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Nieuwste artikelen

Article by Pieter Schlebaum
Published on April 17th, 2024

Crash of Wellington Z1214 near Vlieland

Introduction

Article by Pieter van Wijngaarden
Published on February 29th, 2024

August-Euler-Flugplatz in Darmstadt

Which university in Europe has its own airport? The Technical University in Darmstadt does have one, due in part to the presence of a special wind tunnel. At the airport there is still this remarkable tall building containing large fans. It was a design by Dr.-Ing. Nicolaus Scheubel built in the years 1934-1935, commissioned by the Technical University-Darmstadt-Griesheim. Here air currents were calculated on military aircraft designs for Nazi Germany. In the final days of World War II, the facility was dismantled and destroyed to prevent it from falling into American hands.

Article by Kaj Metz
Published on February 27th, 2024

Árpád Line

"It is beyond dispute that defence merely postpones the decision, even in the best-case scenario. Victory – in other words: imposing our will on the enemy – is only possible through attack. Even then, it is an age-old tradition for the defender to set up fortifications. If he loses, it is not due to the construction of his fortifications. He finds himself in that defensive position because he perceives himself as weak. Without the defender’s fortifications, the task of the aggressor becomes only easier. We can only hear the voice of the victor after a concluded battle, and no one will grapple with the next problem: how much effort was required for him to achieve this victory?"
-Colonel of the Engineer Corps and architect of the Árpád Line, Hárosy Teofil-

Article by Peter Kimenai
Published on January 14th, 2024

Air raid on Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941, an early Sunday morning on the American naval base Pearl Harbor. Oahu on Hawaii. It looked like the beginning of every other day in this tropical paradise. The crews of the many ships and men on the military air fields were preparing for the coming flag ceremony and Sunday services. At 07:55, the silence was rudely shattered by the roar of 184 aero engines.

Article by Peter Kimenai
Published on October 22nd, 2023

Battle of the Coral Sea

The battle of the Coral Sea, which took place from May 4-9 and was fought between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the US Navy, assisted by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), was an extraordinary occasion in more than one aspect. It was the first sea battle in history to be fought exclusively by aircraft carriers. Also, the aircraft carriers, involved in the Coral Sea battle did not see each other during this battle, which had never happened before. Moreover, it was a battle in which both sides committed serious mistakes, mostly due to inexperience.

Article by Wilco Vermeer
Published on July 16th, 2023

Operation Infatuate: Liberation of Flushing

After No. 4 Commando had landed in the early morning of November 1, 1944 on Uncle Beach near the Oranjemolen in Flushing, a fierce battle of the port ensued against the local German troops. Once the 155th Infantry Brigade of the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division had taken over the advance, Flushing was liberated after Hotel Brittania had been captured.

Article by Wilco Vermeer
Published on July 7th, 2023

Operation Infatuate: Landing near Westkapelle Infatuate II

Operation Infatuate was the final stage of the battle of the Scheldt. In addition to a land operation via Zuid-Beveland and the Sloedam, in Operation Infatuate I and II amphibious landings were undertaken near Flushing and Westkapelle respectively.

Article by Wilco Vermeer
Published on June 22nd, 2023

Operation Infatuate: Inundation of Walcheren, October 1944

In October 1944, the dykes on Walcheren were breached in four places by aerial bombings in support of Operation Infatuate, the liberation of Walcheren. The intention was to impede the German defense and to render a considerable part of the German defenses on the island inoperable.

Article by Wilco Vermeer
Published on June 19th, 2023

Operation Infatuate: Landing near Flushing, Infatuate I

Operation Infatuate I was the designation for the amphibious landings near Flushing on November 1, 1944. That day, No. 4 Commando and the 115th Infantry Brigade beached near Flushing to make their contribution to this operation.