Thoughtful Reflections on Faith and Life
The Second World War is often remembered as a conflict between great powers and enormous alliances. The United States became the world’s industrial giant and eventually fielded the largest military force in the Western Allies. Canada, with a much smaller population, nevertheless made an extraordinary contribution on land, at sea, and in the air. What … Read More “Brothers in Arms: American and Canadian Cooperation During the Second World War” »
In early 1942, where were attacks taking place? Africa and Asia? Yes, but how about just off the east coast of the United States? Operation Drumbeat was the German U-boat offensive against American shipping within sight of its shores. Perhaps the most effective German operation that you have never heard about. Support me at https://www.patreon.com/hopesreason … Read More “SWWP 54 – Operation Drumbeat: The U-Boats Come to America” »
World War II marked a turning point in military firearms technology. The United States entered the war with a mixture of older bolt-action rifles, newer semi-automatic weapons, and specialized firearms designed for paratroopers, snipers, and support troops. By the end of the conflict, the U.S. military had helped revolutionize infantry combat through widespread use of … Read More “Rifles of the U.S. Military During World War II” »
Design, Deployment, Doctrine, and Effectiveness During the Second World War, the United States fielded a diverse and highly specialized array of fighter aircraft. Unlike smaller powers that relied on one or two dominant designs, the U.S. developed different fighters optimized for distinct operational environments: long-range escort over Europe, carrier warfare in the Pacific, island-hopping campaigns, … Read More “American Fighter Planes in the Second World War” »
When the First World War erupted in 1914, the United States initially stayed out of the conflict. Despite being the world’s largest industrial power, America was hesitant to intervene in what was seen as a European struggle. President Woodrow Wilson declared neutrality, reflecting both the country’s isolationist tendencies and the diverse immigrant population that had … Read More “The United States in the First World War” »
December 7, 1941. A day that will live in infamy. The Japanese attack Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This would forever change the course of the Second World War. In this episode, we look at the broad strokes of what happened that day. Please visit me at https://www.stephenjbedard.com/secondworldwar and consider supporting me at http://www.patreon.com/hopesreason.
When World War II began in 1939, several nations had built formidable military forces, each excelling in different areas such as army size, naval power, and air superiority. Below is an analysis of the top five militaries at the start of the war, detailing their strengths and capacities. You may also be interested in The … Read More “The Top Five Militaries at the Outbreak of World War II” »
One of the parts of my childhood that my own children cannot identify with is what it was like growing up during the Cold War and feeling like a Nuclear War could happen at any time. I remember watching The Day After and having a strong emotional reaction because something like that could have happened. … Read More “The Cold War: A Very Short Introduction – Review” »
As important as Winston Churchill was to Britain, so was Franklin Delano Roosevelt to the United States. It was FDR who encouraged Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbour that “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Unfortunately, FDR didn’t live to see the victory over the Axis. He had suffered from poor health … Read More “The Death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt” »
When I first became a follower of Jesus, I was eager to consume as much Christian content as I could. This was before the internet and so I watched Christian TV and listened to Christian radio. Since I lived near the border, I listened to an American Christian radio station (at the time Canadian Christian … Read More “Thank God for Donald Trump” »
A group of atheists have filed a lawsuit demanding that the United States remove the phrase ‘In God We Trust’ from their currency. You can read about it here. I have a number of reactions to this. The first is that they are misunderstanding the purpose of the separation of church and state. The separation … Read More “In God We Trust?” »
