The Nauru War — Inside the Smallest Armed Conflict in History

“The feud might have fizzled out in short order had the island not been awash in traded rifles, booze and quarrelsome Europeans — instead it raged for years.”   WITH ONLY eight square miles of territory, the…

Continue Reading... The Nauru War — Inside the Smallest Armed Conflict in History

Declarations of War — Why Do So Many Countries Fight Without Them?

“The overwhelming majority of armed conflicts fought in the past 300 years have been undeclared.” IN ITS NEARLY 250 years of existence, the United States has only fought in five formally declared wars. These include both…

Continue Reading... Declarations of War — Why Do So Many Countries Fight Without Them?

Love in War — A Valentine’s Day Story

When Brita Hagberg’s husband of 11 years was called away to fight in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788, the Stockholm woman did what a lot of other 18th century military wives would have done –…

Continue Reading... Love in War — A Valentine’s Day Story

Historical Fiction — Author Takes On Britain’s Wartime Mythology

One of the more enduring symbols of Great Britain during the Second World War is the Home Guard — those aging citizen soldiers dressed in ill-fitting surplus uniforms training to take on Nazi panzers with…

Continue Reading... Historical Fiction — Author Takes On Britain’s Wartime Mythology

Key West — The Confederate City that Seceded from the Civil War

“Unlike the firebrand secessionists in other Confederate metropolises the citizens of the remote tropical island largely stayed out of the destructive four-year conflict.” KEY WEST, Florida may be the southern-most point in the United States,…

Continue Reading... Key West — The Confederate City that Seceded from the Civil War

Signs From Above – Omens in Ancient Warfare

“Greek, Hittite, Mongol, Norman and even Anglo Saxon military leaders pondered all manner of omens, signs or portents when deciding how and when to make war. Here are some examples.” IT WAS A BRAVE ROMAN who…

Continue Reading... Signs From Above – Omens in Ancient Warfare