The 5th New York Infantry Duryée’s Zouaves (1861–1863)

The 5th New York Volunteer Infantry, better known as Duryée’s Zouaves, was one of the most recognizable Union regiments of the American Civil War.

Their distinctive uniforms, inspired by the French Zouaves, made them stand out on the battlefield.

At the Second Battle of Bull Run in August 1862, the regiment suffered devastating losses while attempting to hold back a Confederate advance.

I recently completed this 54mm historical diorama featuring original metal figures that we sculpted and hand-painted ourselves.

The composition was inspired by historical artwork, particularly the paintings of Don Troiani, Keith Rocco and Dan Nance.

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the historical accuracy of the uniforms and equipment.

Müsste doch die Luftwaffe sein.

Vielleicht hat ja jemand ein paar Infos für mich, der sich in dieser Materie besser auskennt.

This short archival film shows the F-4 Phantom and MiG-21 in the context of the Vietnam War over Hanoi.

I am sharing it here because the footage is useful for discussing how Cold War air combat was presented to contemporary audiences. What details stand out to you about the aircraft, tactics, or editing of the original film?

Watch: https://youtu.be/NSHyory6jAw

A couple of weeks ago I shared Battledle, a Wordle-style game where you guess a historical battle from its tactical map with the name hidden. Lots of you played it and sent feedback, which really helped. Since then I've added five new daily modes:

• Battle Ranks: you get a series of battles and you have to choose the category you think they rank highest in, like Oldest, Most troops, Deadliest, etc.
• Special operations & raids: commando raids, rescues and daring operations, from an image that could be a map, painting, or photo.
• Paintings & photos: name the battle from a famous painting or photo of it.
• Commanders: guess the general or admiral.
• Wars: guess the war from the flags of its main sides.

The main game is still there of course: one map a day, land and naval battles from Thermopylae to Desert Storm. The maps are real tactical maps, from public-domain military atlases (West Point, US Army official histories, old British maps) and Wikimedia Commons. Each guess gives colour coded clues on Year, Fame, location, Troops, Losses, War and Belligerents. There are helplines if you get stuck, and you can play the last week's puzzles in every mode.

It's still free, with no ads and no sign-up. Which mode is your favourite, and which is too easy or too hard?

battledle.com

Baldwin IV ascended the throne of Jerusalem in 1174 AD, inheriting a vulnerable Crusader kingdom with limited military resources and deep political divisions. His challenges were about to grow even greater. Saladin was consolidating Muslim territories under his authority, building a formidable power base in Egypt and Syria and preparing to challenge the Crusader states.

Despite the odds stacked against him and a progressively debilitating illness, Baldwin managed to resist Saladin's expansion for much of his reign. Through military leadership, strategic defensive campaigns and political manoeuvring, he repeatedly prevented Saladin from turning his growing strength into the immediate conquest of Jerusalem.

Baldwin's leprosy gradually undermined his physical abilities, yet he continued to exercise royal authority and participate in the kingdom's defence. His victory at the Battle of Montgisard in 1177 AD became one of the most remarkable Crusader successes against Saladin, demonstrating how timing and battlefield decisions could overcome a numerical disadvantage.

But Baldwin's reign was not a story of uninterrupted victories. He also suffered setbacks, including the defeat at Marj Ayyun and the loss of the fortress at Jacob's Ford. His greatest achievement may have been less about winning individual battles and more about keeping a vulnerable kingdom alive against a powerful and determined opponent.

What made Baldwin IV such an effective ruler and military leader? How did he manage to resist Saladin for so long, and why did Jerusalem eventually fall to Saladin after Baldwin's death?

I've explored his illness, military strategy, major campaigns and political challenges in the full article. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on Baldwin's leadership and his place in the history of the Crusades. For the full content please go through the article in the comments.

I mean in terms of the scale, speed and efficiency. Which one was better?

My friend said his grandfather gave him this world war II Map of the Philippines, it has Japanese writing on it and English.

He doesn't know what to do with it so he's thinking to donate it to a world war II type of archive or organization?

Any thoughts on this? Thanks

So growing up I was taught that being a Civil War soldier was one of the worse occupations back in the 1860s. Mainly because if you didn't die on the battlefield you still had a high chance of dying from disease or in the hospital since medical conditions were still pretty primitive compared to modern standards. But what about serving in the navy? Were you better off serving on a battleship at sea than on the battlefield?

Both nations were symbols of militarism.

Which nation had stronger militaristic sentiment before WWI?

Was it Germany or Japan?

Appeal for information – Young Serbian boy rescued by French aviator Marcel Thirouin and his dog Flock (1915–1917)

I am conducting historical research on the French aviator Sous-Lieutenant Marcel Gaston Marie Thirouin (1884–1969) and a young Serbian boy he is said to have rescued during the Great War, together with his dog Flock.

Contemporary French newspapers and magazines from 1916–1917 recount the story of a Serbian boy (approximately 10–12 years old) whose family was killed during the war. He is referred to under several name variants: Sinichal, Sinicks, and Simchal. Some accounts mention that Thirouin transported him towards Albania and that the boy later arrived or was schooled in France.

I am looking for any information that could help identify this boy after 1916–1917:

• Full name or another spelling / later French name
• School, military, civil, marriage or death records
• Photographs, letters, diaries, family papers
• Mentions in veterans’ associations or in the Thirouin family archives
• Any family testimony concerning a Serbian boy taken in by a French airman

Even a small lead would be greatly appreciated. Please indicate the source of any information.

Personal details of living descendants will not be published without their consent.

Thank you in advance.

Predrag Torbica

President of the local section of Smederevska Palanka

Association of War Volunteers 1912–1918, their descendants and sympathizers

Smederevska Palanka, Serbia

May be wrong but I got the info from the internet so blame the internet not me

Relative brought some old family stuff and was going through it. Appears to be a B-29, and a door gunner. Pic is from Saigon. I was curious what position in the plane this would have been, and if anyone knows what happened to this plane? Unfortunately the nose cone "42" doesnt help much as 42 also designated the year the plane was ordered/built.

Hey, I'm curious about the history of this jacket and would love to hear from anyone familiar with WWII US Navy uniforms, submarine crews, or naval memorabilia.

The jacket appears to be a US Navy N-1 deck jacket with an alpaca lining. It has an embroidered patch on the chest reading "USS BREAM SS 243."

On the back, you can see the name "R.
MANLEY" is written across a white rectangular area, with what looks like "G109" underneath and "USS BREAM" written lower down.

What's particularly interesting is that there appears to be older, faded writing beneath the R Manley text. I can make out what looks like
"OPS-1" and "USS WALKE," which makes me wonder whether the jacket may have had an earlier tie to the ship DD-416 or DD-723?

Some info on DD-416: this destroyer fought in the Pacific, including the Guadalcanal campaign. It was sunk on November 15, 1942, during the Battle of Guadalcanal.

On DD-723: this was another U.S. Navy destroyer commissioned on January 21, 1944. It had a remarkable WWII service record, including the Normandy invasion in Europe. After WWII, it supported atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in 1946.

I was wondering, does anyone have any insight into the markings "G109," "OPS-1," or the faded
"USS WALKE"?

Is there a way to identify an R. Manley who served aboard USS Bream (SS-243) during
WWII? I was doing some research myself but it appears that online Navy rolls are only viewable on the website Ancestry, and I don't have a subscription.

I'm definitely not making any assumptions about this jacket's authenticity. I'd like to hear if you all think it is legitimate and Im interested in finding out who R. Manley might have been and whether there's a documented story behind the jacket.

Any information, archival leads, or suggestions for further research would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Since the 41st was the only Royal Marine that fought during the Korean War, where they raided the North Korean coast with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, I wonder what prevented the ROKMC forming a unit similar to the commandos?

I do know that they were base on the USMC but surely there would have been an attempt.

And if they did in an alternate timeline, how would this unit operate?

can anyone help me identify these uniforms thank you !!!

I’ve created a multiple-choice quiz covering military history from ancient battles and empires to World War II. It tests your knowledge across different eras, from ancient warfare to the great conflicts of the 20th century.

Give it a try and share your score in the comments! How much of a military history buff are you?

Link to the quiz is added in the comments.

WW1 truly was a human slaughterhouse. The technology, as we all know, grossly progressed past the tactics of the day. It’s incredible how at the start commanders replicated the tactics of rje previous century, lining men up and swapping volleys and pushing forward. Of course, with the perfection of the machine gun and advent of tanks and brutally accurate artillery, the men became quite literally puppets of meat to be fed into the woodchipper. Of course, my impression is heavily influenced by movies like Galipoli, 1917, all quiet on the western front, and they shall not grow old, but the bravery of those high school kids and young men seeing their buddies get massacred, and still going over the top when they hear the whistle brings tears to my eyes.

The legend of Alexander the Great began when he was still a young prince. One of its most famous stories is the taming of Bucephalus, the horse who would become his trusted companion.

According to the ancient biographer Plutarch, when the magnificent horse was presented to King Philip II of Macedon, none of the king’s attendants could tame him. Just as Philip was about to send the horse away, Alexander stepped forward and accepted the challenge. By observing that Bucephalus was frightened by his own shadow, Alexander turned him towards the sun, calmed him, and successfully mounted him.

The episode offers an early glimpse of the intelligence, confidence, and powers of observation that would become hallmarks of Alexander’s leadership. Ancient writers described Bucephalus as an unusually large and noble horse who was especially attached to Alexander.

Another intriguing legend connects Bucephalus to the man-eating Mares of Diomedes, captured by Heracles during his Twelve Labours. Although this supposed ancestry cannot be established historically, it adds another fascinating layer to the horse’s legend.

Bucephalus accompanied Alexander during his campaigns in Asia and became a symbol of their extraordinary bond. After the horse’s death during the Indian campaign, Alexander reportedly founded a city in his memory. Ancient sources disagree, however, on whether Bucephalus died from battle wounds or from old age and exhaustion.

I’ve explored the story of Bucephalus, his legendary origins, his connection to Alexander’s military campaigns, and the mystery surrounding his death in my latest article.

Read the full article by clicking on the link in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts and any interesting historical details you think deserve more attention!

Got these in a thrift store under the "junk" section. These costed me ₱750 for both (about $12), most likely used in the Pacific Front (though, I guess it does since I live IN the Pacific). I find it quite a shame that the US water canteen no longer has its cover or the lower section metal cup or the sling of the IJA water canteen (I think it's gone forever and rotting since a small piece of the rope crumbled when I tried to tie them even though I was very gentle.

based on my basic research, the water canteen is most likely a water canteen for the officers of the IJA Special Naval Landing Forces. The group that invaded Shanghai and the northern provinces of my country in Luzon. Can't say the same for the US canteen since it's lacking many things. Though, I can't find any info for the symbol at the bottom of the IJA water canteen