The Capture of the German Rocket Secrets (1945)
In February 1945, Peter Beasley, who was serving as a colonel in the U.S. Army at the…
- Military History
- Biographies
Biographies
Personalities, distinguished commanders, military geniuses, historic figures and personalities
Our list of biographies includes not only military personalities and distinguished battle commanders in history, but also men whose genius has earned them an unquestionable place in history or played a significant role in one of the many wars.
The biographies are not intended to be detailed essays of each individual but a compact approach to learn more about the character, strategy, talents, values, beliefs and eccentricities. When trying to analyze the outcome of many famous battles, these biographies will give us many clues on how much certain individuals directly affected the outcome through their personal contributions and the relationship with other leaders of the same periods.
Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Hindenburg
Politicians Biographies
Paul Ludwig Hans Anton von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg, a German Generalfeldmarschall (general field marshal) during WW I and the German president during the Weimar Republic, was born on October 2, 1847 in Posen, Prussia (present-day Poznan, Poland), into an aristocratic family tracing back to the era of the Teutonic Knights.
Emperor Hirohito of Japan
Politicians Biographies
Emperor Hirohito (born in 1901) reigned as emperor of Japan from 1926 until his death in 1989. Revered as divine by his people, he had little to do with the actual governing of his country, his authority stifled by pomp and pageantry. During World War II, he held the title of commander-in-chief of the armed forces, though almost all military affairs were handled by others.
General Masaharu Homma
Militarians Biographies
Masaharu Homma was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Homma commanded the Japanese 14th Army, which invaded the Philippines and perpetrated the Bataan Death March. Homma was born on Sado Island, in the Sea of Japan, off Niigata Prefecture and entered the military at an early age.
Madame Chiang Kai-shek - Soong Mei-ling
Politicians Biographies
Soong Mei-ling was the first and the most famous woman of her day to break through the barriers of traditionally male-dominated Chinese society. By using extraordinary intelligence and eloquence to charm the members of the United States Congress into giving financial support and armaments to her country, she was an important part of the reason influential Americans supported China during World War II.
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek
Militarians Biographies
Chiang Kai-shek was born into a prosperous family in rural Chekiang. His father died when Chiang was young and he was raised by his mother, who sent him to excellent schools, where he got the classical Confucian education reserved for the children of the moderately wealthy.
Thomas Edward Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia)
Militarians Biographies
One of the 20th century's most iconic characters was Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888–1935), known as "Lawrence of Arabia". Though not a career soldier, his World War I achievements changed the outcome. In fact, this amateur soldier helped create the contemporary Middle East.
General Curtis E. LeMay
Militarians Biographies
When Curtis LeMay was four years old, he told himself that someday, when he was old and big enough, he would fly an airplane. And fly he did. Thirty-two years later, as Captain Curtis E. LeMay, he would lead a squadron of B-17 Flying Fortresses in the skies over Germany in some of the most vicious air battles in history.
Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck
Militarians Biographies
Born in Saarlouis, Lettow-Vorbeck was the son of a prominent Prussian army officer. Marked from birth for a military career, Lettow-Vorbeck was commissioned as an artillery officer and graduated from the prestigious Kriegsakademie (war academy) in 1899. His promise was early apparent, and he was tapped for service on the General Staff (1899-1900).
Robert Lucas (born Robert Ehrenzweig)
Personalities Biographies
Robert Lucas was an Austrian Jewish writer and journalist (born Robert Ehrenzweig, 8 May 1904 in Vienna) that became well known through his work at the German Service of the BBC and his intellectual “fight” against Hitler and Nazi Germany during World War II.
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery
Militarians Biographies
Bernard Law Montgomery, the outstanding British commander during WW II famous for his victory at the Battle of El Alamein in November 1942 and his role in allied campaigns leading to the German surrender, was born on November 17, 1887 in London’s district Kennington. He spent most of his early childhood in Tasmania, then still a British colony, where his father worked as Ulster clergyman.
{{#ratings}} {{title}} {{#ownerCreatedBlock}} {{/ownerCreatedBlock}} {{#category}}
{{#editor}} {{/editor}} {{#user}} {{/user}}
{{/ratings}} - {{#owner}}
- {{#url}} {{#avatarSrc}}
{{name}} {{/url}} {{^url}} {{#avatar}} {{& avatar}} {{/avatar}} {{name}} {{/url}} - {{/owner}} {{#created}}
- {{created}} {{/created}}
Category: {{category.title}}
{{/category}} {{#fields}}
{{#showLabel}}
{{/fields}} {{label}}:
{{/showLabel}} {{& text}}
