The hottest Military History Substack posts right now

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The British Bang a U-ey

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 185 implied HN points • 18 Mar 26
💾 History Military History
  1. British forces evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776, ending a yearlong siege and returning the city to patriot control.
  2. Many Loyalists left with the British; the departure was chaotic but avoided the mass tragedies that can accompany rushed evacuations.
  3. The evacuation showed that a great power can withdraw from a city while still helping its allies, a practical lesson for later and modern withdrawals.

Maybe there's a pattern here?

DYNOMIGHT INTERNET NEWSLETTER • 1843 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Many inventions meant to improve life or reduce suffering can be repurposed as weapons, so technological progress often has powerful and harmful dual uses.
  2. Inventors frequently feel moral conflict and regret because they cannot fully control how their creations are deployed, and appeals to restraint or pacifism often fail to stop misuse.
  3. Political and military institutions tend to absorb and fund civilian innovations, accelerating weaponization despite warnings and efforts to establish international control.

A Reading List for the End of Civilization

The Honest Broker • 9009 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
💾 History Military History
  1. A curated reading list of 22 books (part of a larger 41) is offered to help readers study societal collapse and make sense of turbulent times.
  2. The selections favor classic histories and theories of decline—works like Gibbon, Spengler, and Thucydides that trace how civilizations fall.
  3. The approach mixes old primary sources, literature, and philosophy with modern tools like game theory and data analysis, using books as tools for insight rather than proof that civilization is doomed.

Top Links 1023 Clean capacity club. WWII & Keynesianism. A Love Supreme and a hundred flowers media.

Chartbook • 414 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
💾 History Military History
  1. The 'clean capacity club' points to a growing focus on building and sharing clean energy capacity to meet climate and power needs.
  2. Links explore how WWII mobilization helped cement Keynesian ideas about using state power to manage economies and shape postwar policy.
  3. Housing has become much less affordable: in modern America it typically takes two incomes to buy a house.

Lawrence Freedman Part 2

ChinaTalk • 266 implied HN points • 27 Feb 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Strategy is often messy and not purely deliberative; small conversations, shifting assumptions, and human limits like fatigue can steer big decisions.
  2. Context and history matter more than tech alone in war; defenses tend to beat offenses, and morale, air power, and information networks often shape outcomes.
  3. Good analysis combines clear, persuasive writing with diverse sources; start writing early to discover the right questions and don’t dismiss journalistic or non-archival material.
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March 16, 2026

Letters from an American • 33 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Boston’s occupation forced ordinary people and elites to pick sides between Loyalists and Patriots, often with real personal and economic risk.
  2. Seizing and transporting heavy artillery from Fort Ticonderoga allowed Washington and Henry Knox to fortify Dorchester Heights, making the British position in Boston untenable and prompting their evacuation.
  3. The British evacuation proved that coordinated civilian and military effort could defeat Britain’s forces, boosting Patriot morale, removing many Loyalists, and accelerating support that led to independence.

This Week in American History: The Fortress Washington Built Overnight

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 236 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
💾 History Military History
  1. George Washington and his troops secretly fortified Dorchester Heights overnight, surprising the British and forcing them to abandon Boston.
  2. The operation broke a year-long stalemate around Boston and became Washington’s first major triumph in the Revolutionary War.
  3. The episode highlights American ingenuity and rapid logistical skill—abilities that let underdog forces seize unexpected advantages when opponents underestimate them.

'This fire will return!'

Wrong Side of History • 517 implied HN points • 13 Feb 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Dresden was devastated by a massive Allied bombing on 13 February 1945 that produced a firestorm, killing tens of thousands and destroying the city center.
  2. Before the war Dresden was a celebrated cultural and manufacturing hub—famous for its Baroque architecture, music, and porcelain—much of which was lost in the attack.
  3. Allied air strategy evolved from targeted raids to area bombing aimed at creating firestorms, a deliberate and controversial policy led by figures like Arthur Harris that raised lasting moral and historical debates.

Top Links 1015 America's economic pluralism. Substack for sex. Survivors of the Light Brigade and Crisis & Critique.

Chartbook • 443 implied HN points • 16 Feb 26
💾 History Military History
  1. The newsletter curates top links and readings that highlight themes like America’s economic pluralism and broader debates in economics and culture.
  2. It’s a subscription-supported publication with paid posts, but it offers at least one free post and asks for reader support to keep the project going.
  3. The content blends visuals and varied topics—art, sex-related pieces, historical survivors, and political critique—showing a wide, cross-disciplinary focus.

'We must get through this!'

Wrong Side of History • 360 implied HN points • 17 Feb 26
💾 History Military History
  1. The Allied night raids on Dresden created a massive firestorm that killed thousands, with many people suffocating in cellars after following official sheltering advice.
  2. A second wave shifted targets into residential outskirts and public gathering places, destroying hospitals, cultural sites, and shelters and causing huge numbers of refugee and homeless casualties.
  3. Survival often came down to small acts or chance—choosing to leave a cellar, what shoes you wore, or help from neighbors—and the city’s aftermath involved mass cremations and forced cleanup that provoked lasting moral controversy.

Ed Luttwak on Military Revolutions

ChinaTalk • 800 implied HN points • 03 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military History
  1. Technology can change warfare suddenly when a new capability breaks old assumptions, and opponents then adapt; you must study action–reaction dynamics and the different levels of war (tactical, operational, theater) because success at one level can be undone at another.
  2. Deterrence works in the mind of the adversary, so you must threaten what that adversary actually values and fears rather than attacking irrelevant proxies; cultural and political differences shape what will or won’t deter.
  3. Removing war from a region can sap its political and demographic dynamism and leave states less "capax belli," and rising powers that challenge the naval order protecting global commerce risk provoking balancing coalitions and strategic failure.

A raid too far?

Wrong Side of History • 313 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
💾 History Military History
  1. The Allied bombing of Dresden caused huge civilian suffering and became a powerful example used to question the morality of bombing cities in war.
  2. Histories of Dresden are contested and were shaped by political agendas, so whether the raid counts as a war crime or something like ‘genocide’ remains debated among historians.
  3. The raid was ordered to disrupt German transport for the eastern front and was authorised while Churchill was at Yalta, and the bomber crews faced extreme danger and moral unease because they knew their missions would kill many civilians.

Top Link 995 How Intel came back to earth. China's gender crisis. The geography of the U-boat war. A movie about Leibniz.

Chartbook • 586 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Intel's recent rally reversed sharply. It shows investor optimism was premature and the company still faces major operational and financial challenges.
  2. China is facing a serious gender crisis that creates demographic imbalances. That situation poses long-term social and economic risks.
  3. New looks at the geography of the U-boat war highlight how place and space shaped naval conflict. A movie about Leibniz also signals renewed cultural interest in intellectual history.

[EXCERPTS] Ed Luttwak

ChinaTalk • 311 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military History
  1. Deterrence is psychological: you only stop an opponent by shaping what they believe is truly costly, so threats must be targeted at what that enemy actually values and fears.
  2. Political systems shape strategy: autocracies can surprise and force top-down moves but lack self-correction, while democracies keep initiative and genuine commitment; centralized ambitions to seize status (like challenging a dominant navy) risk strategic overreach.
  3. Removing war from Europe removed an engine of national dynamism: banning real combat made armed forces ceremonial, damped social energy and population growth, and weakened states' willingness and capacity to use force when necessary.

This Week in American History: The Unlikeliest Hero of the American Revolution

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 510 implied HN points • 21 Jan 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Henry Knox was a self-taught, overweight bookseller who had even lost two fingers, yet he rose to lead the Continental Army’s artillery through skill rather than credentials.
  2. George Washington trusted talent over formal qualifications and appointed Knox, a decision that proved crucial for the patriot cause.
  3. Knox’s “noble train of artillery” hauled captured guns from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, forcing the British to evacuate Boston and delivering a decisive early victory in the Revolution.

The Feats of Mongol Queens, the American Revolution, and More

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 950 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
💾 History Military History
  1. Elephants and some bats carry multiple copies of the TP53 gene, which seems to help them resist cancer and live longer; transplanting that benefit into humans is not currently feasible because those copies are tightly integrated with each species’ immune and DNA regulatory systems.
  2. Medieval Mongol royal women are depicted doing remarkable things—fighting alongside men, wrestling champions like Khutulun, and influential rulers like Manduhai—showing that women could hold significant military and political power.
  3. Early historical records are often censored, altered, or exaggerated, so stories from centuries ago should be treated with skepticism and checked against how records were produced and preserved.

A Lawful Insurrection: The Massachusetts Provincial Congress

Papyrus Rampant • 119 implied HN points • 05 Oct 24
💾 History Military History
  1. In 1774, Massachusetts set up its own government, independent from British rule, even before the American Revolution officially started. They did this peacefully and with strong community involvement.
  2. General Gage, the British governor, faced growing resistance from the people of Massachusetts. They were organizing and defying his orders, making it clear they opposed British authority.
  3. The Massachusetts Provincial Congress acted like a government by making decisions, collecting taxes, and preparing for war. Their actions laid the groundwork for the future American government and the fight for independence.

Australia: American FOB, American mimic

Kvetch • 60 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
💾 History Military History
  1. American power has been the dominant force shaping Australian politics and culture for the last century, with Australia often following U.S. leads rather than acting independently.
  2. Australia’s security posture shifted from Britain to the United States early in the 20th century, effectively making Australia a U.S. forward operating base and binding its military policy to American interests.
  3. Major social and legal changes in Australia — from immigration and civil rights to disability and marriage laws — frequently mirrored American reforms, with U.S. ideas, movements, and precedents strongly influencing Australian law and public debate.

The Jewish Patriots of the American Revolution

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 783 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
💾 History Military History
  1. Jewish patriots actively took part in the American Revolution and helped fight British rule instead of waiting passively for their fate.
  2. Individuals like Jonas Phillips publicly supported independence by owning and circulating the Declaration and writing in Yiddish to promote the patriot cause abroad.
  3. The ancient Maccabee story is used as a parallel to show Jewish resistance to tyranny and to emphasize that Jews helped shape the new American republic.

This Week in American History: A City on the Brink

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 236 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
💾 History Military History
  1. In January 1776, New York City was in panic and leaders debated sending troops to fortify the city against an expected British invasion.
  2. The Continental Congress and George Washington considered bringing Connecticut forces into New York, which sparked a dispute over whether troops raised outside a colony should operate inside its borders.
  3. That argument about outside military authority versus local control shows that debates over using force in cities are longstanding and not new.

READING: THOUKYDIDES: On the Civil War in Korkyra

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 207 implied HN points • 27 Jan 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Civil war and bitter factionalism tear a city apart, causing widespread violence, revenge, and the collapse of law and religion.
  2. War and partisan struggle corrupt language and moral norms so treachery is praised, trust evaporates, and established institutions lose authority.
  3. Ambition, envy, and the lust for power let ruthless or clever rogues take control while moderates are destroyed, and the political culture can take generations to recover.

This Week in American History: The First War for Hearts and Minds

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 171 implied HN points • 04 Feb 26
💾 History Military History
  1. A British general during the Revolutionary War articulated the idea of winning "hearts and minds" as a way to end rebellion, stressing persuasion over sheer punishment.
  2. Early on there was a real debate between negotiation and force, with even a peace emissary and the military commander surprisingly agreeing that gaining local support mattered.
  3. The "hearts and minds" approach from that era later shaped modern counterinsurgency doctrine and was used in conflicts like Vietnam and Iraq, remaining influential among military thinkers.

This Week in American History: Venezuela, Then and Now

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 282 implied HN points • 14 Jan 26
💾 History Military History
  1. The Roosevelt Corollary said that if European powers threatened intervention in Latin America, the United States would sometimes step in itself to prevent it.
  2. In 1902–03 Britain and Germany blockaded Venezuela to collect debts, and Americans feared the Europeans might seize territory, which would have broken the Monroe Doctrine.
  3. Roosevelt’s response reshaped U.S. policy toward the hemisphere and still echoes in modern arguments for American intervention, sometimes referred to as the "Donroe Doctrine".

The City of Urumchi and its Oasis - Mikhail Pevtsov, 1895

The Library of Alexandria Ultima • 8 implied HN points • 16 Mar 26
💾 History Military History
  1. The city is built around a large Chinese fortress and adjacent forts that house officials and a garrison, but the fortress is poorly sited and can be easily shelled from the surrounding hills.
  2. The native town is largely Dungan (Chinese Muslim) and there are clear ethnic tensions with the Chinese and Chantuus; Dungan numbers grew after past uprisings, which has made Chinese authorities uneasy.
  3. Trade is lively and mostly run by Dungans while local industry is minimal; the oasis has limited water and agricultural output so grain must be imported, even though nearby mountains hold coal, copper and a petroleum source.

Guide to Historic Iron Making

Erik Examines • 134 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Names like pig iron, cast iron, wrought iron and steel are all iron‑carbon alloys, not pure elemental iron. People never really used pure iron; the different labels mostly reflect carbon content and how the metal was processed.
  2. Steel wasn’t invented in the 1850s — people made steel long before then for things like swords and armor — but the Bessemer process (mid‑1800s) made steel cheap and easy to mass‑produce. The mid‑19th century change was about industrial scale and cost, not the first appearance of steel.
  3. Different iron‑carbon alloys have distinct uses because of their properties: wrought iron is soft and malleable, cast iron is cheap and brittle, and steel sits between them. Historically, producing useful iron or steel was an artisan skill because getting the carbon level and impurities right required careful work.

A Snapshot from the Fall of the Roman Republic: Cicero Wrote as Caesar Crossed the Rubicon

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 199 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
💾 History Military History
  1. A senior Roman politician was surprised by how quickly civil war erupted, showing that even insiders misread how fragile the political order had become.
  2. Many believed the Pompey–senatorial coalition was still organized and energetic, so they expected it could hold off Caesar.
  3. People thought a negotiated cure was possible, but partisan passions and failures of coordination on both sides blocked compromise and let Caesar gain the advantage.

A demonstration at Shippingport

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Admiral Hyman Rickover was the driving force behind America’s entry into nuclear power, pushing pressurized-water reactors for submarines and leading the Shippingport civilian reactor project.
  2. Shippingport was the first full-scale U.S. civilian nuclear plant built as a government-industry demonstration; it proved the technology but was costly and not yet economical, while creating much of the industrial know‑how for later reactors.
  3. Nuclear power grew out of wartime weapons programs and Cold War politics, and policy choices—like Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace and the 1954 Atomic Energy Act—shifted development toward private industry even as concerns about safety, cost, and proliferation persisted.

2025 Reading List

Nemets • 219 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
💾 History Military History
  1. Canada’s political identity is fragile and regionally divided, with strong provincial differences and historic ties to both Britain and the United States shaping competing loyalties. Constitutional and judicial changes have amplified these divides and made separatist movements and political strain more plausible.
  2. Legal and institutional shifts—especially expanded judicial review and civil‑rights era policies—have empowered courts and bureaucracies to reshape public life and corporate practices, producing wide cultural and administrative effects often called “woke.” These changes can discipline institutions without mass mobilization, but they also weaken direct democratic accountability.
  3. Geography, migration, and demography drive political outcomes: settlement patterns, resource booms, and cross‑border movements shaped provinces and regions and altered national trajectories. Paying attention to these material forces helps explain why states change, fragment, or endure.

Eternal 1942

Castalia • 479 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
💾 History Military History
  1. The research and writing process can feel like stepping into another time, as the author immersed himself in 1942 to better understand that historical period. This experience helped him connect with his characters and the events they were navigating.
  2. In 1942, many believed that fascism showed efficiency and strength compared to liberal democracies, but by the end of the year, perspectives shifted as victories by the Allies began to change the tide of World War II.
  3. The legacy of understanding Nazism as a unique evil has shaped modern politics, leading to a focus on identifying and combatting extremism, something that continues to influence current political discussions.

When did medieval Europe overtake Rome?

Wrong Side of History • 455 implied HN points • 13 Aug 25
💾 History Military History
  1. Medieval Europe advanced in military technology earlier than Rome, primarily due to innovations like the stirrup that changed how warfare was conducted. This new technology allowed for more effective cavalry charges that Romans couldn't achieve.
  2. Population in medieval Europe began to rise significantly after the Dark Ages, eventually reaching levels that matched or exceeded ancient Rome. By the 12th and 13th centuries, cities like London were growing rapidly, highlighting the increase in urban life.
  3. Medieval architecture and other technologies improved considerably after the Roman era, marking a period of advancement. Buildings like cathedrals began to tower over Roman structures, showcasing medieval ingenuity and development.

Wagner, Two Years On

ChinaTalk • 578 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🌍 World Politics Military History
  1. The Wagner Group's uprising in 2023 was a major event that changed how the Russian government views internal threats. It showed they are more worried about armed groups than regular protests now.
  2. Wagner succeeded in bypassing the usual security controls in the Russian military, which mainly kept coups at bay. This highlighted weaknesses in the system that authorities didn’t see coming.
  3. Feelings of victimhood can lead countries to act irrationally. Just like Russia, other nations, including the U.S., can get caught in a cycle of resentment, which can cloud their judgment and provoke conflict.

January 9, 2026

Letters from an American • 43 implied HN points • 10 Jan 26
💾 History Military History
  1. Fascism is rule by a small elite that seizes control of political, economic, social, and cultural life, suppresses civil liberties, and uses force, racism, and warlike propaganda to stay in power.
  2. Fascists rise by dividing people through hate campaigns, pitting religious, racial, and economic groups against one another, promoting extreme nationalism, and labeling opponents as enemies while dressing their message in patriotic language.
  3. Preventing fascism means being alert and active in defending democracy: protect everyone's rights, fight indifference and ignorance, make democratic institutions work, and support international cooperation.

MY LAI, AND ITS OMENS

Seymour Hersh • 58 implied HN points • 26 Dec 25
💾 History Military History
  1. US soldiers in 1968 killed large numbers of Vietnamese civilians at My Lai and nearby hamlets, and very few people were held accountable for those massacres.
  2. A Pentagon Inspector General study in 1967 found that many troops didn’t understand the Geneva Conventions and some admitted they would mistreat or kill prisoners; that report was rewritten or shelved and not acted on.
  3. The failure to train, enforce, and respond to those warnings helped create conditions for atrocities and cover-ups, highlighting a need for stronger training and accountability in wartime.

Appeasement at Munich

Thinking about... • 775 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🌍 World Politics Military History
  1. History shows that appeasing aggressors can lead to greater conflicts. Just like in 1938, giving in can make things worse in the long run.
  2. Ukraine’s resistance has changed the situation. By fighting back, they have prevented further aggression and have kept a major conflict from escalating.
  3. If the U.S. supports appeasement, it risks creating a stronger aggressor. A Russian victory over Ukraine could lead to more wars and even nuclear threats in the future.

Influences in Nelson's early career

The Common Reader • 956 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
💾 History Military History
  1. Horatio Nelson had a strong connection to the sea from a young age, inspired by the sights and sounds of ships passing by his home. This led him to start his naval career at just twelve years old.
  2. Nelson's family had a significant influence on his life and ambitions. His father's poetic nature and his mother's strong feelings, especially against the French, shaped his worldview and determination.
  3. Despite facing challenges, including illness, Nelson remained ambitious and aimed for glory throughout his career. He recognized the passage of time and worked hard to achieve his dreams.

The scum of England

Wrong Side of History • 223 implied HN points • 29 Jul 25
💾 History Military History
  1. The 1340s were a really tough time for Europe, with bad weather leading to hunger and misery. People were facing multiple disasters, making life extremely difficult.
  2. Natural disasters like earthquakes and crop failures contributed to the suffering of the population. There were also reports of unusual occurrences, like giant swarms of locusts.
  3. During this time, England was involved in the Hundred Years War, which brought more chaos to France. Many of the soldiers were from the worst backgrounds, as they were often people their communities wanted to get rid of.

Sunrise: Japan's Leap for Empire

Big Serge Thought • 3 implied HN points • 20 Feb 26
💾 History Military History
  1. The Pacific War was a uniquely vast and complex conflict fought across a contiguous oceanic theater, using air, submarine, surface, and amphibious forces and often resembling positional, continental-style warfare despite being fought from the sea.
  2. Japan had no single coherent grand strategy; the protracted war in China turned into a crippling resource sink that forced mobilization, worsened Army–Navy rivalry, and pushed Tokyo into desperate, contradictory choices that made southern expansion and confrontation more likely.
  3. U.S. policy of escalating economic pressure—most importantly the effective oil embargo after Japan’s move into Indochina—helped corner Japan and create the political will for war, and the eventual American victory relied not just on industrial overmatch but on decisive early battles and operational innovations like the fast carrier task force, amphibious doctrine, and submarine warfare.

December 28, 2025

Letters from an American • 29 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
💾 History Military History
  1. Soldiers turned a surrendered Lakota camp into a massacre, firing into the camp and then hunting down men, women, and children, killing roughly 250 people.
  2. The Lakota had surrendered and were cooperating the night before, so there was still a real chance to prevent the slaughter if commanders had acted differently.
  3. The episode shows how fear, escalation, and poor decisions can produce preventable atrocities, and it reminds us that studying the past matters because the future can still be changed.

History, Institutions and Economics

David Friedman’s Substack • 206 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
💾 History Military History
  1. The British navy was very successful during the Napoleonic Wars because of its unique way of rewarding officers, like giving them prize money for capturing enemy ships. This made them motivated to take risks and perform well.
  2. Promotion in the navy was not just about being good at your job; it also depended on seniority and connections. An officer's family ties could significantly influence their career path more than their skills could.
  3. Systems of patronage in the premodern era helped control military and civil positions, but they relied heavily on trust. This meant that if an appointed officer didn't perform well, it could cost them their position, reflecting a mix of personal bonds and professional responsibilities.