Following the capture of Tarawa in November 1943, America eyes turned to the Marshall Islands. These were the next vital stepping stone across the Pacific towards Japan, and would bring the islands of Guam and Saipan within the reach of US forces. In their first amphibious attack, the new 4th Marine Division landed on Roi and Namur islands on February 1, 1994, while US 7th Division landed on Kw…
Equalling Tawara, Iwo Jima and Okinawa in scale and ferocity, the battle for Peleliu has long been regarded as the Pacific War's "forgotten battle", and perhaps one that should never have been fought. A massive carrier-based attack some weeks before the invasion destroyed all aircraft and shipping in the area and virtual isolated the Japanese garrison. 1st Marine Division commander, General Rup…
At 0016hrs on 6 June 1944 a Horsa glider ground to a halt a mere 60 yards from the Orne Canal bridge at Bénouville in Normandy. A small group of British paratroopers burst from it and stormed the bridge within minutes. The Allied liberation of Nazi-occupied Europe had begun. Within a few hours landing craft would swarm towards Ouistreham as British 3rd Division swept ashore at Sword Beach. The…
In late July 1941, Hitler order army Group South to seize the Crimea in order to prevent Soviet air attacks on the Ploesti oilfields in Romania. This vital mission was assigned to weak Eleventh Army under Generaloberst von Manstein. In late September 1941, von Manstein began his initial attacks upon the strong Soviet defences at the Perekop isthmus, and then cleared the heavily fortified Kerch …
In July 1944, Operation Cobra broke the stalemate in Normandy and sent the Allies racing across France. The Allied commanders ignored Paris in their planning for this campaign, considering that the risk of intense street fighting and heavy casualties outweighed the city's strategic importance. However, Charles de Gaulle persuaded the Allied commanders to take direct action to liberate his natio…
The first battle of the desert war, Operation Compass was originally envisaged as a spoiling attack, combined with a reconnaissance in force to disrupt the Italian forces that had advanced into Egypt in September 1940, Lt Gen, Richard O’Connor launched what amounted to a British ‘Blitzkrieg’. In Less than two months the British forces swept 500 miles along the coast of North Africa. 7th A…