The 1917 poster of Uncle Sam pointing straight at you and declaring, "I want YOU for U.S. Army" is one of the most popular and recognized posters in the world. But it was based largely on a similar poster made three years earlier for Britain. This poster showed Lord Kitchener pointing like Uncle Sam and saying, "Your country needs YOU." Unlike Uncle Sam, Lord Kitchener was a real man. He recruited soldiers for Britain during the First World War.

Horatio Herbert Kitchener was born in Ireland in 1850. At age 18 he trained at the Royal Military Academy of Woolwich, then joined the Royal Engineers in 1871. He was appointed governor of Eastern Sudan, and he was made a commander of the Egyptian army in 1892. He was also made Viscount Kitchener.

When the First World War broke out, Kitchener foresaw that this war would last years rather than months. He planned accordingly, and although the cabinet didn't agree with his predictions, Kitchener recruited as many soldiers as possible. The recruiting campaign included a poster of himself, the style of which has been copied by America and many other countries since then. In two years England's army divisions more than tripled.

Although Kitchener was popular with the public, his reputation suffered heavy blows during the Shell Crisis and when Winston Churchill convinced him to support the Gallopi campaign (which ended in disaster). Kitchener offered to resign from the cabinet, but the government was afraid of the public reaction and kept him.

In 1916, Kitchener was sent on a diplomatic mission to Russia. The cruiser he embarked on, the HMS Hampshire, sunk after it struck a German-placed mine. Kitchener was drowned, along with most of the crew, though his body was never recovered.

Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh has a prestigious family history that extends well-beyond his royal wife. A member of the English nobility, the Prince’s uncle was a military hero who served his country until his assination as carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army, or IRA.

Louis Mountbatten, first Earl Mountbatten of Burma, was not only an admiral, he was also a statesman. His father served as a First Sea Lord during the beginnings of World War I, but was forced to resign due to his German ancestry and the anti-German sentiment that was prevailing in the United Kingdom. It was due to this feeling that the entire family ceased using their German nobility titles and adapted more Anglo names. Louis Mountbatten followed in his father’s footsteps by serving during the second World War in the British navy.

Following his impressive service he was appointed as Viceroy of India. His efforts in the region led to the British monarchy releasing much of the control of policy and law to Indian officials. His work paved the way for Indian independence. He went on to serve in the Mediterranean Fleet after his years of service in India had reached a close. He remained close to the British Royal Family, most notably the Prince of Wales, to whom he has been referred as “Honorary Grandfather.” Mountbatten was murdered by the IRA in 1979, when the group placed a fifty-pound bomb on his thirty-foot wooden boat while he was vacationing with family on the northwest coast of Ireland.

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, First Earl Kitchener casts a long shadow in British, indeed world, history. He was a war hero, statesman, and diplomat for Britain during the reign of Queen Victoria through World War I.

Kitchener's rise to prominence began when his extensive railway construction program lead to the recapture of Khartoum during the Madhist War in Sudan during 1884-1898. Kitchener was instrumental in crushing the Dutch farmers who formed the Boer commandos of the Boer Wars. His "scorched earth policy" is still much criticized but it did come after the British Cabinet vetoed the peace treaty that Kitchener had negotiated with the Boer leaders. From South Africa Kitchener served in India as Commander in Chief from 1902 until 1909.

He was thwarted in his attempt to become Viceroy of India so he went back to Egypt until the outbreak of World War I. Kitchener wanted to attempt to divide the Ottoman Empire but Winston Churchill convinced him to support the Gallipoli Campaign that failed. Kitchener also wanted to delay attacking the Germans until after they had been wearied by other armies, but again was over ridden. Kitchener's political reputation suffered when the Shell Crisis of 1915 accused the Liberal British Government of under supplying their troops.

Kitchener was on his way to Russia on a diplomatic mission when the ship he was aboard. The HMS Hampshire was blown up during a Force 9 gale just off the Orkney Islands. Conspiracy theories about his death are still believed by some who don't think that the ship hit a mine. One reason for the uncertainty is that a Boer/German spy claims to have sabotaged the ship. This spy, Fritz Joubert Duquesne was later a Nazi spy captured as part of the largest espionage conviction in United States history.

No matter what side a fighter pilot fought for during World War II, credit must be given to those that showed particularly exceptional skill. Adolf Galland was a German fighter pilot during World War II, and he was also something of a mastermind. Galland was given the Knight’s Cross (studded with oakleaves, swords, and diamonds) making him one of only 27 German military men to ever receive this top honor.

Before WWII even started, the Germans knew that a world war was fast approaching. Thus, they wanted their top men on the front lines. Galland was given the position of Hauptmann prior to the war, and when the war broke out he was a major part of over 50 ground attacks. In February of 1940, he was transferred to the Jagdgeschwader 27 fighting unit and was named Adjutant. On May 12, 1940, Galland won his first victory. When the French campaign had ended, he had more than 14 victories under his pilot’s belt.

By the end of his military career, Galland had racked up a total of 103 victories on 705 missions – quite an accomplishment. In May of 1945, Galland was captured by the US Army and he was a prisoner until 1947. Upon returning to Germany, Galland married, authored a book on war tactics, and taught German soldiers about the ways in which the British military worked. Galland lived until the age of eighty-four. Throughout his lifetime, Galland kept many bits of memorabilia from the war, and most of these can be seen throughout Germany today

Lord Horatio Kitchener was an example of a man who gave his whole life to the defense of his country and suffered much criticism and ungratefulness from his jealous colleagues. However, he was much loved and popular with the people of his country, and his face came to be known all over Britain as the chief recruiter for volunteers for the British army to fight in WWI.

Lord Kitchener was born Horatio Herbert Kitchener in 1850 in Ireland. At the age of 18 he joined the Royal Military Academy. Smart and talented, Kitchener was determined to further his career. He did a brief stint with the French Army of the Loire and then received a commission into the Royal Engineers in 1871.

Through his hard work and dedication, the messy situation in Sudan was solved when he succeeded in re-conquering the area in 1898. This victory gained him the promotion of governor over all Sudan and Kitchener became a national hero.

However, two years later, Kitchener was left to clean up the mess in the Boer war, and Kitchener’s methods of what some saw as unnecessary brutality, including imprisoning civilians in prisoner of war camps, were highly criticized by Kitchener’s fellow colleagues in the cabinet.

Kitchener was the only one with enough foresight to see that WWI was not only going to be a glorious 4 months of trumpets and fanfare. As such, he immediately began to utilize his new position as secretary of state by expanding the number of division from 20 to 70 within two years, which proved a great boost to Britain’s fighting force in the grueling years of war in the years to come.


Kitchener met his death during the line of duty when a German mine hit the ship he was sailing on to Russia to help improve their morale against Germany.

The name Erich Ludendorff might call up visions of swastikas and Hitler, but actually Ludendorff made his mark on German war history well before Adolf Hitler entered the scene. During the First World War Ludendorff was Germany’s chief strategist. He helped to lead the way to several decisive victories for the German military from the battle at Liege to the battle at Tannenberg.

Ludendorff made his military debut during 1885, when he was a second lieutenant in the 57th Infantry Regiment. After several years of impressive service, he was selected to the War Academy in 1893, which paved the way for his appointment to the general staff. By the year 1911 he had reached the rank of Colonel. Although he later had a falling out with the General Staff and was demoted briefly, he was given the rank of Major-General in 1914. During the battle of Liege, Ludendorff was able to step in and save the city for the Germans after what looked to be unavoidable defeat. His victory at that battle gave him a place in German history as one of the most important military leaders of the Great War.

Although Ludendorff spent most of his years of service prior to the rise of Adolf Hitler, he did briefly support the efforts of the Nazi party. In fact, he was arrested and tried for his participation in the unsuccessful incident at Beer Hall Putsch in 1923, well before Hitler had seized power and launched his campaign. Hitler offered Ludendorff a position of field marshal in 1935, but the former military man declined. He died in 1937.

Within North America, we do not often hear of those British military men that made an impact on the entire world. Of course, we tend to focus upon North Americans that came out of a particular war with some feat of magnificence, though there are some British soldiers and commanders more than worthy of note. One such man was Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder of Glenguin.

Normally, in order to speak of a military great, one must begin with that great’s formative years. However, there is nothing unusual about the way that Tedder grew up in Scotland, and there is nothing particularly peculiar about his military education in the Dorsetshire Regiment or in the Colonial Service. If we are to delve further into Tedder’s background, we will also find that World War I really didn’t mark Tedder’s career as a military great either. Still, World War I left him with a knee injury that would force him to abandon infantry and head to the Royal Flying Corps, which, would jumpstart his World War II career (and this is where Tedder finally made his mark upon the pages of history).

When WWII erupted, Tedder’s department was sent to the new Ministry of Aircraft Production. However, Tedder did not exactly get along with Minister Lord Beaverbrook, and he had his disagreements with Prime Minister Churchill as well. This constant bickering landed Tedder in the Middle East as Air Commander in Chief. As Commander in Chief, Tedder managed to help the evacuation of Crete in 1941, and he also led Operation Crusader in North Africa. Tedder had a special knack for bombing, and one of his tactics was later named the “Tedder Carpet.” When it came time for the Germans to surrender following the Battle of the Bulge, Tedder signed the surrender agreement on behalf of General Eisenhower in May of 1945. Due to his great service and leadership during WWII, Tedder was knighted in 1942, forever placing his name amongst the great British war heroes of our time.

There once was a time when acting as a military officer meant more than gaining any type of university degree. This was the case during Douglas Haigs’ time. Haig was the heir to the Haig & Haig Whiskey distillery, which made him a gentleman in society’s eyes from the time he was born. Attending Clifton College and then later attending Brasenose College, Haig was considered highly educated for his time, though he never did receive that last degree. Eventually, Haig enrolled in the Royal Military College in Sandhurts in 1883, graduating from this college three years later.

Little known to most people, Haig was color blind, which would have barred him from the military if he had not gained a special standing (due, no doubt, to his place within high society). Haig was placed into the 7th Hussars, and then promoted to the duty of lieutenant within months. In 1887, Haig made the long voyage to India where he was given the appointment of adjutant. It was with Kitchner’s Omdurman Campaign (1898) that Haig saw his first real action, and during this time he was sent to the cavalry forces with the role of Chief of Staff to Lieutenant-Colonel Robert George Broadwood. When World War I broke out in 1914. Haig was largely responsible for helping the British Expeditionary Force get together. At this time, the force was under the control of Field Marshal John French, and Haig never got along with his commander.

French was a controversial figure during World War I, as he wished forces to align inside of Belgium, while most of the British army (including Haig) believed that the army should position themselves in Amiens. After the Belgian forces were forced to retreat, Haig was appointed to Commander-in-Chief replacing French. Throughout the rest of the war, Haig led his army to victory many times, and proved to be a good leader. Following the war, Haig was promoted to 1st Earl Hair, and gained a grant of 100,000 pounds. Later, Haig took up the role of Commander-in-Chief of the Home Forces in Great Britain, though he eventually gave up his post in order to help ex-servicemen. Much later, Haig was the president of the Royal British Legion, and he maintained this post until he died in 1921.

When discussing the subject of military heroes, there are certain names that shouldn't go unrecognized although they may not have the household recognition that some of the generals' names receive. Albert Ball is just such a name. He served during World War I as a fighter pilot for the British and received a Victoria Cross for his service. He had an impressive 21 victories during his service, the most of any British fighter at the time of his death. At that point, only the German fighter pilot Manfred Von Richthofen had more victories on record.

Ball was born in August of 1896 and showed only average scholastic abilities, however he always had a natural interest in mechanical things. He joined up with the 7th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters, when the Great War broke out. It wasn't long before he was able to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and began to showcase his aggressive flying style, which was encouraged by his commanding officers. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1916 for his impressive flying techniques.

Ball was something of a loner both on the ground and in the air. He preferred the freedom of flying solo operations and had a "lone wolf" mentality. He thought of his missions as "hunting" where he would stalk down the target from beneath and bring it down. His style was extremely successful. When he was not in the air he had a cabin to himself and spent time tending a garden and playing the violin. Ball was shot down during a mission on May 7th of 1917 and was killed. The circumstances of the event are somewhat hazy, as the Germans claimed his demise was at the hands of accomplished German pilot Lothar Von Richthofen, although there is some question as to the validity of that claim. The loss of Ball's life on that mission earned him the Victoria Cross, which is now on display in the Sherwood Foresters Museum in Nottingham, England.

When you hear the name "Adolf" there is only one person that comes to mind and Hitler's name will certainly live on in infamy for generations to come. However, he wasn't the only Adolf that defined the events of World War II. Many of Hitlar's victories were actually the work of another Adolf: Adolf Galland.

Galland was a German fighter pilot who was able to successfully 103 victories through 705 missions. He was not only a fighter pilot himself, he was also the commander of Germany's fighter force during the period of the second World War from 1941 until 1945. His successes for the Rhine earned him the Knight's Cross, which Germany's highest military honor, which has only been bestowed on 26 other people in its history.

However, Galland was more of a patriotic German than he was a member of the Nazi party. He was relieved of his post in 1945, following what became known as "the Fighter Pilots Revolt," where a number of the most decorated members of the German Air Force approached military leadership with a list of demands if they were going to continue to fly. Because these pilots were loyal to Galland, he was removed from his leadership and placed under house arrest. He was later returned to the front lines where he was eventually captured by US Forces in May of 1945. He remained a prisoner of war until 1947, during which time he served by giving lectures to the British Royal Air Force. His dogfighting skills had much to do with the imposing threat that the German Luftwaffe was able to establish during World War

The first recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom was Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith. A native of El Paso, Texas, he was a member of Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion of the 3rd Infantry Division, and was in a support position during the push through the Karbala gap towards Baghdad and the Saddam International Airport. On April 4, 2003, he was part of a detachment set to blockade a road one mile east of the airport, and his unit came under attack from Iraqi forces.

The firefight was relatively brief, and at the end the Americans found themselves with a number of Iraqi prisoners. Smith and his squad set about creating a POW enclosure in a nearby structure, using an armored bulldozer to knock a hole through the wall into a courtyard. As his men were taking up positions to guard the enclosure, they discovered a force of Iraqi soldiers taking positions in trenches on the other side. An attack was launched with a Bradley and three M113 personnel carriers, but the vehicles were hit and heavily damaged during the battle.

The Iraqi forces began to assault the American position, and gained positions that allowed them to put the courtyard under heavy crossfire. The American forces began to pull back, but just behind the courtyard was an aid station crowded with more than 100 casualties. Smith decided to fight on to protect it, and attacked the Iraqi forces first with his personal weapons, and later with the mounted machine gun on top of one of the disabled M113s.

Smith was able to hold off the Iraqi assault long enough to allow a second team to assault the enemy from the rear, going through three boxes of ammunition during the battle. Unfortunately, one of the last enemy shots fired hit Smith in the neck, killing him. His gallantry and bravery under fire saved many lives that day, and he was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 4, 2005.

As so many heroes are, Sir Arthur Tedder of Scotland has gone largely unsung and unrecognized by today’s generation. But he was largely known by most everyone fighting to defeat the Nazis in World War II, and contributed much to make the Allied victory in 1945 happen.

Tedder was born in Glenguin, Stirling, Scotland on July 11, 1890. He was born into a gifted and educated family, with his father being the Commissioner of the Board of Customs, having come up with the pension scheme. Tedder graduated from Magdalene College, Cambridge, andjoined the Doretshire Regiment in 1913, just one year before the start of WWI.

Just three years later, in the middle of the war, Tedder injured his knee and as such was not able to continue in his infantry service. But instead of accepting the holdback as a failure and returning home, Tedder simply switched courses and joined the Royal Flying Corps instead. His many talents and wide range of abilities helped him adapt quickly to his new duties and while serving in France he was quickly promoted to commander of two squadrons and then when transferred to Egypt in 1918, he continued to serve as the commander but this time of the School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping, which proved to help him greatly later on in his flying career when he would become famous for his unique bombing technique that would help win crucial battles in WWII.

During WWII, Tedder was appointed as Air Officer Commander in Chief of the Royal Air Force over the Middle East. This is where he developed his famous bombing tactic nicknamed “Tedder Carpet,” where groups of Allied planes would drop many bombs preceeding the ground troops into a hostile area. His command over RAF through this was essential in helping the Allies win the Battle of El Alamein.

Tedder was ambitious and worked hard, involving himself more than was his duty in the planning of the Normandy invasion.

After the war, Adder was awarded awards from Belgium, France, and the United States. Tedder suffered personal loss in the war as well, when his son died during combat in France and his wife died in a plane crash in Egypt.

Tedder died of Parkinson’s Disease in Surrey, England, at 76 years of age.

Hugo Junkers was born in Rheydt, Rhine Province on February 3, 1859. Hugo Junkers was a professor of mechanical engineering at Aachen in between the years 1897 and 1912. Junkers worked as an engineer devising, patenting, and exploiting gas engines, heaters, calorie meter and other inventions. His aeronautical engineering began in earnest at the age fifty. Junkers had many different ideas of metal airplanes and flying wings, but since it was during the World War I he was always forced by the government to focus on aircraft production rather than his own ideas.

In 1915 Junker developed the world’s first practical all metal aircraft design. This design was called the Junkers J 1. This design was on display in Berlin until World War II. In 1918, Junkers' firm created the world’s first low-winger single seat fighter aircraft. This was called the Junkers D.I., Junker also made a two seat fights called Junkers CL.I. Junker also created the Junker J.I, which is an armored fuselage two seat, all metal sesquiplane. This was consider the best German ground attack aircraft if the war. In 1915 the J1 flew for the first time.

In 1928 Junker built the first airplane to cross the Atlantic from east to west. Junker was the first pilot to cross by himself, without help. Other pilots have crossed from west to east but with the help of the tailwinds. It took the pilot 36 hours to get it crossed since there were many struggles, but Junker and his crew had made it over. By the year 1925, about 178 Junkers machines had carried almost 100,000 people over a total distance of 3,000,000 miles. Junker has left us with a lot of memories of him. Now a day’s aircraft is used every day and everywhere. If it wasn’t for airplanes then it would take people days and months and years to get to other destinations.

Born the son of a Prussian army officer in 1833, Alfred von Schlieffen joined the military ranks himself in 1854. Schlieffen was active in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. It was during this time that he was promoted to Chief of the German General Staff.

Fearing an attack from Russia to the east and France from the West, he was faced with the task of devising a plan to face each in case of a joint effort against Germany, located in the middle. He did indeed devise such a plan in 1905, which was known as the Schlieffen Plan. Germany was to attack France on the west, as Russia was mobilizing her army on the east. This attack would then be followed by a movement of Germany’s army towards Russia, where another attack was to be mounted. This plan allowed Germany to place the greatest amount of her army against one side, and then move to the other without having to divide the forces. In an August 1914 attack against France, the triggering of World War I began. The Schlieffen Plan might have worked had it not been for the weakening of the right flank, led by Schleiffens successor, during the attack on France which is a very probably cause for its failure.

Schlieffen retired from his post as Chief of General Staff of the German Army in 1906. His plan was revised up until the outbreak of battle. Alfred von Schlieffen left behind his influence after passing on January 4, 1913. His treatise was translated and given to military students at Fort Leavenworth, where there were many who supported his ideas on both sides.

Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten (1900-1979) was born of royalty. He was the great-grandson of Queen Victoria and the younger son of Prince Louis of Battenberg. He was only 13 when he entered the Naval Cadet School. He saw action in World War I as a midshipman in the Royal Navy.

He met his bride while on a 1922 tour of India with Edward, Prince of Wales. He and Edward became fast friends as a result of this tour. However, the friendship cooled because of family responsibilities and loyalties.

At the opening of World War II, Mountbatten was given command of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla. His own ship, the HMS Kelly, was noted for many daring exploits. In 1940 he led a convoy through the fog to remove the Allied forces who were part of the Namsos Campaign. Later in 1940, Mountbatten invented the camouflage known as Mountbatten Pink.

In 1941 his ship was sunk during the Crete Campaign. Mountbatten was then made captain of the HMS Illustrious. The ship was harbored in Norfolk, Virginia for repairs after damage at Malta. Mountbatten used his shore time to visit Pearl Harbor. He was dismayed at what he saw. The military was in a poor state of readiness, and the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army were not working together.

Winston Churchill was very fond of Mountbatten even though he never spoke to him again after the disastrous Dieppe Raid in August 1942. Some Allied military leaders, especially Field Marshal Montgomery, said from early on that the raid was not going to be successful. Mountbatten refused to listen to those who tried to warn against this disaster and he pushed it through anyway. Casualties of the dead, wounded and those taken prisoner numbered in the thousands.

Mountbatten worked with combined operations until the end of WWII. In 1947 he was made an earl. His main goal in working with the military was to unite the branches of service under one commander. He served as governor general of India and concluded the creation of two free, independent states: India and Pakistan. In 1979 Mountbatten was assassinated by a group of terrorists.

Hugo Junkers was an inventor, industrialist, educator and aviator. Born in 1859, Junkers was 56 before he invented the form of plane still being flown today. He was a professor at a technical institute where one of the first wind tunnels was built. He built a “flying wing” that was a single wing that held its engines, fuel, crew and cargo. It was almost 40 years before an American, Jack Northrop, perfected Junkers’ design.

While helping a colleague build an airplane out of corrugated sheet iron, Junkers determined that all future planes would be monoplanes made out of metal. This was quite impressive foresight in 1911, because at that time most planes were biplanes. Some monoplanes were built at that time, but they were not strong. The biplanes were made with a wood frame covered with fabric.

It wasn’t until 1915 that Junkers built the J1, his first all metal monoplane. Because of the supply shortage in Germany during WWI, Junkers built the J1 with iron tubing for the frame and covered it with sheet iron. It flew over 100 miles an hour. This was faster than some planes being used in the war. Because of this success, the German government paired Junkers with Anthony Fokker, a Dutch designer. Since they were working for the government, they were able to get aluminum for their aircraft. Junkers built the J3 and proved that it could hold 42 men. He declared that soon aircraft would be carrying as many people across the Atlantic as were going in ships. By late 1950s he was proven correct.

Junkers’ interest was focused on passenger airliners. He had spent all of his time after WWI working towards that end. However, the Nazis government was only interested in building warplanes. They forced Junkers to work for their needs. He died in 1935 at the age of 76. His contributions to air flight are still important in the industry.

The sight of a Zeppelin airship was all it took to fascinate the young Willy Emil Messerschmitt. With his fascination of aircraft running rampant in his mind, Messerschmitt, born in 1898, helped in the designing of the S8 Glider during the First World War. The S8 was able to stay aloft for 21 minutes, setting a world record for glider flight in 1921.

In 1925, Messerschmitt attempted flight himself in the M17. His flight did not end well, resulting in a lengthy hospitalization. By the late 1920’s, he had his own designs, although they were simple and cheap. As a result, he found himself facing financial difficulties, eventually ending in bankruptcy. Messerschmitt was blamed for the death of Hans Hackman, who died in a crash involving one of his planes, the M20. Since Messerschmitt had friends in powerful positions, one of which was Rudolph Hess, the Nazi Party came to his rescue in 1933. Hess was deputy head of the Nazi Party at that time. As a result of this friendship, as well as others, Messerschmitts’ company resumed, and obtained, government contracts. Messerschmitts’ planes were a major factor in the outcome of World War II. Many of his planes were used throughout the many battles of war, including the Bf109, which became the primary fighter for the Luftwaffe.

As the end of war drew closer, Messerschmitt designed the Me262, the first production jet fighter, capable of higher speed flight. This plane had many faults, such as low fuel capacity and ammunition. As the war came to an end in May of 1945, Messerschmitt was arrested and sent to prison for the use of slave labor. Messerschmitt attempted to rebuild his company following his release. His efforts were in vain, and he later passed away in 1978.

Born in 1852, in the Eastern Pyrenes, Joseph Joffre began his military career at the age of eighteen. Showing great leadership potential, he took control of a battery during the Paris Uprising, while still only a cadet. Joffre served in several overseas efforts in Indo-China and North Africa.

In 1894, as a lieutenant-colonel, he captured Timbuktu while leading his troops across North African deserts. As World War I broke out in 1914, Joffre achieved the rank of Chief of the General Staff, making him the senior leader of the French Army. Being a man who would rather take the offensive, rather then the defensive approach, he dismissed the senior officers whom he thought to be defensively minded. These officers were replaced with those of the same thinking of his own. Although Joffre lacked technical and strategical imagination, he earned an honorable reputation for not panicking during times of difficulty. Joffres’ reputation suffered in 1916, as he was blamed for the failure of a breakthrough at the Somme. He was shortly thereafter replaced by General Robert Nivelle. Remaining popular to the French public, he was promoted to Marshall of France.

Joseph Joffre was the most senior officer for France during World War I. He possessed an absolute refusal to accept defeat during battle, which led to his being declared a savior of France. Joffre served as president of the Allied War Council, and held many positions at the Ministry of War during his lifetime. Retiring from military and public life in 1918, he was inducted as a member of the French Academy the following year. Joseph Joffre passed away on January 3, 1931.

The most controversial of all wartime generals, Douglas Haig was born in 1861 in Edinburgh. He studied at the Royal Military Academy in 1884, where he was commissioned into the 7th Hussars upon completion. Here he made rank of Colonel and Major-General within the British Army

In 1914, Haig was promoted to full general status, where he served under the supreme command of General Sir John French. As commander in chief of the British Expeditionary Force, Haig was under extreme pressure from the French to produce a diversion. During the Battle of Somme, between July and November of 1916, Allied forces suffered 420,000 British and 200,000 French casualties. The following year, the United States entered into the war. Haig became frustrated during this time. As he was given more authority, he was determined to defeat the Germans with only a British offensive. This battle of Ypres saw further British casualties that brought shock to the public. This battle did however; succeed in weakening the Germans, which finally led to their defeat in 1918. Haig succeeded in stopping the last German offensive of the war before showing what many believe to be his best leadership in the Allied assault from August 1918 onwards. Haigs’ management and leadership skills were brought under much criticism by the British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, following the war. Many have claimed that the tactics, used by Haig in battle, were flawed. This resulted in the numerous casualties received, while others defended his actions.

Following the war and his retirement, Douglas Haig devoted his life to the welfare of ex-servicemen. He formed the British Legion, where he traveled throughout the British Empire collecting money for the benefit of the former servicemen. In 1919, he was created an Earl, followed by the honor of Baron of Bemersycle in 1921. He later passed away in 1928

Historical summaries of Robert L. Eichelberger are in disagreement. One group of historians claim Eichelberger was a brilliant World War II commander. Another group says he was good but not extraordinary. Other reporters, trying to determine an accurate view of Eichelberger, have not been able to take either side strongly enough to make an evaluation.

Robert Lawrence Eichelberger (1886-1961) was born in Urbana, Ohio. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1909 as an infantry lieutenant He spent the next few years in Panama and the U.S.- Mexico border before going to the American Expeditionary Force Siberia. He observed The Japanese military strategy in Siberia. His acts of bravery won him the Distinguished Service Cross.

Eichelberger served in the Philippines and China. Then he returned to the U.S. to attend the academies to be promoted to Brigadier General in 1940. He was assigned to West Point as Superintendent of the Military Academy in 1940. He left there in 1942 for active duty.

Prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, many American military personal had received Japanese decorations and medals. It became customary for American military to attach these medals and decorations to bombs in the war with Japan. However, Eichelberger said he wasn’t going to send his on a bomb. He was going to return his in person.

Eichelberger was appointed Commanding General of US I Corps in Australia in 1942. Later that year he was promoted to Lieutenant General. General Douglas MacArthur ordered him to take a victory at Buna. He was successful in 1943. Several other successes in 1944 and 1945 at Hollandia, Biak and six of the Philippines Islands were sufficient to put Eichelberger’s name in the historians’ records.

After a 40 year career, Eichelberger retired in September 1948. It took another 6 years for Congress to promote him to a full General. On September 26, 1961, Eichelberger was buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery.

Having been born in Nottingham, this natural born fighter pilot achieved an unbelievable 44 flying victories before reaching the age of twenty-one. Born in 1896, Albert Ball joined the British Army in 1914 as war erupted. Here he was commissioned in the Sherwood Forresters and soon thereafter was transferred into the Royal Flying Corps.

Determined to become a pilot, Albert Ball funded his own flying lessons. Although he came to be a very accomplished pilot, he luckily survived several dangerous crashes during his training. With invincible courage and determination, Albert Ball had a very dangerous and menacing method of attack that proved to be highly successful in battle. Generally flying alone, at his own requests, with machine guns pointing upwards, he preferred to attack from the bottom side. This method proved to be Balls’ highly successful trademark. Constantly seeking an edge in battle, Ball diligently made tweaks to his planes looking for better maneuverability. Flying the Nieuport Scout, he was feared by his opponents and became a legend to all whom he flew into battle, both with and against. Within only a fifteen month period, Ball rose through the ranks from an unknown to a top ranking fighter pilot. During his short career as a fighter pilot, Ball received many awards for his accomplishments. Included in these awards were the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order.

Albert Ball was considered a loner both in the air and on the ground. He was reported to have had at least 44 confirmed victories, with probable countless others. While flying along with the 56th Squadron of the British Fighters, Ball was last seen diving and firing towards an Albatros fighter when they both disappeared into the clouds. Civilians reported seeing Ball finishing the Albatros. German gunners were said to have surprised Ball as he flew by a church tower clock to check the time, a habit he had become accustomed to. It was here that he was taken down shortly before the age of 21 years. There are other versions of his death, although this particular one appears to hold the most merit. After his death, Albert Ball was awarded the honorable Victoria Cross.

Joseph Jacques Cesaire Joffre (1852-1931) was born to a working class family in Rivesaltes in the eastern Pyrenees. His family had eleven children. Joffre was 18 years old when he saw his first military action during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. Early in his military career he demonstrated a potential for leadership by taking charge in the Paris Uprising.

Later he served in the French colonies. In 1894, as a lieutenant colonel, he led a troop of soldiers across the North African Desert to capture Timbuktu. He showed exceptional organizational skills as Director of Engineers. In 1911 he was appointed Chief of the French General Staff.

Joffre was responsible for the ill-fated Plan XVII, a blueprint for the French invasion of Germany. This plan was flawed because it ignored the possibility of a German invasion of France through Belgium. Joffre used his influence to get rid of all the defense-oriented officers. Joffre’s strongest administrative qualities made him responsible for the French war effort. His plan instilled an absolute refusal to admit defeat. He was seen as the savior of France. He was extremely popular as Chief of Staff for two and a half years. His dismissal in December 1916 was done quietly so Joffre’s name was not associated with failure. Because of his popularity, he was named Marshal of France the same day. This was a ceremonial position with no real authority.

In 1917 Joffre headed the French military mission to the U.S. Then in 1918 he served as president of the Supreme War Council. Following this, he retired from the military. In 1919 he became a member of the French Academy.

British Air Marshal Hugh Montague Trenchard entered the army in 1893. He joined his regiment in India in 1893 as well. He also served in the South African war in which he became a superb horseman. In 1900, he was hit by gunfire that damaged his spine and punctured his lung. The result of this unfortunate injury was that he could not walk without the aid of walking sticks or canes. At the of thirty-nine, he went to Brooklands where he entered Thomas Sopwith’s school of flying. An instructor once said of him “He would never have made a good pilot, but he was a model pupil.” When he successfully completed the course, he went to the Royal Flying Corps.

When he wasn’t serving in a war, Trenchard busied himself by returning to the position of Chief of the Air Staff under Winston Churchill. He stayed on there until he retired in 1930. Trenchard also played a key role in establishing some of the Royal Air Force’s training programs. Along with that achievement, he also oversaw the founding of the Cadet College in Cranwell. It was the first military school in the world.

There are many institutions and buildings named after Trenchard. One of these structures is Trenchard House, which is located in Farnborough, Hampshire. In the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust, the Trenchard House holds a library and an archive. Another noteworthy building is a small museum at the Royal Air Force, Halton. RAF Halton is one of the largest bases in the United Kingdom.

Hugo Junkers was born on February 3rd, 1859 in Rheydt Germany. When he finished high school, he attended Technical University of Berlin to study engineering.

After graduating, he joined the Deutsche Continental Gasgesellschaft. His aim was to try to improve gas engines performance. His result worked on small engines but was not suitable for large gas engines. The efforts were discontinued at DCG. Junkers teamed up with other engineers to continue the effort to improve gas engines. Finally in 1892, they developed the first useful Double-Piston Gas Engine. This engine was patented and became the first of a long list of patents, assigned to Hugo Junkers.

Junkers needed to be able to measure the thermal flow of gases. He had the idea to build a Kalorimeter, an instrument that would measure the temperature that burning gas transfers to water flow and determine the heating value of gas. In April 1893 this patent was assigned to Junkers. Junkers founded his first independent company under the name Hugo Junkers – Civilingenieur to market his Kalorimeter. But he was not very successful. Only 60 were built. He was a bit more successful later with his warm water stoves invention.

During WWI Junkers concentrated more on aircraft engine developments. In 1910 Junkers obtained his first aero technological patent for a glider aircraft with a thick wing. This was his first contribution to aeronautical researches. During the following years, Hugo Junkers concentrated on aero-dynamical research to develop the best design for the thick wing.

Prior to his death, The Nazi Government sought to take over his companies, and in the end The Junkers family lost all their influence on the work of Hugo Junkers.

Hugo Junkers died on his 76th birthday on February 3rd, 1935.

Douglas Haig was born in Edinburgh in 1861. His family owned a whiskey business that accounts for their wealth. He attended college at Clifton College and Brasenose in Oxford. He attended the Royal Military College in 1884. He completed the graduation requirements at Sandhurst in a single year. His service from 1885 to 1891 was unremarkable except that he advanced to Adjutant and was selected as acting Brigade Major at a cavalry camp and was attached to the Staff of the Bombay Army for a short period. He attended Staff College at Camberley. He was promoted to captain upon his graduation and was sent to the Sudan. Haig saw a lot of action and was given recognition with awards and promotions during the next five years.

On his return after the Boer War, in South Africa, he was raised to a brevet Colonel and was awarded the CB in 1902. In the next seven years Haig was appointed Commander-in-Chief in India. In 1904 he was promoted again to Major-General. From 1906 and 1909 he was an adviser to the Minister of War, Richard Haldane. They designed a reform of the British Army. From 1909 to 1912 Haig became Chief of Staff in India. Then he was raised to Commander-in-Chief at Aldershot. This military branch consisted of 2 divisions and the 1st Cavalry Brigade. This brigade became I Corps of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). This was the most important field position in the army.

By Christmas Day 1914, Sir John French had reorganized the BEF into two armies where he was Commander-in-Chief of one army and Haig Commander-in-Chief of the other. These two leaders did not agree on strategy. Haig wanted French’s reserves to be close behind his troops who were attacking. French kept his reserve troops much further back so they weren’t available when Haig needed them. In 1915 Haig was promoted to Commander-in-Chief over the entire British Army. The King gave his promotion to him personally. Haig held this position until the Armistice.

Born on February 3rd, 1859 German engineer Hugo Junkers was as innovative as he was inspiring. He was a manufacturer of heating appliances until, at age 50, he revealed his true passion - aeronautical engineering.

Born and raised in Rheydt in the Rhine Province of Germany, he was the third of seven sons. After finishing his school education in 1878 went on to the Technical University of Berlin where he studied engineering. After several moves between major universities he graduated with the official title "Baufuehrer" in 1883. Until 1897 Junkers spent time working his father's textile company in Rheydt as well as continuing his education, and became a professor of mechanical engineering at Aachen from 1897-1912. With his work as an engineer he patented the inventions of gas engines, heaters, and a calorie meter, among others.

During WWI he was forced by the government to focus only on aircraft production. He developed the world's first all metal aircraft design, the Junkers J1 ("Blechesel")in 1915, and the world's first low winged single seat fighter aircraft, the Junkers D.I., in 1918. He also produced the Junkers CL.I., a two seat fighter that sat a pilot and a rear gunner, and the Junkers J.I., a two seated armored-fuselage all metal sesquiplane, which was considered Germany's best ground attack aircraft of the war.

Junker's corrugated light metal construction philosophy became a source of guidance and inspiration in the development of earlier aircraft by engineers such as Andrei Tupolev and William Stout. By 1918, with the collaboration of Anthony Fokker, nearly 400 military aircraft were built.

After the war, unable to repay government loans, Junkers began losing control of his businesses and in 1933 the Nazis took them over completely. He died on his 76th birthday.

Arthur William Tedder was born in Scotland in 1890 into a distinguished family. He attended Magdalene College in Cambridge where he studied history and received a reserve commission in the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1913.

A knee injury in 1916 forced him to retire from infantry service. He transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He served in France until 1918 with the No. 25 Squadron RFC, then as commander of the No. 70 and No. 67 of the RFC. He served in Egypt until 1919 as commander of the School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping and of the 38th Wing.

At the end of World War I Tedder was appointed to lead squadrons based at RAF Bircham Newton. Squad No 207 was equipped with DH9a bomber. Squad No. 274 was equipped with the largest RAF bomber of its time. These leadership assignments along with several others involved with training raised his rank to Director of Training from 1934 to 1936. Then in 1936 he became the Air Officer Commanding RAF Far Eastern Forces. In 1938 he was advanced to the director general for research in the Air Ministry.

World War II created some problems for Tedder. In 1939 Tedder had some conflicts with the minister, Lord Beaverbrook, and with Prime Minister Churchill. In November 1940 he was appointed Deputy Air Officer Commander in Chief, RAF Middle East Command. In June 1941, Tedder was appointed to the temporary office of Air Marshal. The position became permanent in 1942 even though he was not Churchill’s first choice.

Tedder had a very active command. He fought Rommel’s Afrika Korps and was the key to the Allied victory at the Battle of El Alamein. One of his bombing strafes was named “Tedder Carpet.” As temporary Air Chief Marshal, he helped in the planning of the Allied invasion of Sicily.

At the planning of Operation Overlord, the invasion of France, Tedder worked under Dwight Eisenhower. During the last two years of his command, Tedder was involved in important strategy planning of major battles and in the unconditional surrender of the Germans. Tedder signed on behalf of General Eisenhower.
Tedder did not receive any gallantry awards from his country, but he did receive awards from the United States, France, Belgium and other countries.

Albert Ball was born in 1896 at Bulwell in Nottingham, England. He attended school there until he was expelled from high school. He went on to Trent College. At the beginning of World War I, Ball joined the 7th Battalion. He took private flying lessons. In 1915 he was forwarded to the Royal Flying Corps in Norwich, then later to the RFC Central Flying School where he received his flying wings in January1916. He met the enemy for the first time in February 1916 flying the B.E.2c. Ball was an aggressive fighter and a loner; thus he excelled in a single seater biplane.

In August 1916, Ball was transferred to No. 60 Squadron RFC where he flew the improved Nieuport 17. For the rest of the year, Ball had an increasing number of “kills” for German aircraft shot down. Ball was uncomfortable with the notoriety brought by his success; he continued life as a loner. On leave he went home alone and worked in his garden and played the violin.

In June 1916 Ball received his first decoration, the Military Cross. Throughout the remainder of 1916 Ball received recognition as a national hero. He had the reputation as a fearless fighter and expert marksman. He had shot down 13 planes, forced 19 to land and sent one plane out of control. He was awarded a DSO with two bars. The remainder of 1916 and until May 1917, Captain Ball set records for bravery and competency. He destroyed 43 German airplanes and 1 German air balloon altogether.

Captain Ball was part of a group of 11 aircraft that went against a group of German fighters on May 7, 1917. The battle between the two groups deteriorated as they lost visibility and became scattered. Ball crashed behind German lines and was killed. The detail for the cause of the crash was never determined. The Germans used Ball’s crash as propaganda bragging about their top air force fighter killing England’s best fighter.

Erich Ludendorff: Born April 9, 1865. Died December 20, 1937.

Ludendorff was born in Prussia. He entered the Junker Class via his mother, a daughter of a prominent Junker family. He was commissioned as an officer at the age of 18 and had a splendid military career. He was highly successful, receiving frequent commendations. He became a member of the German General Staff in 1894 and served as head of deployment and the invasion strategies for the Military.

During World War I, he served as quartermaster general to Germany’s Second Army under Karl von Bulaw. He rose rapidly to a senior officer and became a full colonel in 1911. In 1916, he was deputy chief of the General Staff under Hindenburg. He was very successful in all missions he was assigned to. When Russia withdrew from the war in 1917, he was a key figure in the Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918.

He continued to lead German offensives. After the German war effort collapsed, he resigned and fled to Sweden. He wrote many books and articles, about Germany’s military conduct and failures, while in exile.

He returned to Germany in 1920 and served as a representative of the Nazi party. But in 1928, he retired after falling out with the Nazi party. His approval of Hitler had diminished. He looked at him as one of the manipulative politicians.

Every war has its military heroes and among the history of US, General Robert L. Eichelberger of the Eighth United States Army name stands out for his World War II command in the Southwest Pacific Area after the Pearl Harbor Attack. He is famous not only for his brilliant military strategy, his courage, and his determination, but also for his series of stories published in the "Saturday Evening Post," titled, "Our Bloody Jungle Road to Tokyo," Although written after his retirement they recalled the events of his army's ground war in the Pacific.

General Eichelberger was born in Ohio on March 9, 1886. He attended Ohio State University, but graduated from West Point in 1909. His strength was in Japanese military strategy. During World War II he led many successful operations, including the Advanced New Guinea Force (a victory over the Japanese in 1943 Buna) and additional victories in 1944 (at Hollandia and Biak). He led the invasion of the Philippines and defeated the Japanese on Mindanao in 1945. General Eichelberger was also in Tokyo Harbor for the Japanese surrender.

On a personal note, he was married in 1913 to Emma Grudger. His letters to her during his service have been saved and are recorded as Dear Miss Emm: General Eichelberger's War in the Pacific, 1942-1945. There are many recordings of his life in diaries, photo albums and press coverage. He made many bold quotes. He was portrayed in comic books. He was even on the cover of the popular magazine "Time." On September 26, 1961 General Eichelberger died and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Arthur William Tedder from Glenguin, Scotland, started his military career in a reserve commission while attending University in Cambridge. He then entered the Colonial Service and served his time in Fiji, but later returned to his original regiment in Britain.

As a result of a knee injury during World War I, Tedder was no longer able to serve in the infantry and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916. While serving in France, he became a squadron commander; and after serving in Egypt, became commander of the School of Navigation and Bomb Dropping. Following the war, Tedder accepted a permanent commission in the new Royal Air Force as squadron leader for two different squadrons. At the onset of World War II, Tedder and his department were transferred to the Ministry of Aircraft Production. In 1940, Tedder became Deputy Air Officer Commander in Chief of the Royal Air Force. He gained temporary rank of Air Marshal in 1941, which later became a permanent post in 1942. Tedder was not Churchill’s first choice, but when his Air Vice-Marshal was captured, Tedder was then appointed to the position.

Tedder was involved in planning the invasions of Sicily and of France. He served as Deputy Supreme Commander beneath US General Dwight D. Eisenhower and was involved in the planning of D-Day and assisted in The Battle of the Bulge. Tedder was knighted in 1942 and granted a peerage at the war’s end.

Even though Arthur Tedder’s military career did not lead him into areas of high decoration, he became Marshal of the Royal Air Force and a highly honored British commander during World War II, receiving many foreign awards from such countries as France, Belgium, the United States, and others.