History of War - Issue 145

In this issue

DEMOBILISING THE WEHRMACHT Their war over, thousands of soldiers were stood down, disarmed and returned to their homes. DENAZIFICATION Allied authorities set about demolishing decades of Nazi ideology and architecture. MILLIONS IN MOTION Refugees across Europe caught in the conflict began to rebuild their shattered lives.

DEMOBILISING THE WEHRMACHT

Dismantling the vast German war machine involved the disposition of prisoners, weapons and equipment during the months following the surrender

3 mins

DENAZIFICATION

The identification, arrest and trials of senior personnel suspected of war crimes was just one component of the Allied effort to de-Nazify Germany

4 mins

MILLIONS IN MOTION

The end of the war in Europe saw the largest displacement of humanity in the continent's history, and repatriation became a huge challenge between the former Allied powers, East and West

5 mins

REBUILDING GERMANY

The Marshall Plan facilitated the rise of the West German economy from the ashes of conflict while enhancing US prestige in the early years of the Cold War

3 mins

UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDERS

IN THE ROOMS WHERE HISTORY WAS MADE

10+ mins

THE DEATH THROES OF THE THIRD REICH

By 1945 it had long been clear that Nazi Germany had lost the war – so why did so many of its soldiers refuse to surrender?

10+ mins

WHEN EAST MET WEST

The former US lieutenant colonel discusses the last days of Nazi Germany, the convergence of Allied lines, and the dawning of a new world order

10+ mins

SMEDLEY BUTLER

Major General Butler dedicated his life to serving his country, and his experiences in the heat of battle gave him a unique perspective on war

7 mins

WHAT IF...THE USA HAD LAUNCHED AN INVASION OF CANADA?

If War Plan Red had gone ahead, American troops would have marched on British imperial interests in North America and the Atlantic

6 mins

BATTLE OF TEWKESBURY

In the popular imagination, the Wars of the Roses ended with the death of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

10 mins

SCUD BALLISTIC MISSILES

Iraq's short-range terror weapon was designed for mobile war

4 mins

CLOSING A CHAPTER ON THE FEW

Historian and publisher Andy Saunders pays tribute to John 'Paddy' Hemingway and reflects on the Battle of Britain's upcoming 85th anniversary

4 mins

CHALKE HISTORY FESTIVAL 2025

This year’s event will feature household names, new talks and a fresh festival layout

2 mins

NEWHAVEN FORT REOPENS

Sussex’s largest defensive structure is open to the public again after urgent repairs. New features - including exhibitions and an escape room - have also been added

1 min

VICTORY '45

THE WE HAVE WAYS OF MAKING YOU TALK PODCAST HOSTS TELL UNFLINCHING HUMAN STORIES FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR'S CHAOTIC CONCLUSION

1 min

SCORCHED EARTH: A GLOBAL HISTORY OF WWII

A BOOK THAT CHALLENGES THE VIEW THAT THERE'S NOTHING NEW TO SAY ABOUT WWII

2 mins

THE FALKLANDS FACTOR

THE BATTLE THAT CHANGED THE SHAPE OF SHIPS

1 min

BURYING THE ENEMY

THE STORY OF THOSE WHO CARED FOR THE DEAD IN TWO WORLD WARS

1 min

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History of War Magazine Description:

Discover the politics, mechanics, strategies and machines 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.