In remembrance of significance of the D-Day invasion 80 years ago, we reblog this insightful article from one of our favorite blogs, Presidential History. Be sure to visit it for lots of informative and entertaining reading.
The Exploding Rats of World War II: Britain’s Strangest Successful Failure
During World War II, British intelligence devised a plan to sabotage German factories using exploding rats. The Nazis intercepted the shipment before a single rat could explode. Then the Germans reportedly began searching for more, turning Britain’s bizarre military failure into an unexpected psychological victory. Sometimes the best bomb is the one that never goes…
USS Recruit: The Battleship That Never Touched Water
In 1917, the U.S. Navy built a wooden battleship in the middle of Manhattan. The USS Recruit had sailors, gun turrets, searchlights, and even dazzle camouflage. It also had absolutely no chance of floating. Somehow, it became a remarkable recruiting success.
The Ryōkichi Sagane Letter: The Atomic Bomb Warning That Arrived Too Late
On August 9, 1945, American scientists sent a handwritten warning to Japanese physicist Ryōkichi Sagane. Their delivery method was unusual: they attached it to instruments dropped by parachute during the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The letter survived. Unfortunately, the bomb arrived first.
Leave a Reply