHT A captured Japanese AA gun in Okinawa following the battle.

The Fighting Forces of Okinawa

Alexander Izza reviews the strategy, tactics, weapons, and morale of the opposing forces in the culminating land battle of the Pacific War.

OPPOSITE US marines in Okinawa, June 1945. It proved one of the most gruelling and costly battles of the Pacific War, filling US leaders with grim anxiety about the likely casualties in the event of a landing on the Japanese mainland. ABOVE Major General Mitsuru Ushijima (1887 1945), the Japanese commander on Okinawa during the battle. He committed suicide on the final day. BELOW The USS Idaho shells Japanese positions on Okinawa. The US fleet played a key role in providing heavy artillery support to US ground forces.

Endgame in the Pacific: The Battle of Okinawa, 1 April – 22 June 1945

Marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the Pacific, Alexander Izza analyses the ferocious last stand of the Japanese Empire.

Operation Hailstone, 17-18 February 1944: the Task Force 58 raid on the Japanese fortress of Truk

Diver Rod Macdonald describes the underwater remains of a Pacific War battle that resulted in the largest two-day loss of shipping of WWII.

ABOVE Soviet armour in action during the Battle of Berlin. BELOW The last pictures of Hitler inspecting some of the teenage boys he was sending into battle against Zhukov’s insuperable forces.

Seelow Heights and Berlin

Marking the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, David Porter analyses the last stand of Hitler’s Third Reich.

The Battle of Berlin: aircraft and infantry

David Porter analyses the balance of forces in the Third Reich’s final battle.

LEFT This drone image shows the remains of Sylt. The the memorial plaque at the site can be seen inset.

Alderney’s concentration camp uncovered

An archaeological project on Alderney has uncovered information about the labour and concentration camp of Sylt that once stood on the island, shedding light on the lives of prisoners during the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands in the Second…

Hitler’s hangmen: the secret plot to kill Churchill

Brian Lett reports on a Nazi plan for a mass POW breakout and attempted Fascist coup in wartime Britain.

The Pacific War at Sea: the Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942

Neil Faulkner analyses the strategic situation in the Pacific in early 1942 and the military balance of forces.

The Battle of Midway

Neil Faulkner analyses the Battle of Midway phase by phase.

HMS Olympus: a tale of tragedy and heroes

Timmy Gambin and Lucy Woods report on the discovery and exploration of HMS Olympus, which sank off the coast of Malta in 1942.

Stalingrad: the greatest Allied victory?

It has been argued that the Allied victory in Tunisia in May 1943 was a greater victory than Stalingrad. Anthony Heywood disagrees.

War Reporters: Ernie Pyle

Neil Faulkner on battlefield scoops through the ages.

Air war over Malta

In the first of an occasional series on conflict archaeology, Anthony Rogers reports on the evidence for the epic air battle above the island-fortress of Malta during the Second World War.

The Past

What is the significance of the Dambusters legend?

MHM Editor Neil Faulkner analyses the RAF’s controversial strategic bombing campaign.

1. Patrick Leigh Fermor in Ithaca, in his early 30s, just after the Second World War. © Benaki Museum, Athens.

The Past