Military

Western Front (World War I) Main theatre of war in Western Europe during World War I: a long, static front of trenches from the North Sea to Switzerland, marked by attrition, new weapons and the Allied 1918 b…

White Army (Russian Civil War) White Army Loose coalition of anti-Bolshevik forces during the Russian Civil War, composed of monarchists, liberals, Cossacks, clergy and others; ultimately defeated by the Red Army, with las…

White phosphorus A reactive allotrope of phosphorus used for illumination, smoke and incendiary purposes; toxic and tightly regulated under international humanitarian law.

Wild Weasel — SEAD aircraft and tactics Wild Weasel Wild Weasel refers to aircraft and crews specialized in Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD), seeking and destroying enemy radar, missiles and anti-aircraft systems to protect…

William Westmoreland United States Army general who led U.S. military operations in Vietnam (1964–68), later served as Army Chief of Staff, and became a controversial figure for his attrition strategy…

Winter War (1939–1940): Soviet–Finnish conflict Winter War Brief account of the Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland, covering causes, campaign, tactics, outcome and significance in the wider Second World War context.

Wisconsin in the American Civil War Overview of Wisconsin’s mobilization, principal units, theaters of service, casualties, and legacy during the U.S. Civil War (Union side).

Military Withdrawal (Retreat): Definition, Types, and Key Considerations Withdrawal (military) A military withdrawal (retreat) is the organized pulling back of forces. This article explains types, purposes, methods, risks, historical examples and how commanders manage retrea…

Wolseley Expedition (1870): Federal Response to the Red River Rebellion Wolseley Expedition British-Canadian military expedition led by Colonel Garnet Wolseley in 1870 to assert federal authority in the Red River region and confront the provisional government of Louis Rie…

Woomera Test Range — Australian weapons and aerospace test area Woomera Test Range A large Australian defence test area in South Australia managed by the RAAF. A restricted land and airspace used for weapons, missile, aerospace and space tracking trials and relat…

World War II A global war from 1937 to 1945 that involved the Allies and the Axis, caused massive civilian loss, and ended with Allied victory and the dawn of the nuclear age.

XM8 rifle: a lightweight 5.56 mm modular weapon developed by Heckler & Koch XM8 rifle The XM8 is a lightweight, modular 5.56 mm rifle family developed by Heckler & Koch in the 2000s and evaluated by the US Army for its reliability, ergonomics and variants before pro…

Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) A multifaction war that began after Houthi forces seized Sanaa in 2014 and escalated with a 2015 Saudi-led intervention. The conflict has fragmented Yemen and produced a major huma…

Yom Kippur War (October 1973) Yom Kippur War A brief, neutral overview of the 1973 Yom Kippur War between Israel and a coalition led by Egypt and Syria, its military course, international role, and political consequences.

Zam Zama (Zam-zammah): the historic cannon of Punjab Zam Zama Zam Zama is an 18th‑century large metal cannon cast in Lahore, celebrated for its military role, recovery by Sikh forces, later display in Lahore, and literary fame through Rudyard…