What Exactly Were the Aztec Flower Wars?
From the fourteenth- to the sixteenth-century, the Aztecs built one of the most impressive empires in world history. From their capital, Tenochtitlan, built from reclaimed land in Lake Texcoco in central Mexico, the Aztecs methodically conquered most of the...
Would The US Military Survive A Nuclear War?
Ever since the first atomic weapon was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945 people have wondered what would happen to themselves, their nation, and their military if another weapon was used. Seeing people quickly turned to dust in an atomic explosion and large swarths...
Escaping Slavery On The Maritime Underground Railroad
Slavery has left an indelible mark upon American history and its effects are still felt today. Many are familiar with the Underground Railroad which crisscrossed the lands of America taking enslaved people to freedom, but there is an additional lesser known, but still...
Did You Know that All British Tanks have been Equipped with Tea-making Facilities?
Did you know that British tanks have a unique feature that sets them apart? Since introducing the British Centurion MBT (main battle tank) in late 1945, all British tanks and most armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) have been equipped with tea-making facilities....
During World War I, the French Built a “Fake Paris”
In a clever ploy during World War I, the French government devised a plan to deceive the German air force. Engineers were tasked with constructing a replica of Paris, strategically positioned just a few kilometers away from the real city. This decoy Paris was...
Since the end of WWI, over 1,000 people have died from leftover unexploded bombs
A recent study conducted by Yale University has revealed alarming findings about the stability of unexploded bombs from World War I and World War II. Over time, these dormant explosives have become increasingly volatile, raising the risk of accidental detonations....
The American Soldiers Who Guarded Saddam Hussein in His Last Weeks Genuinely Grieved for Him
In a surprising turn of events, during Saddam Hussein's final days in 2006, an unexpected camaraderie seemed to develop between him and his American guards. Despite the intense animosity surrounding his regime, one soldier's reaction to a crowd's taunting demonstrated...
Egyptians Once Lost a Battle Because Their Enemies had Cats on Their Shields
The Battle of Pelusium marked a significant turning point in Egyptian history, leading to the transfer of power to Cambyses II of Persia. The Persians employed a unique strategy that capitalized on the Egyptians' deep reverence for all forms of life, particularly...
The Last “Official” Civil War Widow Died in 2020
Helen Viola Jackson, the last known widow of a Civil War veteran, passed away on December 16, 2020, marking the end of an era in American history. Born in 1919, just after the conclusion of World War I, Helen grew up in the small town of Niangua, Missouri, surrounded...
If We Held a Minute of Silence for Every Victim of the Holocaust, the World Would Be Silent for 11.5 Years
The Holocaust remains one of the most devastating tragedies in human history, particularly for European Jewry. The sheer magnitude of the loss is difficult to comprehend, with approximately two-thirds of European Jews and one-third of all world Jewry perishing during...
Napoleon Bonaparte was Once Attacked by a Horde of Bunnies
Legend has it that Napoleon Bonaparte, the famous French leader, had a rather unusual encounter in July 1807 while out hunting to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Tilsit. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, with Napoleon and his entourage ready to enjoy...
Two Cities in Italy Got into a War Over a Bucket
In 1325, a peculiar conflict erupted between two Italian city-states, Bologna and Modena, known as the War of the Bucket or the War of the Oaken Bucket. This war manifested the longstanding rivalry between the Guelphs and Ghibellines, two opposing factions that vied...
More Planes were Destroyed in WW2 than Currently Exist on Earth Today
During the tumultuous years of World War II, the skies witnessed a staggering number of aircraft engaged in combat, training exercises, and various other missions. While pinpointing the exact tally of planes lost during this global conflict remains elusive, records...
Japan Wanted to Keep Fighting After the 2 Atomic Bombs were Dropped
After the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan hesitated to surrender for several reasons. Firstly, they were determined to retain their emperor, an essential figure in Japanese culture and tradition. Additionally, they desired to...
Germany Uncovers 2,000 Tons of Unexploded Bombs Every Year
During World War II, the Allied forces dropped about 1.3 million tons of bombs on Germany. Even today, more than 75 years later, many unexploded remnants are still being discovered. Until 1945, American and British air forces dropped 2.7 million tons of bombs on...
Ford Motor Company Sued the US Government for Bombing Its Factories in Nazi Germany
Ford Motor Company took legal action against the US government for bombing its factories in Nazi Germany. Recently disclosed Nazi documents revealed that Ford Motor Company was among 500 firms connected to Auschwitz, as announced by Polish officials. This revelation...
The Pardon of the Japanese who ran Unit 731 in exchange for their findings
The US government worked with Japanese war criminals to gather data and technologies for creating biological and chemical weapons. These war criminals had conducted cruel experiments on innocent Chinese people during Japan's invasion of China. Much of the data they...
Two Mass Graves of 13th-century Crusaders
Archaeologists in Lebanon recently made a significant discovery, uncovering two mass graves that held the remains of 25 Crusaders who perished in the 13th century. The excavation took place in Sidon, situated on the Mediterranean coast. The team unearthed the...