Topic

Wars, Conflict & Heroes

A collection of 84 issues

The Soviet Colonel Who Averted Armageddon With a Gut Feeling

In 1983, a Soviet early-warning system reported an incoming US nuclear attack. The officer on duty, Stanislav Petrov, faced a protocol demanding immediate retaliation. He trusted his gut, reasoned a real attack would be larger, and reported a false alarm, averting war.

Tragedy at May Island: The Royal Navy's Secret WWI Submarine Disaster

In 1918, a Royal Navy exercise off Scotland's May Island turned into a self-inflicted disaster. A series of collisions among friendly submarines in foggy conditions resulted in two subs sunk, several damaged, and over 100 lives lost without enemy contact.

Exercise Tiger: The Secret D-Day Rehearsal That Became a Massacre

Weeks before D-Day, a catastrophic rehearsal known as Exercise Tiger resulted in the deaths of 749 American servicemen off the English coast. A combination of a surprise German attack, friendly fire, and equipment failures was concealed for decades to protect the invasion, hiding a devastating loss.

Beyond the Mat: The Wrestler Who Fought a Grizzly to Save His Friend

In October 2022, college wrestler Brady Lowry was mauled by a grizzly in Wyoming's wilderness. His teammate, Kendell Cummings, made the split-second decision to intervene, physically pulling the bear off his friend and fighting it himself. His act of courage saved both their lives.

When Vesuvius Went to War: The Forgotten 1944 Eruption That Grounded a U.S. Air Force

While the eruption that buried Pompeii is infamous, Mount Vesuvius last erupted in March 1944, during WWII. Hot ash and rock rained down on the nearby Pompeii Airfield, crippling the USAAF 340th Bombardment Group. The volcano destroyed over 80 bombers, a stark reminder of nature's power.

The Room Locked in Time: A WWI Soldier's Bedroom Preserved for 500 Years

In a small French town, the bedroom of a WWI soldier has been left untouched since his death in 1918. Kept as a time capsule by his grieving parents, a unique stipulation in the property's deed intends for this private memorial to remain preserved for an astonishing 500 years.

The Dictator's Daughter: The Story of Nicaragua's Teenage 'Queen of the Army'

In 1941, as the world braced for war, Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza Garcia staged a bizarre ceremony, crowning his 15-year-old daughter, Lillian, the 'Queen of the Army.' This was no fairy tale; it was a calculated move to fuse his family dynasty with the nation's military might.

The Devil's Bargain: How the US Navy Partnered with the Mafia to Secure the Home Front in WWII

Fearing sabotage after a ship's mysterious capsizing, the US government secretly allied with imprisoned mob boss Lucky Luciano. This 'Operation Underworld' used the Mafia's control over the docks to protect New York's vital harbor, a pragmatic and controversial chapter of WWII history.

Shot, Trapped, and Falling: The Impossible Survival of WWII's 'Sky Rammer'

Soviet pilot Boris Kovzan is the only person to score four aerial kills by ramming. His last came after being shot in the eye. Trapped in his cockpit, he collided head-on with a bomber, was thrown clear, and fell 20,000 feet before waking up to pull his parachute and land in a swamp.

The Spy in the Stacks: How a KGB Archivist's Secret Notes Exposed 50 Years of Soviet Secrets

In 1992, disillusioned KGB archivist Vasili Mitrokhin defected to the UK with 25,000 pages of notes. Hidden beneath his dacha, they detailed 50 years of Soviet covert operations, becoming one of the greatest intelligence coups of the 20th century.