WHAT IF...D-DAY HAD FAILED?

The consequences of an unsuccessful invasion would have been felt for decades to come

THE IRA'S WAR IN COUNTY TYRONE

The IRA's East Tyrone Brigade was one of its deadliest units. This is the inside story of how one of its attacks triggered a retaliatory ambush by the SAS

'HATRED IS NOT THE WAY'

Speaking to mark the publication of his new memoir, Ivor Perl describes how he survived both Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps during the Holocaust

JOHNSON BEHARRY

Two acts of valour from this young private saved the lives of his comrades in the narrow streets of Al Amarah, Iraq

SUPER SPREADERS IN THE TRENCHES

During the latter period of WWI, infection and disease were a universal enemy on both sides of no man’s land. Vaccination and prevention methods became essential for survival, never mind victory, on the frontline

PROKHOROVKA AND THE FIGHT FOR HILL 252.2

The Battle of Prokhorovka, on 12 July 1943, was the culmination point of the southern pincer of Operation Citadel. The Soviets ultimately emerged victorious, despite suffering extremely heavy losses to their armour. Here, Dr Ben Wheatley recounts the struggle for one critical position during the battle: Hill 252.2

AIR BATTLE FOR KURSK

On the eve of Operation Citadel, the Red Air Force sought to pre-empt the attack by smashing the Luftwaffe. The risky spoiling operation failed spectacularly

ITALIANS IN THE EAST

Reeling from his setbacks in North Africa, and eager to prove his forces’ worth against the communist foe, Il Duce sent a large expeditionary force to join the Nazi invasion of the USSR

SHOWDOWN IN THE DESERT

The Italian campaigns in Africa sought to end British rule over Egypt and control of the Suez Canal, strengthening Mussolini’s dominance over the Mediterranean

CORPO TRUPPE VOLONTARIE

During the Spanish Civil War, tens of thousands of Italian soldiers fought in Spain to support the fascist Nationalist forces of Francisco Franco

STRIKE AT AFRICA

Mussolini envisaged building an empire to rival Ancient Rome. Once he’d established his grip on Italy, he set his sights on Abyssinia as the place to begin

PREPARING FOR KURSK

Dr Ben Wheatley of the University of East Anglia reveals the huge German and Soviet preparations for the largest tank battle in history

BATTLE OF JINGXING

Strategic brilliance and an audacious plan ensured victory for the underdog in this legendary clash in ancient China

WWII'S FORGOTTEN V-2 HEIST

In the summer of 1944, a daring mission was launched to retrieve an intact German rocket, recovered by the Polish Home Army, to analyse and counter Hitler’s devastating vengeance weapon

AUBREY COSENS

In February 1945, as the Allies began a renewed push into Nazi Germany, a Canadian sergeant single-handedly cleared three enemy-held buildings to earn the Commonwealth’s highest military honour

SAS IN SICILY

How the elite unit emerged from chaotic beginnings to spearhead the Allies' 1943 invasion of the Mediterranean island fortress

BATTLE FOR SICILY THE 'SOFT UNDERBELLY'

Eighty years ago, Allied forces invaded the Axis homeland for the first time in a huge, complex operation that involved airborne and amphibious landings

COLD WAR

After the defeats and divisions of WWII, the Armée de L’Air struggled for aircraft and a role for them. Ironically, breaking away from NATO united the force behind a single aim

REARMAMENT & THE BATTLE OF FRANCE

France entered Second World War while still suffering the effects of the First. Out-thought as much as out-fought, the Armée de L’Air was left ill-equipped in both mindset and aircraft

LAFAYETTE ESCADRILLE

During WWI, the burgeoning French Air Force formed a squadron of volunteer American pilots who served France with distinction over the Western Front

FLEDGLING EAGLES

The French contribution to the air battles of WWI was unmatched. A world leader in aviation, its pioneers and factories readily turned to supporting the war effort

ANCIENT ROME'S DARKEST HOUR

How a Roman citizen lured three of the empire's legions into a deadly trap

SAMUEL I PARKER

At the Battle of Soissons, in July 1918, though badly wounded this lieutenant colonel led his command in silencing German machine guns, becoming the most highly decorated US infantryman of WWI

NAPOLEON'S POLISH LEGIONS & THE HAITIAN REVOLUTION

When the emperor sent his elite Polish fighters to put down an uprising, the Poles instead joined the rebels

CAPORETTO

In 1917 Italy suffered its worst military defeat, causing shockwaves that be would felt for decades to come

"WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PAST MORE TO FIND ANSWERS"

The historian and broadcaster discusses his new illustrated book, 2023's Chalke Valley History Festival and why studying WWII is more relevant than ever before

DANGER IN THE DEPTHS

After WWII, thousands of high-explosives remained hidden beneath the waves, leading to a huge clean up operation that's still ongoing nearly 80 years later

SWEEPING TO VICTORY

Amphibious invasions were tricky operations, and danger lurked for the Allied forces before they could even reach the shore

CLEARING THE COASTS

As an island nation, Britain's access to maritime trade routes was vital to its survival and they became a prime target for German mining efforts

THE NORTHERN BARRAGE

Codenamed Operation SN, the Royal Navy laid a huge minefield in the North Atlantic that ultimately failed to prevent German naval activity against Allied vessels