I'm wondering what periods of history you are most interested in? Also what kind of "expertise" you have in these areas? If we get a lot of responses on this one I'll make this thread a sticky one so we can go back and look at it from time to time. That way if you remember somebody was interested in, Ancient Greece, for example, but you couldn't remember who you could review the thread to find them.

I'll start it off. I've been interested in history since I got my first books out of the Sears Christmas Wish Book. They were Sink the Bismarck, Battle of Britain, The Alamo, and a book on Submarines. This was when I was about 6 if I recall, and I can still remember the books.

I've never had any "formal" training in history. Oh I've taken history courses in college, and would LOVE to be a history major, but there isn't all that much money in that.

I'm pretty much interest in all areas of history up to about 1950. I think it's because I lived through the history since then that it doesn't really interest me as much. If I were to call myself an expert on any one period it's World War II. I'm also very knowledgeable about naval history of all periods, and the Napolenic era. I know very little about ancient history, the middle ages, the 19th century, or some other eras I know people here know a lot more about.

So now if any of you would like to give us a brief run down on your historical interests.

As an archaeologist, I'm interested in rewriting history In particular the view that Britain was regarded as the equivalent of the dark side of the Moon before Claudius sent his troops across. Recent work at Fishbourne has indicated some sort of (possibly military) presence in the early 1st century, definitely pre-dating AD43.

I am a History major at Ball State and am working towards a military science minor (ie ROTC). My history has been WWII through current, initially focusing on the big picture, but recently I've been changing my focus to weapon systems and tactics, and expecially on US weapons and tactics.

Occasionally I'll go back to Greek or Roman history for various military reasons.

Jeff

I love US Military History - but not as a focus of schooling. It is a source of relaxation. My schooling is in Physics and Astronomy and that came into play while in the US Air Force.

So... I research and model US Army Atomic Battlefield Ordnance from the 1950's and 1960's. This is where I also do most commission modeling - as these subjects are not well covered (model kits and reference material) and I'm entertaining authoring a book on the weapon systems used and modeling them in miniature as well as providing hardcore technical descriptions and technology backgrounds on them. Again, to remember what these things were meant to do - hopefully so no one will want to build them again.

I also conduct tours at the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation with author Michael Green, and assisted with editing on his two of his recent books M1 Abrams At War and Humvee At War. He has three more titles in the works right now that I'll assist in editing during 2006.

My portions of the tours at the MVTF focuses on US Military Vehicle technology from WW I to modern day, and being able to translate some of the technical points for young audiences like Boy Scout Troops. Now, I'm seriously considering obtaining Teaching Credentials to pursue that aspect of my hobby further. One of the clients I routinely build models for uses the miniatures as teaching aids in Military History courses he conducts. I've always wanted to do that too. So maybe when I give a tour that Chris "toadman" Hughes remains awake all the way through - I'll consider myself ready to take the next step...

The Astronomy focus manifests itself in Sci-Fi modeling - but on a serious bent. I wanted to be James T. Kirk while growing up in a serious way. I did very well in school and joined the Air Force because of it. However, I learned and really got good with Orbital Mechanics, so I suppose I would have wound up as Hikaru Sulu instead. I taught the Orbital Mechanics portion of my technical training class in Denver - I knew it better than the instructor.

In modeling, I really like both Real Space and Sci-Fi - focusing on the more plausible concepts of navigation and propulsion technology. My favorite is Space: 1999 and the GCNR (Gas Core Nuclear Rocket) technology of that time that was very plausible and has reemerged today as the best employment of nuclear energy propulsion designs yet devised. I always wanted to model a "functional" Eagle Transporter...

So now I've bared my ultra-geek soul to you all...

Gunnie

My main interest is WW2 history. This comes mainly from my father and his friends. His generation served in WW2 (my dad was a belly turret gunner on Liberators with the RAF in the Far East) so I was raised listening to a wide variety of tales from that time, most of them not connected with actual combat but with life in the millatary in that period.

My one regret is that I was too young to doccument these stories and most have been lost with the passing of that generation.

Have had a keen interest in history since I could read. WWII, ACW, OIF are but some of my interests today.

I have a BA History - my last year at college, I took, WWII, The home front and Nazi Germany. My term paper for Nazi Germany - a comparison of German and Russian tanks in WWII. I wanted to do a comparison of the mistakes and Napoleon and Hitler in invading Russia, but the instructor liked the tank comparison better. History GPA - 4 years at college 3.9.

I majored in history in college (calss of 72) with the intent of teaching. There was a glut of history majors about that time with 2 of 50 majoors in my class getting teaching positions. Life intervened and I took a series of jobs to pay the bills (barely!) until falling into work in the state's Department of Metal Retardation nearly 28 years ago.
My interests vary and I'd be hard pressed to call myself an expert on any period. As a Civil War reenactor, I am a good reference on standard Federal uniforms and equipment. I have a pretty good collectins of books on the period (d9oesn't everyon?) I'm also trying to learn more about the French and Indian period, as well as the so calle Indain wars of he 19th Century.

My interests are primarily WW2, due to my dad being involved and hearing his stories. I have no formal history education, just several hundred books under my belt. I never tire of discovering new, sometimes hugely important, aspects of that time period. The scale was so vast I'll never learn everything there is to know.

My awe of that generation grows with everything I learn. After all, history is nothing more than peoples' lives. Real flesh and blood, with dreams and desires just like you and me. I never forget that.

Maybe that's why I build dioramas. The figures (people) are the story, not the tanks or whatever.

Barry

Hey now! What's that supposed to mean? :-) :-) It's not that I fall asleep, it's that I have pictures to take when my part of giving the tour is over.

As for me, I minored in military history and have a B.A. in political science with a concentration in international relations. I've been interested in military history since I was a kid with my focus being on WW II. I'll dip into other timeframes as well.

Chris "toadman" Hughes
Toadman's Tank Pictures

Hi, No formal training here either, just lots and lots of reading on various time periods.

Mostly this centers around World War II, ETO and the Eastern Front, a little World War I, the American Civil War, the various colonial wars here in America, Nat. Am. history and their religious practices and all that that entails.

Thankfully the only time period I find my self taking any sides on would be most anything concering the American Indians and their issues with the Euro-Americans down over the last 600 or so years. Other than that I really don't care who was in the right or who was in the wrong on any other time period in question.

Take care, Larry

My interest i's quite narrow because my interest is mainly on the Italian Cavalry units and it's vehicles. Something about 350 years all in all...
Ciao
Fabio

I majored in HIstory at the Virginia Military Institue. We didn't specialize, but I would say Military History would be it. I spent three years active duty, got out and worked on a second degree in Business Admin at Alabama. Took several graduate level History courses just to do it, so I am probably at a Master's level. I like Cvil War (gee--what a surprize there) as well as post World War 1 to date. I also delve back into ancient. Like my quote says....." those who don't learn from history....."

No formal education in history, just widely read. Am interested in military history primarily from WW2 to the present, but specificlly with ground warfare. I served in combat as an infantryman, that is my speciality (if any) and is reflected in my modelling (figs with the occasional track or chopper).

I also enjoy stepping back to look at Greece, Rome, and the Crusades too.

Bona fide History Geek in all aspects, minored in History in college, (many years ago!) but always on the study for more! WWII, Korean Conflict, my main military history interests, but I devour everything that I can!
Gunny

I have a BA in History from Washington State University with a minor in Poli Sci. My interest in history goes back to my Dad telling me stories about his 27 years in the USAAF/USAF, watching any and every movie and documentary dealing with history, and several books in my elementary school library.
I focussed my studies at WSU on ancient and medieval history, since I'd done plenty of study on US and post-Renaissance European history in high school and on my own. I also took quite a few courses on Asian and Middle Eastern history, as well as classes focussed on the Revolutionary and American Civil wars. My senior thesis was a critical evaluation of Caesar's campaigns in Britain in 55 and 54 BC. I'm proud (even a bit smug) to say that I was one of only 2 students in my class of 15 to get an "A" on their paper.
Now, I read just about anything and everything I can on history from the ancient Greeks up to OIF.

Well, when i got to secondary two history, i got 60 percent on the first term, then finished the year with a 99 on my end of year examination. Secondary four history is cumpolsory in Quebec so i passed that with high marks and began an interest for Canadian politics and quebec history. Then i took secondary five world history as an option and im currantly at a 97 average so far during the year.

My history teacher, Mr. Goodman, owns a book buisness and has a masters in 18th century british military. We usualy discuss history a lot after class and he invited me to go to his house to visit his book and have a bbq with a few other students. He basicly sells historique books around the world.

Im interested in basicly everything i have learned, from Canadian history, to the russian revolution, world war one etc.

Frank

Hey all I am a history graduate from University of Toronto class of 90.

My degree was called a history specialist.

In my 4 years of University 75 % of my courses were history.

My specialty was American history. My minor was military history.

American history was my choice because I felt it was a good idea and try to understand our neighbours to the south. I am still trying

I decided against a masters and phd, though I may go back to school some day...

I prefer history prior to 1970 (when i was aware enough to understand or question the goings on in the world).

I am reading some art history stuff at the moment. But am waiting for a book on the Vietnam war to arrive.

Any good reads on the Vietnam war you can recommend?

Cheers, Michael

Graduate in military history with post-grad work on U.S. Force Projection with particular emphasis on the creation of CentCom (and the political ascendancy of the Green Machine during the 1980s )

My interests vary widely from the War in the Peninsula to WW2. Particular areas of interest are the Spanish Civil War, the campaigns in NW Europe in WW2. The real 'specialized' areas are in the African-Americans in WW2, Polish Armored Formations in Italy and NW Europe (both areas appallingly covered) with sidebars on British Light Infantry, the Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th century, the KV tank and the formation of Spanish armored forces from 1938...Jim

Not sure that Polish armour isn't better covered than British, particularly for the Italian campaign

http://www.barbarossabooks.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_150

http://www.barbarossabooks.co.uk/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=6_149

Not in English it isn't - the Acromy To Zwyciezcy books are excellent by the way, I picked up 3 of them in Poland last year - by the way, the three probably cost me around a tenner ..Jim

Too true, at least it's easier to battle through the photo captions than books in Cyrillic or Japanese

I guess I could be considered a certified history junkie. I graduated with a degree in American studies concentrating primarily on colonial America and the post reconstruction period through the Second World War (1880-1948).
However, aside from formal education, I am a prolific reader of anything related to history; my humble library at home is a testament to a diverse interest in anything historical.

Hi all,

My Background: I have a Master's Degree in (general) American History with an emphasis on Museum Studies. I did an internship at a small, local history museum in Alton, IL and served as Diretor of the Floyd County Historical Society and Museum in Charles City, IA. I am no longer working in the history/museum fields.

My Interest: Since resuming my involvement in modeling I have become more and more interested in German Armored warfare in World War II. The Eastern Front has increasingly become my main interest.

Scott

Coming from a small Highland Glen where my mother spoke of the English as The Redcoats,sparked off my interest in local history,since then my world has expanded in to world history,but i am still a local boy whennit comes to Clan History.
Arthur

Growing up I was always taught to have a strong repsect for my elders. I think that this transferred into a intrest in history and those that came before us. As a Marine Corps veteran I am particularly interested in Marine Corps history and am proud to have several friends that were involved in the battle for Chosin Resevoir in Korea. I also am fascinated by Nazi Germany because it is so far from what I know in the modern day U.S.. I love to read accounts of WWII from all sides and appreciate the sacrifices made by those fighting. Also I love German AFV's for their many technological advances and broad variations.