World War II was the most destructive conflict in history. It cost more money, damaged more property, killed more people, and caused more far-reaching changes than any other war in history. The country with the largest number of WWII causalities was Russia, with over 21 million. For every five German soldiers who died in WWII,… Read more »
The numbered tattoos that have today become an identifying mark of Holocaust survivors originated in Auschwitz, the largest Nazi concentration camp in Europe. There, incoming prisoners went through the infamous selektion (selection process). An SS officer would sort the prisoners into two lines: those sent to the right were immediately killed in the gas chambers, those sent to the left were put… Read more »
Audie Murphy became a national hero during World War II as the most decorated combat soldier of the war. Among his 33 awards was the Medal of Honour, the highest award for bravery that a soldier can receive. In addition, he was also decorated for bravery by the governments of France and Belgium, and was… Read more »
It was horrific. The siege of Leningrad (the modern-day St. Petersburg) lasted almost two and one-half years and cost the lives of an estimated 1,000,000 city residents. It began on September 8, 1941 when German troops completed their encirclement of the city. As his blitzkrieg rushed towards Moscow, Hitler made the strategic decision to bypass… Read more »
Ludwig Beck was born in Biebrich, Germany, on June 29, 1880. He joined the German Army and by 1933 became Adjutant General of the army. Two years later he was promoted Chief of General Staff. Beck opposed attempts by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party to takeover the army. In 1938, he sent an emissary to London in an attempt to get Neville… Read more »