Thirty Years War – Violent Birth of Modern Europe: Modern Europe is the product of the gradual evolution of political, economic, and social institutions, interspersed with cataclysmic events as the old order resisted change.

Whirlwind – The Soviet-German War 1943-1945: Stalingrad was the end of major German advances in the east, but not the end of the war. Despite massive losses in the first eighteen months of fighting, the Soviets were just reaching their peak strength, coupled with an increasing stream of weapons, supplies, and equipment from the western Allies.

Tet Offensive: Appearances can be deceiving. In 1968, the leadership of North Vietnam was convinced victory in the decades-old war for control of the nations of Indochina. A massive country-wide offensive exploded during the lunar new year. Viet Cong guerrillas supported by regular units of the North Vietnamese army overran towns and cities across the south as the surprised soldiers of the US and the Republic of Vietnam flailed helplessly.

Crusades: Europe was nearing the peak of the High Middle Ages in the late eleventh century. A growing population supported not only rapid expansion of arable land, but the growth of cities that in turn fostered trade and the arts. The continent began looking outward, nowhere more so than the Levant, where Islamic expansion had subsumed much of Classical Antiquity.

D-Day: 6 June 1944: The 1944 invasion of Normandy is unique in military history, being the only invasion intended to put an army ashore for the purpose of conquering a continent. That story is told here in great detail, beginning with the plans and forces deployed by each side for a clash both knew was coming.