The twentieth century Joan of Arc

April 4, 2008

During the First World War, women were mobilized on an unprecedented scale. Some of them, mainly Russian, wouldn’t be satisfied working in the rear and would eventually enroll in the army. Maria Bochkareva stood out among all of them. She was born to a poor peasant family and fought in the frontline from the very beginning of the war. She was wounded in several occasions, formed the so-called ‘women’s battalions of death’, got the highest honors and became a worldwide famous charismatic leader. She was executed by the Bolsheviks when she was just 30 years old.

Maria Leontievna Bochkareva

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Bringing down planes with balloons

March 22, 2008

Like all great armed conflicts, the Second World War brought an industrial and technological revolution to all warring nations. Oddly enough, despite the military innovation of that period, to fight bombings over cities and other strategic targets, armies turned to an 18th century invention: aerostats. Moored balloons played a key role in the defense of London, the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of Moscow, where this system was employed in its most massive and sophisticated way.

Soviet barrage balloon being lowered in 1945

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Cold War blazing skies

February 24, 2008

Last week, strategic bombers Tu-95 caused the most serious incidents since Russia resumed its long-range air patrols: they violated the Japanese airspace and flew twice at low altitude over the aircraft-carrier USS Nimitz. The return of these giants of the sky brings back memories of the legendary Cold War oceanic flights, filled with incidents and anecdotes ranging from scratches and collisions in flight to pilots from both sides waving to each other while showing Playboy magazines.

Tu-95MS about to refuel in flight