Tiny Tinian Played a Big Role in World War II’s End
In 1945, the world's first atomic bomb attacks put the remote Pacific island on the map.
Two of World War II’s Greatest Codebreaking Achievements Shared a Remarkable Common Element
An improbable route took William F. Friedman from the study of plant genetics to a reputation as father of U.S. cryptology—one that made a huge impact on the war.
Berlin Remained a Battleground Even After Nazi Defeat
Fighting didn’t stop when victorious Allies occupied Berlin; instead, it transitioned to politics.
When Ernest Hemingway Went from Writer to Fighter
Colonel Charles T. Lanham and Ernest Hemingway each had something the other wanted. Their interests merged in 1944 on Europe's battlefields.
The Japanese Pilot Who Bombed Mainland America
Nobuo Fujita aimed to kill Americans in a fiery blaze, but his actions yielded a far different result.
‘Why Did My Father Receive a Letter Signed by President Truman?’
Have a question about an artifact? Ask World War II magazine.
Frederick Mayer: A Hero in Disguise
The late Jewish OSS officer's wartime adventures make for a fun, fast-paced read.
An American Pilot’s Improbable Adventure in Occupied France
Joel McPherson's life changed the day he jumped out of his crippled P-47 and parachuted into a foreign land.
‘Sophie Scholl’: An Anti-Nazi Film That Dodges Uncomfortable Truths
'Sophie Scholl: The Final Days' humanizes its eponymous hero—but not those in Hitler's regime.
Tom Lea Created Some of World War II’s Most Powerful Images
"I reported in pictures what I saw with my own two eyes, wide open."
Thousands Lose Money as Beyond Band of Brothers Cancels Tours, Goes Silent
In an unforeseen turn of events, WWII tour company Beyond Band of Brothers shuts down operations and files for bankruptcy, leaving its paying customers in the wind.
A Safe Harbor for Refugees at New York’s Fort Ontario
During World War II, displaced people from 17 different countries forged new lives in America.
B-24 Gunner Andy Hocko, on a Celebrated Mission We Think We Know
'I was never a talker, even with my crew. But I’d try to do the best I could to get back to base.'
Following in the Rangers’ Footsteps at Pointe du Hoc
Crowbar! retraces the U.S. Army Rangers' famous clifftop mission, with twists along the way.
Hitler Celebrated His 50th—Then Went to War
On Hitler’s 50th, adoring Germans hailed their leader for making their country a great power again and for stopping short of the all-out war they so feared—or so they thought.
