Category: Odd Facts
Fatal Errors — The Worst Friendly Fire Incidents of World War Two
“The fatal air battle at Nis is just one of many examples of allies killing allies that, all told, cost thousands of lives during the Second World War. Here are a few more examples.” NOV. 7, 1944…
Unchained — The Bloody History of Slave Rebellions
“Just about every major slave-owning society from ancient times to the 19th Century has faced slave revolts.” THE EARLIEST written record of slavery, the Code of Hammurabi (1760 BCE), describes the punishment for helping slaves to…
‘The Wipers Times’ — The Satirical Trench Newspaper That Lampooned the Absurdity of War
“Ironic humour was a by-product of the disillusionment, cynicism and a mistrust of authority developed by soldiers during the war. These feelings went on to influence much of pop culture in the decades that followed .”…
Shooting the Messenger — Meet the Journalist Who Was Fired for Breaking the Story of Germany’s Surrender
“Kennedy and his colleagues were flabbergasted when Allied commanders demanded the assembled newsies wait at least 36 hours before releasing the bombshell to the world.” JOURNALISTS ARE NORMALLY congratulated for breaking major news first. But for one…
Battlefield Medicine in the War of 1812 — Surgeons and Survivors Recall the Hellish Conditions of Frontier Field Hospitals
“The weather was intensely hot, the flies were in myriads, depositing their eggs, so that maggots were bred in a few hours, producing dreadful irritation.” By Martin Howard THE War of 1812 is one of…
Operation Unthinkable – Inside Churchill’s Abortive Plan to Drive the Red Army From Eastern Europe
“If the Western Allies could inflict a rapid and crushing defeat on the Red Army, then Stalin would be forced to rethink his planned domination of Eastern Europe.” By Giles Milton AS STALIN’S Red Army…
