Warfare History Network

1 month ago | warfarehistorynetwork.com | Peter Zablocki

By Peter ZablockiThe fog that descended over the Westerplatte peninsula in the Bay of the Free City of Danzig, Poland, on August 31, 1939, refused to lift as if trying to stop the night from making way for a new day. At the small officers’ quarters building, Capt. Franciszek Dabrowski woke up from a nightmare, his body in a cold sweat; it was now September 1, 3:57 a.m. The 35-year-old officer had spent the past two years as the deputy commander of the Polish Military Depot at Westerplatte.

1 month ago | warfarehistorynetwork.com | David Lippman

By David H. LippmanSnow and biting cold covered American foxholes in the Vosges and the Alsace plain as GI wristwatches ticked down the last hours of December 31, 1944, awaiting the German attack. In their positions, American soldiers peered northward toward German West Wall fortified positions, into heavy woods, or tried to catch some sleep. Nobody felt like celebrating the opening of 1945 on the thin American lines.

1 month ago | warfarehistorynetwork.com | Eric Niderost

At a prearranged signal, Pickett’s division executed a “left oblique,” a complicated maneuver designed to maintain the link with Pettigrew’s men and prevent a fatal drift to the right. The Southerners halted under fire and changed direction, the whole operation being accomplished in two or three minutes. The Union troops watching across the way marveled at the Rebels’ coolness.

2 months ago | warfarehistorynetwork.com | Robert Collins Suhr

By Robert SuhrOn the night of February 28, 1864, an advanced unit of bluecoat troopers captured two guards at the Rapidan River ford, and the remainder in a house near the river. Soon to follow were the first four hundred raiders under the command of Col. Ulric Dahlgren. Not far behind was the main force of 3,500 men under Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick. The Union Army’s largest and most adventurous cavalry raid since Chancellorsville was underway.

Jan 24, 2025 | warfarehistorynetwork.com | Peter Suciu

By Peter SuciuThere is an old saying that the pen is mightier is the sword, but try telling that to anyone under fire and they will likely disagree. They might also say that a war of words does not go far in a firefight but then explain how communicating with comrades while under fire can change the situation quickly. Ever since man went to war, there have been codes, ciphers, and other ways to protect valuable information from falling into enemy hands.