The French government signed an armistice with Germany in mid-1940, which was effective from June 22nd onward, following the fall of France. This would, as the French hoped, put an end to the regional conflict in France and restore a measure of security. England, which had by this time withdrawn ...

Eighty years after Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “great crusade” in Europe, what is the enduring legacy of D-Day? For Eisenhower, the meaning of D-Day was indelibly linked with Gettysburg, a place where he spent much of his life. Eisenhower saw these two iconic battles as sharing similar lessons and leg...

On August 9th 1945, the United States dropped a nuclear weapon on Nagasaki. After almost 80 years, few are aware of the strange events that led to Nagasaki - of all places - being chosen as a nuclear target. The reality is, the city was not chosen because of any real military significance of valu...

Produced by the Office of War information's Bureau of Motion Pictures, this program gives us a contemporary look at how early American received their jump training, and also how some of those men moved on to specialize in winter and mountain warfare. Fans of the 10th Mountain may find this very i...

V-mail was developed to lighten the load logistically in getting mail overseas to the GIs and back home. Let's explore how V-mail was developed, when it was implemented, and look at examples of new and used stationary.

What happens when a family is separated by WW2, even though the husband is not a young GI? Enjoy this 1944 made short film told through the letters between Ellen and Steve

During World War II, two ace pilots emerged and were considered unmatched for their skill and combat record. They were Erich Hartmann - highest scoring ace of all time - and Hans-Joachim Marseille - the top ace in the North African campaign. A common debate is whether Marseille - despite having h...

World War II saw many men and women separated from their families serving. Rationing changed food and decorations. Let's explore how Christmas celebrations continued and also were modified through the WWII years.

The story of Arnhem is usually told from the perspective of the Red Devils. Who attacked Lt Col Johnny Frost at Arnhem Bridge?

The 1928 haversack was inexpensive for the US government to procure but was a challenge for soldiers to learn to pack. Done incorrectly, the entire pack could fall apart in the middle of the march. Join and see what it takes to do it correctly!

The Commando March from Sword Beach to Amfreville via Pegasus Bridge! The route retraced the steps of the original Commandos of the 1st Special Service Brigade who landed at Sword Beach as part of 3rd Division on D-Day. One of the tasks that day was for the 1st Special Service Brigade to relieve ...

La Fière Bridge on D-Day And The Battle For The Causeway from the 6th to the 9th June 1944, would be one of the most vital battles fought during WW2 in the battle for Normandy. Its capture was vital to secure an exit from the beach head at Utah Beach and allow the seaborne forces to move inland ...

Pilsen in the Czech Republic was liberated on the 6th May 1945 by elements of General George Patton’s 3rd Army.
Now each year the Czech people remember these events and put on a huge display of armour and parade through the streets accompanied by flypasts from wartime aircraft.
Travel to the city...