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All images via Wikimedia Commons:- Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Queen_Elizabeth_the_Queen_Mother_portrait.jpg
- World War II: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_101I-646-5188-17,_Flugzeuge_Junkers_Ju_87.jpg
-...

Her legacy as Queen Mother endured for over five decades. She lived to 101, witnessing the reign of her daughter Elizabeth II and becoming one of the longest-lived members of the British royal family.

By war's end, her public image had changed dramatically—she was a pillar of morale. You'll often see the claim that Hitler called her "the most dangerous woman in Europe," but that attribution is hard to verify and is treated by some references as apocryphal.

Her role wasn't just symbolic. She reportedly learned to use a pistol as a precaution in case of a parachutist raid or invasion scare, one of those very 1940 "just in case" plans.

The royal family often slept at Windsor for safety while keeping a public presence in London. Queen Elizabeth visited bomb sites, hospitals and factories, becoming a key morale symbol during the Blitz.

There were proposals to evacuate Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret to Canada/overseas. Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) reportedly refused: "The children won't go without me. I won't leave without the King. And the King will never leave."

Buckingham Palace was hit during the Blitz (notably on 13 Sept 1940). Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) reportedly said: "I am glad we have been bombed. Now we can look the East End in the eye".

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All images via Wikimedia Commons:- Stephen Timoshenko: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Timoshenko_Stephen.jpg

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All images via Wikimedia Commons:- Reginald Blomfield: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reginald_Blomfield-1921.jpg

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All images via Wikimedia Commons:- Gulf War: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WarGulf_photobox.jpg
- Highway of Death: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Demolished_vehicles_line_Highway_80_on_18_Apr_1991.jpg

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Decades later, the Highway of Death remains a critical case study in military ethics. It compels examination of the realities of aerial supremacy and the persistent moral dilemmas in armed conflict. #MilitaryHistory #Ethics

The graphic imagery helped shape public perception, and some writers suggest it was one factor in Bush's decision to suspend offensive operations on Feb 28, 1991, alongside diplomatic and coalition-management pressures.

The 'Highway of Death' became a powerful symbol. For some, it was the brutal but necessary conclusion of Desert Storm. For others, evidence of a potential war crime.

Immediately, questions arose. Was this a legitimate attack on a retreating enemy army? Or a disproportionate slaughter of soldiers who were no longer a threat? The debate ignited.

The aftermath was devastating. Estimates suggest between 1,400 to 2,000 vehicles were hit or abandoned on Highway 80 (with more on nearby routes). The exact human casualty count remains contested by historians, with figures ranging from hundreds to several thousand, illustrating the 'fog of war'.

A-10 Warthogs, F-15Es, and other aircraft systematically destroyed vehicles along a 60 kilometers stretch. The images showed a landscape of burnt-out tanks, trucks, and cars.

On February 26-27, 1991, US-led coalition aircraft spotted the retreating convoy. The order was given: stop the Iraqi forces from escaping. The highway became a kill zone.

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All images via Wikimedia Commons:- Philip V of Spain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Felipe_V_de_Espa%C3%B1a.jpg

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