Topic

Wars, Conflict & Heroes

A collection of 84 issues

Operation Popeye: How the U.S. Secretly Weaponized the Weather in Vietnam

In 1967, the U.S. military secretly used cloud seeding to extend Vietnam's monsoon season. Codenamed Operation Popeye, the program was deemed 'outstandingly successful' at disrupting enemy supply lines, a fact confirmed in a declassified memo to President Johnson.

The Coup That Never Was: How 'Peace for Our Time' Inadvertently Saved Hitler

In 1938, high-ranking German officials planned to overthrow Hitler if he invaded Czechoslovakia. The plot crumbled when Britain and France appeased him at Munich, giving Hitler a bloodless victory and removing the conspirators' pretext for action, tragically paving the way for WWII.

Killing with Kindness: The Story of Churchill's Polite Declaration of War

On December 7, 1941, with his Foreign Secretary en route to Moscow, Winston Churchill personally drafted Britain's declaration of war on Japan. His surprisingly polite and formal letter concluded with a simple "I have the honour to be... Your obedient servant."

The Unlikeliest Diplomat: How a Red London Taxi Served the Falkland Islands for 34 Years

From 1976 to 2010, the Governor of the Falkland Islands' official car was a red London taxi. A symbol of British identity, it served 11 governors, survived the 1982 Argentine invasion, and is now a cherished museum piece representing the islands' unique history and resilience.

An Assassin Acquitted: The Trial That Put the Armenian Genocide in the Dock

Haunted by the murder of his family during the Armenian Genocide, Soghomon Tehlirian tracked down and assassinated the genocide's chief architect, Talaat Pasha, in Berlin. His subsequent trial became an unprecedented indictment of the Ottoman government, ending in a stunning acquittal.

More Than a Mascot: The Official Medical Files of George, the WWII Battleship Cat

During WWII, a stray cat named George was rescued by the crew of the USS North Carolina. To boost morale, they created hilarious 'official' medical and service records for him, cementing his legacy as a cherished member of the crew and a unique figure in naval history.

From Irish Exile to Spanish Power: The Incredible O'Donnell Dynasty

At 16, Joseph O'Donnell left Ireland for Spain to become a soldier. He rose to the rank of general, establishing a powerful dynasty whose journey culminated when his grandson, Leopoldo O'Donnell, became the Prime Minister of Spain in 1856.

The Day Sound Broke the Senate: Sulla's Masterclass in Political Terror

On 2 Nov 82 B.C., as the Senate met, Sulla had prisoners massacred nearby. Their audible screams terrorized senators into granting him absolute power, a chilling lesson in political intimidation that heralded the end of the Roman Republic.