The largest conflict in history, World War II saw unprecedented losses and forever altered the landscape. Here we invite veterans and those from the home front to share their experiences about this global conflict. This is a place for all those involved to communicate their personal stories and those of family members who may not have made it home.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center

September 7, 1812 - Russian and French forces clash at the Battle of Borodino. Invading Russia in mid-1812, Napoleon sought to quickly defeat the enemy. Hampered by infighting and surprised by the speed of the French advance, the Russians repeatedly failed to establish a defensive line and fell back towards Moscow. Pursuing the enemy, the French supply situation became desperate as they penetrated deep into Russia. Turning, Prince Mikhail Kutuzov was able to assume strong defensive position near Borodino. After preliminary actions on September 5 and 6, Napoleon elected to conduct a series of frontal assaults on the Russian lines. Moving forward on September 7, they succeeded in capturing the Russian defenses, but at a heavy cost. Though beaten, Kutuzov's army was able to withdraw and remained a threat. In the wake of the battle, Napoleon occupied Moscow, but was forced to begin a disastrous retreat east due to supply issues.

September 6-12, 1914 - Allied forces halt the Germans at the First Battle of the Marne. With the beginning of World War I, German forces drove through Belgium and into France as dictated by the Schlieffen Plan. Pushed back, French forces under Gen. Joseph Joffre (right) retreated to a line behind the Marne River. Approaching Paris, the German First and Second Armies veered southeast from their intended line of advance exposing the extreme German right. Taking advantage, Joffre moved the French Sixth Army to attack. This was detected by the German First Army which turned west to meet the enemy on September 5. In doing so, it opened a 30-mile gap in the German line. Spotted by the Allies, Joffre ordered the French Fifth Army and the British Expeditionary Force to exploit the hole. Between September 6 and 9, the Allies advanced, threatening the two German armies with encirclement and destruction. Faced with little alternative, the Chief of the German General Staff, Helmuth von Moltke, was forced to abandon the Schlieffen Plan and order a retreat back to the Aisne River. The defeat at the Marne doomed Germany to fighting a two-front war.

Photograph Source: Public Domain

While the British had hoped to limit the conflict to North America, this was dashed when the French invaded Minorca in 1756. Subsequent operations saw the British ally with the Prussians against the French, Austrians, and Russians. Quickly invading Saxony, Frederick the Great (right) defeated the Austrians at Lobositz that October. The following year saw Prussia come under heavy pressure after the Duke of Cumberland's Hanoverian army was defeated by the French at the Battle of Hastenbeck. Despite this, Frederick was able to rescue the situation with key victories at Rossbach and Leuthen. Overseas, the British were defeated in New York at the Siege of Fort William Henry, but won a decisive victory at the Battle of Plassey in India.

Photograph Source: Public Domain