History Today

S.P. MacKenzie asks why Colditz, the prisoner-of-war camp that saw escape attempts by 316 men in the Second World War, has captured a particular place in the historical memory.

Bernard Porter argues that, through most of the nineteenth century, most Britons knew little and cared less about the spread of the Empire.

Erica Fudge asks if, and how, a biography of an animal might be written.

Hugh Purcell tells the story of the man who inspired the Home Guard, taught it guerrilla warfare and paid a price for his political beliefs.

Janet MacDonald looks at the surprisingly good rations that kept the Jack-Tars jolly.

The self-styled tribune of the Roman Republic, Cola di Rienzo, was murdered by an angry mob, on October 8th, 1354.

The grandson of William the Conqueror died on 25 October 1154.

Sami Abouzahr untangles US policy towards France at the time of the Marshall Plan and the war in Indochina.

Claudius died on 13 October AD 54. Roman opinion was convinced that Agrippina had poisoned him.