Monroe Publications

26/07/2025

🇮🇹 Operation Husky: The Invasion of Sicily – July 1943

On July 10, 1943, Allied forces launched Operation Husky, the large-scale invasion of Sicily during World War II. It was one of the war’s biggest amphibious and airborne operations, involving American, British, and Canadian troops.

The campaign led to the capture of Sicily and opened the door to the Allied advance into mainland Italy. It marked a key moment in the Mediterranean theater.

18/06/2025

On November 30, 1939, the Soviet Union invaded Finland, beginning the Winter War. Outnumbered nearly 3 to 1, the Finns used guerrilla tactics, skis, and deep knowledge of the terrain to hold off a much larger Soviet force. Temperatures dropped below -40°C, and white-clad Finnish soldiers ambushed Soviet columns in the forests, disrupting supply lines and using makeshift weapons like Molotov cocktails. Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä became a legend with over 500 confirmed kills. The war ended on March 13, 1940, with Finland forced to cede 11% of its territory, but it maintained independence. Soviet losses were staggering—over 100,000 dead—revealing major flaws in the Red Army just before WWII escalated further.

25/05/2025

⚓️ The Battle of Jutland – May 31 to June 1, 1916

The largest naval battle of World War I — and the only full-scale clash of battleships — raged in the North Sea between the British Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet and the German High Seas Fleet.

Though both sides claimed victory, the strategic outcome favored Britain. The German fleet never again challenged British naval dominance in open waters.

Over 250 ships and 100,000 sailors took part. By the end, over 8,500 men were dead or wounded — and the age of dreadnought supremacy would never look the same.

09/05/2025

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. On this day in 1945, N**i Germany officially surrendered to the Allied forces, bringing nearly six years of war on the European continent to an end. Across Britain, France, the United States, and liberated nations throughout Europe, crowds gathered to celebrate the defeat of tyranny and the beginning of peace.

For millions, VE Day was a moment of both joy and solemn remembrance. While the war in Europe had ended, the global conflict was not yet over, as fighting continued in the Pacific theater until Japan’s surrender in August 1945.

VE Day reminds us of the resilience of civilians under occupation, the courage of Allied troops who fought across land, sea, and air, and the immense human cost of global conflict. Over 70 million people died during World War II — soldiers, resistance fighters, Holocaust victims, and civilians alike.

13/04/2025

Here is a Tampa Bay local news channel report on the passing of recent local hero, William "Bill" Monfort, who passed away April 6 at age 108. World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served as a radioman and chief radioman throughout the war in the Pacific.

https://www.fox13news.com/video/1621758?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR54DkveWeM04jI6DXp63fxAyVvDTmmxY58pIBzXedunPHNL0QIhPpa-rlJj9A_aem_OWhTnvveke2SvjrLJW-HvA

FOX 13’s Lloyd Sowers reports on Bill Monfort, who was believed to be the oldest living World War II veteran in the Bay Area, passing away at 108.

07/04/2025

The Battle of the Somme began on July 1, 1916, and lasted until November 18, 1916. It was one of the largest and deadliest battles of World War I, fought between the British and French armies against German forces along the Western Front in northern France.

The goal was to break through German lines and relieve pressure on the French army at Verdun. On the very first day, the British suffered over 57,000 casualties, making it the bloodiest day in British military history. Despite months of brutal trench warfare, only about 6 miles of territory were gained.

The battle is known for its heavy use of artillery, barbed wire, machine guns, and trench combat. It also marked the first-ever use of tanks in warfare by the British.

By the end of the 141-day battle, there were over 1 million total casualties on all sides. While the Allies failed to achieve a decisive breakthrough, the battle weakened the German army and changed how future wars would be fought.

17/03/2025

The Battle of Tannenberg, fought from August 26 to August 30, 1914, was a major battle on the Eastern Front of World War I between Germany and Russia. It resulted in a decisive German victory, showcasing superior strategy and coordination. The battle began when two Russian armies, led by General Alexander Samsonov and General Paul von Rennenkampf, launched an invasion of East Prussia. However, poor communication between the Russian commanders allowed the German 8th Army, under Generals Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff, to encircle and annihilate Samsonov’s army. The Germans captured over 90,000 Russian soldiers, while Samsonov’s forces suffered catastrophic losses, leading him to take his own life. The victory at Tannenberg boosted German morale and severely weakened Russian military efforts in the region. Despite this, the Russians successfully diverted German forces from the Western Front, indirectly aiding the Allies in France. The battle remains one of World War I’s most significant early conflicts, demonstrating the impact of superior tactics and coordination in modern warfare.

03/03/2025

The Battle of Anzio (January 22 – June 5, 1944) was a major Allied landing during World War II, meant to go around the German Gustav Line and open the way to Rome. The Allies landed with little resistance, but their commander, General John P. Lucas, hesitated to push forward, giving the Germans time to bring in reinforcements. This led to months of brutal fighting, with heavy artillery fire, trench warfare, and desperate counterattacks from both sides. The soldiers endured terrible conditions as the battle turned into a long and bloody stalemate. Eventually, in late May, the Allies broke through the German defenses, linked up with advancing troops from the south, and captured Rome on June 5, 1944—just one day before the D-Day landings in Normandy. The battle was a costly but important step in the fight to liberate Italy.

20/02/2025

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was born into a world of power and politics, destined to inherit the Austro-Hungarian throne. But instead of simply following tradition, he had big plans to make changes to the empire, hoping to bring reforms and balance to the growing tensions within. His journey was filled with challenges, as Europe was on the brink of war, with nationalism, rivalries, and alliances pulling everyone toward conflict. Franz Ferdinand believed in unity, but the world around him seemed set on division.

Tragically, on June 28, 1914, during a visit to Sarajevo, his life was cut short by an assassin’s bullet, a moment that would ignite the spark of World War I. His death became the starting point of a chain reaction that forever altered the course of history, leading to one of the most devastating wars the world had ever seen. His story reminds us that one person’s fate, in one moment of time, can change the world in ways we can never fully predict.

08/02/2025

Remembering the Gallipoli Campaign (1915-1916) — a brutal WWI battle where Allied forces fought to secure the Dardanelles but faced fierce Ottoman resistance. Months of hardship, heroism, and heavy losses ended in evacuation. A defining moment for Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey.

29/01/2025

The Second Battle of Ypres, fought in April 1915, was a defining and harrowing moment in World War I. It became infamous as the first large-scale use of chemical warfare when German forces unleashed chlorine gas, a terrifying new weapon, against Allied troops. The deadly green-yellow clouds caused chaos, panic, and significant casualties, marking a grim evolution in the nature of war. Despite being unprepared for such a horrific attack, the Allies showed remarkable resilience, managing to hold their ground and prevent a German breakthrough. This battle not only highlighted the devastating impact of modern weaponry but also symbolized the unrelenting perseverance of soldiers in the face of unprecedented horrors.

22/01/2025

Verdun, 1916 — a name forever tied to the brutal realities of war. The Battle of Verdun was one of the longest and most devastating confrontations of World War I, lasting 302 days of relentless combat. It wasn’t just a battle; it was a war of attrition, where neither side could claim an easy victory. The French, determined to defend their homeland, fought fiercely against a relentless German offensive, leading to an unimaginable loss of life. The muddy trenches, the deafening explosions, the cries of soldiers who fought day after day without respite—this was Verdun. Over 700,000 men were either killed or wounded, yet it became a symbol of French resolve and national pride. The French soldiers, known as the ‘Poilus,’ displayed extraordinary bravery and endurance, refusing to yield. The famous words ‘They shall not pass’ echoed through the trenches, a promise of resistance that reverberates through time. Verdun serves as a haunting reminder of the human cost of war, the indomitable will to survive, and the enduring strength of those who faced the unimaginable.