Graf Spee & the Battle of the River Plate: Hamstrung by the Versailles Treaty, the German navy turned to surface raiders and submarines at the start of World War II. During the first three months of the war, Graf Spee ran amok in the South Atlantic, eventually clashing with British forces in the Battle of the River Plate.

Other Articles:

• Lvov 1939: Poland’s situation was critical by the middle of September 1939. Only the Karpaty and Krakow armies in the southeast remained relatively intact and for a few brief days held out forlorn hope of forming a final bastion against the Germans.
• Elsenborn Ridge - V Corps Holds the Line: The German Ardennes Offensive caught the Allies by surprise. At the northern edge of the attack the Americans gave little ground and exacted a heavy toll on German troops.
• ANZAC War in the Pacific: The Dominions of Australia and New Zealand joined Great Britain in declaring war against Nazi Germany in September 1939. Initially deployed to North Africa, the bulk of ANZAC forces shifted back to the Pacifi c when the Japanese declared war in December 1941.