Category: Units
The Fighting Messmates — The Curious Role of Food in Turkey’s Legendary Janissary Corps
“The corps’ military vocabulary and symbolism drew heavily on that of the kitchen.” By Richard Anderton THOUGH IT WAS Napoleon Bonaparte (or possibly Frederick the Great) who first coined the phrase “an army marches on…
‘Francs-tireurs’ – Meet the French Resistance of the 1870 Franco-Prussian War
“While the exploits of the resistance of World War Two have become the stuff of legend, history often forgets that French guerrillas mounted their own campaign against German occupiers a full 70 years before the…
The Birth of the SAS — How a Paralyzed British Officer Dreamed Up the Elite Commando Unit from a Hospital Bed
“The commandos were intended to be Britain’s storm troops, volunteers selected and trained to carry out destructive raids against Axis targets.” No Allied commando unit in World War Two could match the record of Britain’s Special…
Hearts of Oak, Tunics of Red – 10 Amazing Facts About the Royal Marines of the Napoleonic Wars
“Their gallant conduct is merely alluded to rather than discussed in detail by both naval historians and maritime novelists. The Royal Navy furnishes the stars and The Royal Marines supply the extras.” By John Danielski …
Hitler’s Foreign Legions – Nine Non-German Units That Fought for the Nazis in WW2
“Hundreds of thousands of foreign troops flocked to Nazi Germany to fight in World War Two. Known as Freiwillige or “volunteers,” they came from a surprisingly diverse array of nations.” IT WAS IN the bombed-out ruins…
Learning to Fly — Eight Facts About Britain’s Fledgling Air Force
“The story of the RFC in World War One is that of men who forged the foundations of aerial warfare with their very lives.” By John Stack BRITAIN’S ROYAL FLYING CORPS was formed by a…
