History Articles

Politics » History | By Chris Pizzo @ Saturday, 5th May 2007 @ 10:05 AM

Sometimes events in history force the creation of new ideas to replace what has becomes obsolete. Weapons, strategy and tactics have always been marked by change on the battlefields of history to deal with new threats. While obsolete weapons wind up in a museum, and outdated tactics are preserved in text, once a martial art has been deemed no longer useful on the battlefield it still survives as a sport or as a hobby thanks to groups of enthusiasts who keep up the style to preserve part... more...

Politics » History | By Bob Carper @ Thursday, 12th April 2007 @ 8:52 PM

In the closing months of World War II, the term "kamikaze" was anything but funny. Broadly defined, it represented the will of the samurai warrior to give up his life for his country and Emperor in waging an attack against the enemy of his country. The term "kamikaze" is of Japanese origin and literally means "divine wind." It came into being as the name of legendary typhoons said to have saved Japan from Mongol invasion fleets in 1274 and 1281. In Japanese, the ... more...

Politics » History | By Bob Carper @ Friday, 6th April 2007 @ 5:40 PM

During the days I travelled here and there as a systems consultant, one of my favorite cities to visit was Chicago. I always made time to see a performance of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, especially if Brahms was on the playbill. Being an irrepressible train watcher, I was in seventh heaven visiting the greatest rail center in the United States. The steaks were mouth watering, plentiful, and great. Doing the bar scene on Rush Street was a nightly misadventure and I tried my best to stay ... more...

Politics » History | By Adrian Adams @ Wednesday, 4th April 2007 @ 8:26 PM

I signed my first Army contract in 1985, and over that time, one of the things I was most used to was the BDU, or Battle Dress Uniform. This is the uniform with a hunter style camouflage that most can close their eyes and envision when they think of the US Army. This uniform was adopted in 1981, with a four-color pattern with two green shades, brown and black. It came in two weights, temperate and winter, and saw minor changes in the color, waist tabs and stitching over the years. more...

Politics » History | By Bob Carper @ Tuesday, 3rd April 2007 @ 9:16 PM

The Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington, Virginia is the reproduction of the Joe Rosenthal photograph taken after the capture of Mount Suribachi. This was the highest point of land on Iwo Jima. The flag raising symbolized the capture of the volcanic ash island. This flag raising was the second of two such symbolic capture photographs. The first one was scarcely noticable, so the Marine commanders sent a second detail of troops up to the Suribachi summit to re-enact the first flag raising. more...

Politics » History | By Bob Carper @ Tuesday, 27th March 2007 @ 1:53 PM

This is the third of a series of articles that document some of the names, places, catch words, and other items that are now lodged permanently in our vocabulary, History was made some 68 years ago. We dare not forget. From July to February, the name of the game is football. It starts with the exhibition season and ends with the Super Bowl extravaganza. Out of World War II has come a term about which which we all know. It is called The Blitz. The blitz is a team defensive mo... more...

Politics » History | By Bob Carper @ Tuesday, 20th March 2007 @ 5:53 AM

Almost seventy years have elapsed since the beginning of World War II. This was the bloodiest conflict our global world has ever endured. Almost every country throughout the world lost millions upon millions of its population. There has never been a war fought on such a massive scale as the Second World War. It is doubtful if such a war will ever be fought again. If it ever happens, it will mean the total destruction of our world. The Lenin Mausoleum is the first of a series of artic... more...

Politics » History | By Adrian Adams @ Thursday, 15th February 2007 @ 4:06 AM

The island of Cyprus has a rich history that is steeped with mythological gods and demi-gods. It is said that on this island that the gods mingled with humans. No one can really say for certain when Cyprus was founded. This beautiful island can be dated as far back as 6,000 B.C. Many ancient historical events took place on the island of Cyprus. Alexander the Great fought the bloody battle, which freed Cyprus from Persian rule in 333. After his death, the beautiful Island fell unde... more...

Politics » History | By Victor Epand @ Wednesday, 31st January 2007 @ 6:24 PM

The first tanks didn't have turrets in World War I until the development of the French light tank called the FT-17. This French tank set the design of tanks to modern day even thou it only had a machine gun for is main weapon. Many World War I tanks were huge compared to the early days of tank in World War II. At the Start of WW2 most tanks had a 37mm cannon. Also before World War II the development of mobile radio sets that could be used inside tanks meant that tanks to work togethe... more...

Politics » History | By Adrian Adams @ Tuesday, 23rd January 2007 @ 1:52 PM

The original incarnation of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) was born in 1775 during the Continental Congress in a resolution sponsored by John Adams. The USMC fought diligently throughout the American revolution but, after the Treaty of Paris in April 1783, it was dissolved only to be reestablished in 1798. Following this reestablishment, the USMC was involved in military actions against France and Barbary pirates. During the War of 1812, the USMC participated in many naval operat... more...

Politics » History | By Adrian Adams @ Monday, 15th January 2007 @ 10:06 AM

When Joe Rosenthal snapped the iconic photograph, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, he knew it was a special sight, but probably never imagined the lengths the snapshot would travel in history. It was his capturing of the Battle of Iwo Jima, during the Second World War that became one of the most well known depictions of the war. From this image, a host of stories, life histories, movies, and books have emerged, namely the most recent Clint Eastwood film by the name of "Flags of Our Fathers.&quo... more...

Politics » History | By Victor Epand @ Monday, 8th January 2007 @ 1:46 PM

My vote for the first Axis defeat would be the Italian attack into southern France. Some very outnumbered, and demoralized, second line troops managed to stop Mussolini's legions cold. In the vast scheme of things, it did not matter, but it showed what could be done. The battle of Britain was an ongoing battle even after the Greeks beat the Italians. It was also not a land battle, I should have mentioned first land battle. The successful defense of France against the Italians ... more...

Politics » History | By Adam Thompson @ Thursday, 19th October 2006 @ 11:20 PM

On January 30, 1945, members of the U.S. Military special forces and Filipino guerrilla warriors pulled off the most stunning and successful prison camp bust in recorded history. These brave soldiers rescued over 500 POWs and dealt a heavy blow to the Japanese army left in the Philippines. If that weren't enough, they did it with only two casualties! The soldiers involved in the Cabanatuan operation came from several separate locations and groups. The first group was the Alam... more...

Politics » History | By Adrian Barrett @ Thursday, 31st August 2006 @ 6:22 AM

When the Second World War was finished, the Soviet Union set up a system of local offices run by German Communists much like the system of the Soviet System itself. Farms, industries, and banks alike were taken and reordered. People suspected of opposing the Communist regime were thrown into jails and prisons. The Communists also forced other parties to join them, forming the Socialist Union Party. The very first secretary of this party was the most powerful leader in all of East Germany. more...

Politics » History | By Unkown @ Wednesday, 1st February 2006 @ 8:59 PM

How you know you experienced the 90's: 1) 10p Mr Frosty Ice Pops on long summer days! 2) Gordon the Gopher! 3) You could do or tried to do the Prodigy step. 'You're no good 4 me....' 4) You owned or longed for an Adidas three stripe tracksuit 5) You owned a compilation tape with TOP TUNES such as "Mr Vain", "What is love" and "Rhythm is a dancer" and 'How Bizarre, How Bizarre" 6) Girls though... more...

Politics » History | By Harry Rockwell @

A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion bearing an organization’s insignia or emblem and is carried by the organization’s members. They are given to prove membership when challenged and to enhance morale. Origins of the challenge coin Like so many other aspects of military tradition, the origins of the challenge coin are a matter of much debate with little supporting evidence. While many organizations and services claim to have been the originators of the challenge coin, the most... more...