World History

The Forgotten 1930s Dream of Rocket Mail
There was a time when checking the mail did not require protective eyewear. The mail carrier came down the road, the postman walked up the steps, and letters arrived in bags, by train between cities, or by airplane across great distances. Everybody generally agreed that correspondence should reach its destination without first passing through a cloud of smoke and fire.
By The Iron Lighthouse15 days ago in History
The History of the Royal Italian Navy in the 20th Century
The Italian Royal Navy was one of the larger navies in Europe in the early 20th century. This was the navy of the Italian Empire, needed in both World Wars. It provided notable naval support for Italy's allies in the Mediterranean, and its fleets also fought wars against Ottoman Turkey and Albania.
By Matthew A15 days ago in History
Remembering the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943
The Battle of Tarawa was fought from November 20 to 23, 1943. It was only the second US offensive in the Pacific War since Guadalcanal and involved 35,000 US troops. It proved to be a bloody and costly battle.
By Matthew A16 days ago in History
Remembering the War in Korea
The Korean War, which lasted from 1950–1953, is often referred to as the 'forgotten war'. It is referred to as such because, although a major conflict, the World War that preceded the Korean War overshadows it. In many respects, it was the first real conflict of the Cold War, with both the USSR and the USA heavily involved, along with North Korea, the Republic of South Korea, China, and coalition UN forces.
By Matthew A16 days ago in History
President Truman and the Cold War
Truman emerged as president in 1945, when the Allies had all but won the war. Germany surrendered shortly after, and all that was left was the defeat of Japan. As an alternative to an Allied landing on Japan, the USA dropped bombs instead. With this, the Japanese also surrendered. However, hereafter, US and USSR relations began to deteriorate in the post-war era as both Truman and Stalin became increasingly wary of their former allies.
By Matthew A16 days ago in History
The Importance of Aircraft in World War II's Pacific War
From the moment the Pacific War began to the moment it ended, aircraft were of great importance during this conflict. The development of increasingly sophisticated bomber aircraft during the inter-war period allowed for more accurate bombing campaigns on military and industrial targets. In addition to this, new fighter aircraft designs could take these bombers out in larger numbers than anti-aircraft guns. As such, air superiority became an essential factor in the outcome of the Pacific War.
By Matthew A17 days ago in History
A Brief History of the American Aircraft Carriers
Today, the US aircraft carrier fleet is largely unrivaled. As such, the US aircraft carriers have provided the bulk of the US Navy since the first US aircraft carriers set sail during the 1920s. Since then, they have had a great combat record, most notably in World War II, whereby they won the Pacific War for the Allies.
By Matthew A18 days ago in History
The History of the German Navy in the 20th Century
In the late 19th century, the Imperial German Navy began to expand. The Naval League inspired Germany to begin constructing more warships for its navy. In the early 20th century, Germany’s naval expansion continued unabated.
By Matthew A19 days ago in History
Five Key Events of World War II's Pacific War
The Pacific War was one in which the Japanese Empire was defeated from 1941 to 1945. That defeat was ensured by a string of Allied victories after 1942. These were a few of the key events of the Pacific War.
By Matthew A20 days ago in History
Turning the Tide: How the United States Shaped World War II
The USA may have been isolationist for the first few years of the war, but when it joined, it gave a considerable boost to the Allies. In 1939, few could have foreseen the influential role the USA would have in the war. The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor may have sunk 4 US battleships and hundreds of US planes, but now that the United States had joined the war, it could provide its Allies with thousands of planes, tanks, and millions of soldiers for the war in Europe & beyond. At a time when both Britain and the USSR were pinned back on their primary fronts, this would be most welcome in late 1941.
By Matthew A20 days ago in History
Six Years of Fire: A Chronology of World War II
The Second World War began in the 1930s. The Japanese had already occupied parts of China before 1939, but in Europe, the war began in 1939. The occupation of Czechoslovakia was one step, but it was the German troop movements into Poland that saw Britain and France declare war on Germany. This marked the beginning of the war.
By Matthew A20 days ago in History
Anne Boleyn: The Queen Who Changed England and Lost Her Head
Anne Boleyn remains one of the most famous—and debated—women in English history. She was the woman Henry VIII pursued for years, the queen whose marriage helped change England’s religious future, and the mother of one of England’s greatest monarchs, Elizabeth I.
By Lily Ann20 days ago in History