The Tsar's Broken Bayonets: Russia's Milyutin Model in WWI
The Russian Empire had long used its ability to mobilize its large pool of manpower to its advantage. This system collapsed by 1917 and helped foment a revolution.
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The Sick Man's Last Stand: Conscription and the Ottoman Empire in WWI
Fighting from the mountains of the Caucasus to the sands in southern Arabia, the Ottoman Army's conscripts were overstretched, ill-supplied, and ill-treated.
South Africa's Unworkable Military: The Failure of the SADF's Conscription Model
Mobilizing the entire white population of South Africa did not save the Apartheid system. Digging into why is important to understand the failure of the "Total Onslaught" strategy
What I Enjoyed Most About Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
The "Blitz Spirit" in WWII has been captured in films, novels, and shows. Tom Harper's newest film shows a new angle on how a city like Birmingham was affected by the German bombing.
Imports for the Underdog III: The Viet Minh's March to Victory
From 1945 to 1954, the League for Independence of Vietnam waged a brutal struggle against the French Empire. The supplies received from China and the Soviet Union helped the revolution succeed.
Imports of the Underdog II: Afrikaner Gold for German Mausers and French Creusots
Facing threats from native African tribes and British expansion in South Africa, the Afrikaner republics leveraged their access to gold and natural resources to buy European arms in bulk.
Imports of the Underdog I: The Confederacy's Arms Imports and the American Civil War
During the American Civil War, the Confederacy needed to import a vast arsenal from overseas to keep its military fighting. The weapons they imported ensured that the war continued for many years.
Proliferation of USVs Among Non-State Actors
Policymakers in the United States and other Western nations will need to take into account the possibility of non-state groups using unmanned explosive boats to attack international shipping.
A People in Between: The Kashubian Experience of World War II
The Kashubians, a borderland community that straddled the German/Polish divide, faced the brunt of the German occupation of Poland and the wrath of vengeful Poles after the war.
The Dayaks of Borneo: A Secret War and a Forgotten Story
Japan's occupation of the island of Borneo led to a major resistance movement that engulfed its garrison. The Dayak people were central to this defiance of Japanese rule.