Until the Vietnam War, the number of U. S. soldiers killed in the Civil War (approximately 620,000 casualties) surpassed all other wars combined.

World War I was known as "The War to End All Wars". It has also, at various times, been referred to as the First World War, the Great War, and the War of the Nations. This worldwide conflict, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, holds several dubious distinction, including the first use of chemical weapons and the first mass bombardment of civilians from the sky.

The last execution in the Tower of London took place during World War II when Josef Jakobs, a German soldier, was captured while parachuting into England. After a quick trial in Brixton, he was convicted of espionage, brought to the Tower, and executed by firing squad on August 14, 1941.

Winston Churchill filled several prominent positions during World War I including Minister of Munitions and First Lord of the Admiralty, as well as serving on the War Council. At the outbreak of World War II, Churchill was again appointed First Lord of the Admiralty. Then, on May 10, 1940, in the midst of the Second World War, he became Prime Minister of Great Britain.

The Battle of Actium took place on September 2, 31 BC. In perhaps the best remembered battle of the Roman Civil War, Octavian's fleet, commanded by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, defeated Mark Antony's fleet as well as the fleet of his wife Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt. Octavian, later known as Princeps Augustus, went on to become the first Roman Emperor.

The Battle of Yamen occurred on March 19, 1279, near present-day Xinhui County, Guangdong Province. This battle effectively ended the Song Dynasty and, according to legend, prompted a high official to jump from a clifftop into the sea with the boy emperor Song Di Bing in his arms, drowning them both.

In World War II, the youngest serviceman in the U.S. military was Calvin Graham -- age 12. Graham lied about his age when he enlisted in the Navy. His real age wasn't discovered until after he was wounded in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Poison gas was used by both sides during the Great War, while blood banks and plastic surgery were developed to treat wounded soldiers.

Manfred von Richthofen, also known as the Red Baron, was considered the ace-of-aces during the Great War and remains perhaps the most widely known fighter pilot of all time.

On April 27, 1861, Colonel Jackson took command at Harpers Ferry, where he would assemble and command the famous "Stonewall Brigade", consisting of the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 27th, and 33rd Virginia Infantry regiments. Jackson's brigade suffered more casualties than any other Southern brigade that day but stopped the Union assault, earning him the nickname Stonewall Jackson.