World History

When the Banana Peel Was No Joke
It is one of the oldest jokes in comedy... A man walks confidently down a sidewalk. Perhaps he is wealthy. Perhaps pompous. Maybe he is carrying an important briefcase and has somewhere terribly important to be. Then the audience sees it: a banana peel. He doesn’t. One foot comes down, his legs shoot forward, and his dignity remains suspended in the air approximately half a second longer than the rest of him. And down he goes.
By The Iron Lighthouse8 days ago in History
Remembering American Involvement in the First World War
The First World War that began in 1914 included Britain, France, and Russia on one side and Germany, the Ottoman Empire, and Austria-Hungary on the other. They were the primary alliance blocs of the war. Across the Atlantic, the United States remained isolationist in 1914, but that would gradually change as the war progressed.
By Matthew A8 days ago in History
Remembering the Events That Led to the Darwin Raid in February 1942
After the airstrike at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese advanced in the Pacific. They had wiped out many battleships at the harbor, as well as hundreds of aircraft at surrounding airbases. Japan declared war on Britain, so Australia was also sucked into the Pacific War. In the months that followed, the Japanese army overran many European colonies in the Pacific, gaining new airfields that put their planes within range of Australia.
By Matthew A9 days ago in History
Remembering Japan’s Most Significant Victories and Defeats in World War II
The Pacific War, which lasted from 1941 to 1945, was a war that Japan lost. As such, most of their battles were defeats. However, they also had some notable victories in the Pacific War in 1941 and 1942, which helped expand their empire.
By Matthew A9 days ago in History
The Great American Cheese Stockpile
Somewhere beneath Missouri in 1981, the United States government had a problem. It wasn’t nuclear weapons. It wasn’t Soviet espionage. It wasn’t an experimental aircraft or some classified Cold War project buried safely underground. It was cheese... Lots and lots of cheese!
By The Iron Lighthouse10 days ago in History
Germany's Victories and Defeats in World War I
The outbreak of war in 1914 was followed by some euphoria in Germany. Germany declared war on both France and Russia and expected a short war that would last for a matter of months. German military planners had drafted a plan (the Schlieffen Plan) that would quickly defeat France, and then, after this, the whole of the German army would defeat the Russians in the east. Although this plan failed, Germany had numerous victories and defeats, which ultimately led to their loss in the war.
By Matthew A10 days ago in History
Innovators in Steel: How Japan Perfected (and Lost) the Aircraft Carrier
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) emerged as one of the world's foremost navies during the interwar period. Before that, they had won some resounding naval victories, and after 1919, they began constructing the first aircraft carriers built from the keel up. They were among the pioneers of naval aviation, building a series of aircraft carriers of various sizes.
By Matthew A11 days ago in History
Famous British Battles of the 20th Century
Britain was involved in two world wars, as well as other smaller wars, such as the Falklands. As such, there were numerous famous battles that involved the British Army, and of course, the Royal Navy. These are a few of the famous British Battles of the 20th Century.
By Matthew A12 days ago in History
A Look at the Rich History of the Royal Navy
The Royal Navy was, and to some extent still is, the cornerstone of Britain's defense policy. To defend England, a large navy would prevent any possible invasion before it reached Britain. As such, the Royal Navy has a great history.
By Matthew A12 days ago in History
Remembering the Defeat of Russia in World War I
Before 1914, the Russian Empire had established a closer alliance with both Britain and France as part of the Triple Entente. The discontinuation of the Reinsurance Treaty with Germany all but ensured that Russia became an ally of France and Britain. As the Russians had joined France's camp in Europe, the Germans drafted military plans that outlined how they could defeat both France and Russia in a future war within Europe.
By Matthew A13 days ago in History
Britain's Involvement in World War One
Britain's involvement in World War I was significant. The British Empire was the largest, and without the support of its armies, the French may not have been able to win the war on the Western Front alone. The outcome of the war could have been different had Britain not been involved on France's side.
By Matthew A13 days ago in History
The Rise of Fascism in Italy
The Italian nation had been a democracy before World War I. During the war, they were allied with Germany, but later joined the Entente (France, Britain, and Russia). In the post-war settlements that followed, Italy did not gain the promised amount of territory. Soon after the war, the Italian Fascist Party emerged.
By Matthew A14 days ago in History