I really enjoy passing on anecdotes, but one of the pitfalls is finding out fond anecdotes are not completely true or even completely false. The story of the taxis that were used to rush reinforcements to the Marne battlefield is one of the most famous stories from the start Read more
During WWII, the Soviet Union trained women as pilots. They were supposed to be treated like men, so no long hair or make-up. They defied the make-up rule. They had to overcome obstacles like older bombers that required both the pilot and co-pilot to pull back on the control Read more
Greek civilization passed on many achievements to Rome and then Western Civilization. Had the Persians won the Persian Wars, it is possible that we would not have the plays of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripedes, and Aristophanes. We might not have all the teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Our civilization Read more
In 202 B.C., the Romans and Carthaginians met in the decisive battle of the Second Punic War. Two of the greatest generals in history faced off. The battle was fought outside Carthage. Scipio (later Africanus) had invaded north Africa earlier and started scorching earth and threatening Carthage. This strategy Read more
*** This anecdote is probably apocryphal, but it could be true. Plus, it’s cool. Two of the greatest generals met in the Battle of Zama in 202 B.C. The battle ended the Second Punic War and made Rome the dominant power in the western Mediterranean. In the battle, Scipio Read more
480 – 479 B.C. was a wild time for the Greek city-states. The year before, the Spartans lost at Thermopylae, Athens was sacked, a Greek fleet defeated the Persian fleet at Salamis, Persian emperor Xerxes took the remainder of the fleet home and left a huge army in Greece. Read more
One of the most tragic incidents in the racial history of the US occurred on August 23, 1917. It resulted in the largest courts-martial in US Army history and the largest trial in American History. On July 27, the 3rd Battalion, 24th Regiment (one of the Buffalo Soldiers regiments) Read more
The Battle of Thermopylae is famous for the stand the Spartans made against a huge Persian army. Everyone knows that all 300 of Leonidas’ men were killed in the battle. But it was actually not all 300. After holding off the Persians for several days, a Greek traitor told Read more
Today Pres. Biden will sign a proclamation creating a national monument in Springfield, Illinois in remembrance of the Springfield Race Riot. On August 16, 2024, Pres. Biden signed a proclamation creating a national monument in Springfield, Ill. In remembrance of the Springfield Race Riot of 1908. Springfield at the Read more
Was Hitler Jewish? It would be the greatest irony if he was. Hitler’s mother was Maria Shicklgruber. When Adolf was born his birth certificate did not identify his father. When his mother married five years later to Johann Georg Hiedler, her son’s name was changed to that of his Read more