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An Overview of the Cursed Soldiers!

Introduction The “cursed soldiers” (also known as “doomed soldiers”, “accursed soldiers” or “damned soldiers”; Polish: żołnierze wyklęci) or “indomitable soldiers” (Polish: żołnierze niezłomni) is a term applied to a variety of anti-Soviet imperialist and anti-communist Polish resistance movements formed in the later stages of World War II and its aftermath by members of the Polish… Read More

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What were the Volunteer Fighting Corps?

Introduction Volunteer Fighting Corps (国民義勇戦闘隊, Kokumin Giyū Sentōtai) were armed civil defence units planned in 1945 in the Empire of Japan as a last desperate measure to defend the Japanese home islands against the projected Allied invasion during Operation Downfall (Ketsugo Sakusen) in the final stages of World War II. They were the Japanese equivalent… Read More

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What was the Commando Order?

Introduction The Commando Order (German: Kommandobefehl) was issued by the OKW, the high command of the German armed forces, on 18 October 1942 (refer to World War II). This order stated that all Allied commandos captured in Europe and Africa should be summarily executed without trial, even if in proper uniforms or if they attempted… Read More

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What was a Japanese Holdout?

Introduction Japanese holdouts (Japanese: 残留日本兵, romanised: Zanryū nipponhei, lit. ’remaining Japanese soldiers’) were soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army and Imperial Japanese Navy during the Pacific Theatre of World War II who continued fighting after the surrender of Japan at the end of the war. Japanese holdouts either doubted the veracity of the formal surrender, were… Read More

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What is a Crime of Aggression?

Introduction A crime of aggression or crime against peace is the planning, initiation, or execution of a large-scale and serious act of aggression using state military force. The definition and scope of the crime is controversial. The Rome Statute contains an exhaustive list of acts of aggression that can give rise to individual criminal responsibility,… Read More

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A Brief Overview of the Australian Department of Labour and National Service

Introduction The Department of Labour and National Service was an Australian government department that existed between 28 October 1940 and 19 December 1972. Refer to World War II and Demobilisation of the Australian military after World War II. Scope Information about the department’s functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements… Read More

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An Overview of the Demobilisation of the Australian Military after World War II

Introduction The demobilisation of the Australian military after World War II involved discharging almost 600,000 men and women from the military, supporting their transition to civilian life and reducing the three armed services to peacetime strengths. Planning for the demobilisation process began in 1942 and thousands of servicemen and women were discharged in the last… Read More