History of War

From the conquering legions of Ancient Rome to the thunderous tank battles of World War II and beyond, History of War takes you deeper inside the minds of history’s fighting men, further under the bonnets of some of the world’s most devastating war machines, and higher above the battlefield to see the broad sweep of conflict as it happened.

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UCCELLO’S RENAISSANCE MASTERPIECE • Painted c.1435-60

THE CHUCKLING DOUGHBOY • Taken: c.1918

OLIVIER AND AGINCOURT • Taken: c.1944

TIMELINE OF… MAHDIST WAR • Muhammad Ahmad transforms Sudan into a militant Islamic state and directly clashes with Egyptian and European colonial armies

THE RISE OF THE MAHDI • One of the most infamous conflicts of Queen Victoria’s reign lasted from 1881 to 1899 – but exactly how did Britain become embroiled in a war in which it had little interest?

THE SIEGE OF KHARTOUM • While the Mahdi was making his moves in Sudan, the British were exerting their control over Egypt following the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882

KITCHENER’S RECONQUEST OF SUDAN • With rival European imperial powers vying for influence in North Africa, Britain set about crushing the Mahdist forces once and for all

THE CITY THAT REFUSED TO DIE • The industrial heart of Soviet Russia was in fact never a German objective for Case Blue. So how did it become a turning point in the war and a devastating loss for the Nazis?

TIMELINE

RALPH PUCKETT • After capturing high ground at Hill 205 in Korea, US Rangers fought off repeated counterattacks. In the thick of the fighting, their commanding officer provided an extraordinary example of heroism

CONFESSIONS OF A POLISH EXECUTIONER • In the dark days of Nazi occupation one resistance member was tasked with assassinating Germans, and even his own countrymen who had become collaborators

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THE TET OFFENSIVE • It may have been a colossal military failure, but in many ways this campaign marked the turning point of the Vietnam War

THE BATTLE OF HUE • In 1968, as popular support for the US invasion of Vietnam faded, communist forces captured the city of Hue in just two hours. They only held it for a few weeks but it was a turning point in the war, and American history

BATTLE OF HUE • 31 JANUARY – 2 MARCH 1968

DASSAULT Mirage III • The French multi-role delta jet that’s still in service nearly seven decades after its first flight

NEW WINDOW ON A GENOCIDE • The World War I aviation historical society Cross & Cockade International (CCI) has unveiled aerial photography depicting devastated villages and settlements in the Armenian Highlands, the scene of widespread atrocities

Redeveloping the Churchill War Rooms • Frozen in time for decades before being reopened to the public, IWM is set to breathe new life into the Churchill War Rooms with a major redevelopment project

Eden Camp’s upcoming events • Bouncing back from the Covid-19 pandemic, Eden Camp will host a series of events in the coming months to examine its unique place in military history

New Bamburgh Castle Museum interpretations • The Armstrong and Aviation Museum, housed at Bamburgh Castle, will be refreshed with updated artefact interpretations and other works

AUGUST 1942 • To commemorate 80 years since the Second World War, History of War will be taking a look at some of the key events taking place during each month of the conflict

NO WIDER WAR A HISTORY OF THE VIETNAM WAR VOLUME 2: 1965-75 • THE SECOND INSTALMENT OF SERGIO MILLER’S THOROUGH HISTORY OF THE CONFLICT

THE CACTUS AIR FORCE AIR WAR OVER GUADALCANAL • IN THE DARK DAYS FOLLOWING THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, A SMALL UNIT...