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On 5 March 1944 the Red Army launched the Uman–Botoșani Offensive against the German Army Group South in Ukraine. The aim was to inflict a crushing defeat on the German “Uman group” and split the German forces, allowing the Soviet army to capture southwestern Ukraine. Up against them was the 8th Army of Army Group South, led by Generalfeldmarschall Erich von Manstein...Continue Reading

On 7 February 1943 Operation Ke saw the last remaining Japanese forces evacuated from Guadalcanal...Continue Reading

On 31 January 1945 a reinforced Japanese infantry battalion launched a fierce surprise assault on the 3rd Commando Brigade, who had been tasked with holding Hill 170...Continue Reading

On the 29 January 1856 Queen Victoria introduced the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration available to British and Commonwealth forces, to honour acts of valour during the Crimean War...Continue Reading

On 16 December 1944 Hitler launched his final gamble on the Western Front; an assault on the Ardennes that he was convinced would change the course of the war. It would go on to be the largest and most costly battle fought by the US Army in World War II as they bore the brunt of the German offensive...  Continue Reading

On 13 December 1939 three British cruisers engaged Admiral Graff Spee in the first naval battle of the Second World War. The German Panzerschiff had been commerce raiding since the war began, and the Royal Navy had sent a number of hunting groups out to track it down. Eventually HMS Exeter, Ajax and Achilles found it close to the South American coast...Continue Reading

After rolling up all opposition in Continental Europe, the legendary Panzerwaffe was next sent to help the Italians in their battles with the British in North Africa.  In this, the second of two blog posts featuring Osprey’s exciting upcoming title The History of the Panzerwaffe, Volume 1: 1939-42, we look at the formation of the armoured divisions of the Afrika Crops and the choice of commander for the expedition: Erwin Rommel.Continue Reading