America’s Unsung Strategist

To become a famous general and enter the annals of history, you must have skill, stamina, courage, connections — and luck. And that luck has to take many forms. It’s … Continue Reading →

China’s National Anthem, a Product of War

Among the national anthems of this world, China’s is one of the most stirring, and it’s heard increasingly when the country’s athtletes win at international events or its leaders go … Continue Reading →

76 Years Ago, in Shanghai

In April 1937, Shanghai was only four months from descending into war. In August of that year, full-scale hostilities would break out between Chinese and Japanese forces in the city. … Continue Reading →

A History of the War in 1,000 Objects, Part II

In the second and last part of  our interview with Spanish author and collector Agustin Saiz Martinez, he talks about acquiring militaria specifically from the Sino-Japanese War, and about the … Continue Reading →

A History of the War in 1,000 Objects, Part I

  • By Peter Harmsen
  • 11 April, 2013
  • Comments Off on A History of the War in 1,000 Objects, Part I

Collectors of military items have probably been around for as long as war has been a way to solve disagreements between societies. Owning a weapon that was used or a uniform … Continue Reading →

Japan’s First Defeat

On April 7, 1938, the city of Hankou in central China “turned into a bedlam as thousands of firecrackers were exploded and newsboys tore about the streets shouting at the … Continue Reading →

Asians in WWII Poster Art

Since the US engagement in World War II was to a significant extent directed towards Asia, it is no surprise that a large part of American poster art of the … Continue Reading →

A Chinese in the German Wehrmacht

When the German Wehrmacht rolled into Austria in March 1938, one of its soldiers stood out. A 21-year-old sergeant-cadet in the 98th Jäger Regiment, his hair was jet-black, and his … Continue Reading →

Snapshots of War

The Japanese went to war in China equipped with Model 32 helmets, Arisaka rifles and Model D III Gelto cameras. During the Sino-Japanese conflict from 1937 to 1945, soldiers and … Continue Reading →

China’s Muslim General

With his kind smile, it would be easy to confuse Bai Chongxi with a Buddhist cleric, detached from the worries of this world. That was one of the first thoughts … Continue Reading →