Speaking of history, since I started playing SH3, I've gotten rather addicted to this site:
http://www.onwar.com/chrono/
It gives a day-by-day account of the entire war. I like to check it out on the day I start, or end, a patrol in order to get some perspective on what's happening in the broader war on that particular date. There is also fairly decent attention paid to the war at sea, if something significant has happened (say, the sinking of a major battelcruiser).
For instance, on this date (Oct. 5) 1942....
In the Solomon Islands... American planes from the carrier USS Hornet attack Japanese vessels off Bougainville with little success.
Oct 5, 1940...
Over Britain... German fighter bombers, attempting to reach London and southeastern airfields, jettison their bombs over Hastings.
Oct 5, 1939...
In the North Atlantic... Eight British and French hunting groups are formed to hunt for the Admiral Graf Spee (German pocket battleship). At this stage the British and the French can afford to divert considerable forces to such a task. Meanwhile, the German pocket battleship Deutschland sinks the SS Stonegate.
Maybe others will find this entertaining.