Category: Odd Facts
Dutch Weapons and American Independence – How the United Provinces Made a Fortune Supplying Muskets in the Revolutionary War
“Until the Netherlands was drawn into war with Britain on the side of France and Spain, the carefully neutral Dutch Republic was better known for its weapons than its tulips.” By John Danielski PRIOR TO…
The Missing Legion – Rome’s ‘Lego IX Hispana’ Disappears from History in the 2nd Century AD. Was it Wiped Out in Britain?
“This historical conundrum has grabbed the attention of academics and the public for hundreds of years.” Dr. Simon Elliott THE FATE OF the 5,500 men of legio IX Hispana is one of the greatest historical…
The Brown Bess – A New Twist on How Britain’s Famous Musket Got Its Name
“The moniker first appeared in print in 1785, yet it clearly had been in soldierly use for a good many years before. The two explanations usually offered for its origin have proven as anachronistic as…
The Battle of Carrhae – How Crassus Led Rome’s Legions to Slaughter in Mesopotamia
“It was one man’s quest for glory and riches that doomed the lives of five legions. It would not be the last war Rome would fight against the Parthians but it was one that was…
The Rise of U.S. Navy Codebreaking – America’s Cryptanalysis Coup at Midway Was 20 Years in the Making
“The work required painstaking concentration, faultless attention to minute details, and the ability to recognize nearly invisible patterns.” By Walter S. Topp WHEN THE Japanese Navy’s powerful aircraft carrier strike force approached Midway Atoll…
The 10th Mountain Division – 10 Facts About America’s Elite Alpine Warriors of WW2
“The 10th Mountain Division was an elite unit, trained to fight on skis, climb mountains, and thrive in cold weather.” By Christopher Mars THE NIGHT OF Feb. 18, 1945 promised to be a quiet one…
