Currently uninhabited, the island of Mamula is known for its chilling history as a World War II concentration camp. Located along the border between Montenegro and Croatia in the Adriatic Sea, the island is home to a now-abandoned fort that was once used by the Italian army to keep prisoners locked up. In what can…
An event that changed the entire face of world history and politics; brought several nations to the brink of economic collapse and took the lives of more than 50 million people, that is the Second World War. While a lot has been said, and studied, through the years since 1945, there are still countless other…
Previously, we had talked about some of the strangest weapons and biggest guns used during WWII. But the real 'quotient' of destruction brought on by the war really hits us when analysed from the perspective of human casualties. And, that is exactly what an animated data visualization by Neil Halloran, with his aptly named 'The…
A few months ago, the movie 'The Imitation Game' was released with some good reviews and some bad historical references. But mathematician extraordinaire and computer science pioneer Alan Turing's legacy still holds its head high, as is evident from a recently concluded Bonhams auction in New York. A handwritten manuscript of Turing with scribbled notes…
In our previous tryst with Second World War, we discussed about some of the biggest cannons used during the time. Well, this time around, we go from size to abnormality - with the military powers back then trying out their luck and dabbling with the strange (yet still vicious) kinds of weapon tech that may…
The ultimately objective of the famous D-Day invasion of 6 June, 1944 was not only to overwhelm Nazi Germany, but it also pertained to the capturing of 'Der Fuehrer'. And as an ingenious tactical means to achieve that ambitious objective, the Office of Strategic Services hatched a simple plan on the very next day of…
20th century easily stands out as one of mankind's most destructive epoch, with two World Wars and several intermittent conflicts encompassing regions around the globe. And such mass-scale destruction was paradoxically brought on by the flourish in technology. Arguably, nothing quite epitomizes this 'dark side' of technological progression than war inspired man-made specimens like arms,…
The Warsaw Uprising of World War II was a united attempt on the part of the Polish Home Army, with little to no outside help, to rid Warsaw of the Nazi occupation. The nationwide uprising officially commenced on August 1, 1944, and lasted for 63 days, resulting in casualties of around 200,000 commoners and soldiers.…
When viewed from a distance, the stolid, rigorous arrangement of the entire structure hits us with its monstrous flair and amplitude. But for those who know their history, the scope might not come as a big surprise - as the massive 4.5 km (2.8 miles) long compound is none other than that of the Prora resort,…