15 obscure facts from the depths of WWII history. Even Mike might not know these.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Winston Churchill graduated from Sandhurst military academy, fought in Cuba, India, Sudan, and South Africa. He was captured by the Boers during the Second Boer War and dramatically escaped from a POW camp in Pretoria …
Before WWII reached America, Nazi agent Fritz Julius Kuhn led the German American Bund — a pro-Nazi organization of 25,000 members in the United States. He was so bold that he held a pro-Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden in 1939 with 20,000 attende…
During and after WWII, the 'Monuments Men' recovered over 5 million art objects stolen by the Nazis. But most people don't know about French art curator Jacques Jaujard, who secretly moved the Louvre's entire collection — including the Mona Lisa, Ven…
Eight German saboteurs were landed on U.S. soil by U-boats in June 1942 — four near Amagansett, Long Island, New York, and four near Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida — as part of a sabotage plan code-named Operation Pastorius. They carried high explosives,…
In April 1942, a young Polish soldier of the II Corps in Iran purchased a Syrian brown bear cub from a boy who had tied it to a string. The bear was named Wojtek (Polish for 'joyful warrior') and was officially enlisted as a Private in the 22nd Artil…
A Syrian brown bear cub named Wojtek was adopted by the 22nd Polish Artillery Supply Company in Iran. He was formally enlisted as a private and given a paybook, barracks, and even a hammock. He drank beer, smoked cigarettes (ate them), and was traine…
The Great Panjandum had two 10-foot wooden wheels with rockets, designed to clear mines. Tested on Devon beaches in 1943, it was spectacular failure. Rockets fired unevenly, it caught fire and careened toward officers filming. A cameraman Lt. Col. Sm…
The Great Panjandum was a massive contraption designed by the British Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development (an actual government department with that actual name). It consisted of two 10-foot wooden wheels with rockets attached to the rim,…
Between 1944 and 1945, Japan launched 9,300 paper balloon bombs using jet streams - the first intercontinental weapons system. Over 1,000 reached North America. A balloon killed Elsie Mitchell and five children in Bly, Oregon - the only enemy-inflict…
Between November 1944 and April 1945, Japan launched approximately 9,300 'fire balloons' — paper hot-air balloons carrying incendiary and anti-personnel bombs — across the Pacific on jet streams toward North America. The first intercontinental weapon…
The famous 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III involved three tunnels (Tom, Dick, and Harry). Few people know that Dick was never found by the Germans and remained hidden. After the war, it was rediscovered but collapsed. What is even less known: the…
A Syrian brown bear named Wojtek was enlisted as a Private in the 22nd Polish Artillery Supply Company. He carried 25-pound artillery shells under fire at Monte Cassino. He drank beer, smoked cigarettes, and became the regiments official insignia. Af…