WORLD WAR II

L-8: The ‘Ghost Blimp’ Whose Crew Disappeared During World War II

A submarine patrol blimp departed with a two-man crew in the morning. It landed with no one on board.

How WWII Saved ‘The Great Gatsby From Obscurity

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s great American novel was a flop—until it was deployed overseas.

How ‘Monopoly’ Helped Defend The Free World

For some soldiers confined in German POW camps during World War II, ‘Monopoly’ was so much more than just a board game.

Eugene Bullard, the World’s First Black Fighter Pilot

Eugene Bullard survived some of the deadliest battles in history and became the world’s first Black fighter pilot—all before the age of 30.

The USS ‘Cobia’ is a living memorial—and an Airbnb attraction.

You Can Book a Night on a World War II Submarine Through Airbnb

Wisconsin's USS ‘Cobia’ offers guests a living history lesson via Airbnb.

Nuclear Bunker, Land Lying To The East Of Longridge Lane SK17 8AE

Take a Virtual Tour of a Post-WWII Bunker Up for Sale in England

Now is your chance to own an important part of British history.

He wants you to learn about the symbol’s history.

Who Was Uncle Sam, and Why Did He ‘Want’ You?

Uncle Sam is an easily recognizable piece of wartime propaganda. And legend says he was based off a real person—though that may not actually be the case.

Hawaii Overprint Note from the World War II era.

That Time the Government Burned $200 Million of Hawaii’s Cash

During WWII, the U.S. government was scared that Japan might take all of Hawaii's money. Here's what they did to stop it.

American troops helping their injured friends from a dinghy after the landing ship they were on was hit by enemy fire during the Allied invasion of France on D-Day

Watch Vintage Newsreel Footage of the D-Day Landings in Normandy

This 80-year-old archival footage shows Operation Neptune—the code name for the landings on the beaches at Normandy.

This fox is obviously not actually radioactive.

When the U.S. Tried to Win World War II with Radioactive Foxes

Allied officials came up with some strange strategies to win World War II. Operation Fantasia planned to use glow-in-the-dark foxes to spook Japanese forces into defeat.

Dwight Eisenhower Wrote a Letter Accepting Blame for D-Day's Failure, Just in Case

D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944, and kicked off the Battle of Normandy. Though it was a success, General Eisenhower was preparing for the worst.

Detainees at California's Manzanar War Relocation Center.

Researchers Have Published a List Honoring the More Than 125,000 Japanese Americans Incarcerated During WWII

The Irei Project and Ancestry have teamed up to publish the most comprehensive list ever assembled of the more than 125,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated on American soil during WWII.

D-Day: The scene of the Allied invasion on the Normandy beaches in June 1944.

13 Memorable Facts About D-Day

The Allied forces’ Normandy landings on June 6, 1944—an event better known as D-Day—became a pivotal moment in World War II .

The prime minister was no fan of his portrait.

‘Malignant’: Winston Churchill’s Most Hated Portraiture Is Headed to Auction

Winston Churchill so hated Graham Sutherland’s likeness of him that he had it set on fire.

People have doubted the 1969 moon landing for decades.

11 of the Wildest Pre-Internet Rumors in American History

People have spread incorrect information long before the invention of the internet.

In the latter half of the 20th century, sushi went from exotic delicacy to all-American food.

A Brief History of America's Sushi Obsession

The history of sushi in the U.S. can be traced back to the 1970s.

Times weren't as simple as they seemed for members of the Silent Generation.

Why Is It Called the Silent Generation?

The Silent Generation may not be as flashy a group as Millennials, but they wield a surprising amount of influence over our culture.

Winston Churchill needed a good dentist.

For Sale: Winston Churchill’s Gold-Mounted Dentures

Plagued by oral issues, the British prime minister carried two sets of dentures with him at all times.

Dumbo Drop: How World War II Kept Dumbo From Becoming ’TIME’ Magazine’s “Mammal of the Year”

The precocious pachyderm nearly made the cover. Then Pearl Harbor was attacked.

11 Facts About the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Find out more about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, from the first soldier ever interred in it to the rigorous process of guarding it.

Seven years of bad luck would seem like a walk in the park to these people.

10 of the Unluckiest People in History

Grab your lucky rabbit’s foot and read up on the tales of some of the unluckiest people in history, from the man whose backyard became a battlefield (twice!) to an absurdly accident-prone instrument inventor and beyond.

Museum visitors will now have some new insight into artwork with a questionable history.

In New York, a New Law Will Require Museums to Acknowledge Artwork Stolen by the Nazis

Hitler's Germany stole over 600,000 paintings during World War II. A new law will make sure museum visitors know about it.

A German submarine not unlike the one destroyed by a poop.

The Turd Reich: The Toilet Malfunction That Sank a German U-Boat

Your history teacher probably didn't tell you about the time the unfortunately named Captain Schlitt's bowel movement sank an entire German submarine.

(L to R) Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Cholmondeley, Colin Firth as Ewen Montagu, and Johnny Flynn as Ian Fleming in 'Operation Mincemeat' (2022).

The True Story Behind ‘Operation Mincemeat’: How Hitler Fell for Britain’s Most Daring—And Disgusting—Deception

Major William Martin was a Roman Catholic Welshman who enjoyed the theater and loved his fiancée, Pam. He also didn’t exist—but the Nazis didn’t know that.