NationStates Jolt Archive

This thread is for anyone that has amusing historical anecdotes or facts. This is my favorite:
The American national anthem is an account of the burning of the White House in the war of 1812, and it is sung to the tune of an old British drinking song. Funny thing to commemorate at the ball games, huh?

Anyone else with funny anecdotes, etc., like this feel free to post, we could all use a good laugh.

Just some Roman Emperor *cough*Nero*cough* who participated in the Olympic Games. Winning EVERYTHING even if he didn't even finish a race and introducing several new Olympic "sports" such as singing and acting (which he all won too and EVERYONE was forced to watch it even when it was horrible)

Hitler was a bum

Even before there was tobacco, everyone in Holland smoked (some weed or something :D ). Even the women and children

Am I the only one?

Socrates wasn't just known as a very good debater, but also (if not more so) as an excellent lover and extreme drinker

Bertie Ahern claims hes a socialist!!!
George Bush got elected twice!!!!

During the second world war the Russians came up with the idea of strapping mines to dogs and then getting the dogs to run under german tanks and blow them up. In all the training sessions this seemed to go well. However when put to the test on the battlefield the dogs repeadely attacked the Russian tanks and not the German ones. Why? Well Russian tanks run on diesl and German ones on petrol and the Dogs were thus following the wrong scent.

This thread is for anyone that has amusing historical anecdotes or facts. This is my favorite:
The American national anthem is an account of the burning of the White House in the war of 1812, and it is sung to the tune of an old British drinking song. Funny thing to commemorate at the ball games, huh?

Anyone else with funny anecdotes, etc., like this feel free to post, we could all use a good laugh.

I am actually mid way through writing a book on the same thing. It was suggested to me by one of my friends after I came out with sommat about what someone should have said.

If I get it published (which I doubt but I am enjoying writing it anyway even if noone else reads it), it'll be called "A history of what should have been said!"

Some American president proclaimed himself a jelly donut.... and the people loved it

Some American president proclaimed himself a jelly donut.... and the people loved it

Kennedy. He said "Ich bin ein berliner" (I am a donut) when he should have said "Ich bin Berliner" (I am a person from Berlin).

They loved him though because he was a popular guy.

and millions of dollars investigating whether their president did or did not have sex.

Kennedy. He said "Ich bin ein berliner" (I am a donut) when he should have said "Ich bin Berliner" (I am a person from Berlin).

They loved him though because he was a popular guy.
He could have gotten away with wearing a Big Bird suit all the time....

The motto on the Great Seal of the United States of America comes from a Latin poem about salad dressing. (Moretum, usually attributed to Virgil)

Kennedy. He said "Ich bin ein berliner" (I am a donut) when he should have said "Ich bin Berliner" (I am a person from Berlin).


I wonder how long did it actually take before someone noticed he had a gramatical mistake in the sentence and that some germans call some kind of donut "berliner". BTW ... how do you pronounce capital B? And are you sure it's really gramaticaly incorrect to say/write "Ich bin ein Berliner"?

I already said this in another thread but:
"During world war2:
At one point, Éire(Ireland) persuaded Britain to supply more coal for the Irish market by threatening to cut sales of Guinness to Britain and Northern Ireland, greatly worrying Allied troops stationed there."

During the second world war the Russians came up with the idea of strapping mines to dogs and then getting the dogs to run under german tanks and blow them up. In all the training sessions this seemed to go well. However when put to the test on the battlefield the dogs repeadely attacked the Russian tanks and not the German ones. Why? Well Russian tanks run on diesl and German ones on petrol and the Dogs were thus following the wrong scent.
QI?

I wonder how long did it actually take before someone noticed he had a gramatical mistake in the sentence and that some germans call some kind of donut "berliner". BTW ... how do you pronounce capital B?
You cant, he should have left "ein" out.

In order to start WWII and have a decent excuse, the German soldiers ambushed some Polish soldiers near the border (between Germany and Poland), stole their uniforms and attack one of their own radio stations near the border.

You cant, he should have left "ein" out.

Yup,

Ich bin Berliner - I am from Berlin

Ich bin ein Berliner - I am a jam doughnut

You see the problem with languages and cultural context...as a translater myself its a bastard of a problem.

Darwin was invited onto the Beagle by the Captain (Fitzroy) to he [Fitzroy] would have someone of an equal class to talk to and to stop him going mad and slitting his throat (he thought it ran in his family). However after Darwin published "Origin of Species" he ran around with a Bible screaming "this is the truth!" and blamed himself for Darwinism so he slit his throat

In order to start WWII and have a decent excuse, the German soldiers ambushed some Polish soldiers near the border (between Germany and Poland), stole their uniforms and attack one of their own radio stations near the border.

That actually was a kill team by the SS and GESTAPO. Inmates from a local "camp for reeducation" have been executed and dressed up in Polish uniforms to fake a "attack" by the Polish army on the German-Polish border, the so-calld "Gleiwitz (also: Sender Gleiwitz) incident). One of the reasons why you can´t really blame most German tropps marching gladly off to Poland, as they thought they´d do so in defence of their own country...

Not the first, nor the last time in history a invasion is justified as a "war for the defence of the homeland".

For details and the exact story (as I may have forgot about a fact or two), go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Gleiwitz_radio_station

Ok, i read this in a Bill Bryson book...think it was 'A walk in the woods'

When the French sent their scouts throughout America, a group came across part of the Appilations (spelt wrong i know). They named them the Titons (also spelt wrong). However....i'll give you three guesses what that translates too in english. take the 'o' and the 'n' out of the words...and what do you get? Yup thats the translation.... :D He must have been a long way from home and a long time without any ;)

During World War II, the American army tried developing "saboteur bats" by strapping walnut-sized bombs to the underside of hundreds of bats' wings. The project was cancelled after the bats successfully burned down a small town and incinerated the automobile belonging to the gentleman in charge of the project.

Thinking that the Aryans were the master race and therefore superior in intelect, Hitler in the midst of his reign, revised the school curriculm to make children of seven and up learn at an Oxford level.

Quote from a German bussinessmen to his son, who was just about to leave to live in Canada. This was when Hitler was gaining popularity, but not Chancellor.

"You know, about that Hitler, he's a man of morals. You never see him smoking, you never hear him drinking, you never see him with a woman...there's something difinitly wrong with that guy."

This thread is for anyone that has amusing historical anecdotes or facts. This is my favorite:
The American national anthem is an account of the burning of the White House in the war of 1812, and it is sung to the tune of an old British drinking song. Funny thing to commemorate at the ball games, huh?No, this is inaccurate.

The American national anthem was set to an old British drinking tune, "To Anaceron in Heaven," I believe. But it was written by Francis Scott Key after the British bombardment of Ft. McHenry. The poem that became the lyrics celebrated the fact that the British failed to capture the fort or the city, hence the words, "gave proof through the night/That our flag was still there."

There are people who want a different national anthem for their various reasons. I think these people are crazy because if it weren't for the events that led to the Star Spangled Banner, we wouldn't have a nation to begin with.

No, this is inaccurate.

The American national anthem was set to an old British drinking tune, "To Anaceron in Heaven," I believe. But it was written by Francis Scott Key after the British bombardment of Ft. McHenry. The poem that became the lyrics celebrated the fact that the British failed to capture the fort or the city, hence the words, "gave proof through the night/That our flag was still there."

There are people who want a different national anthem for their various reasons. I think these people are crazy because if it weren't for the events that led to the Star Spangled Banner, we wouldn't have a nation to begin with.
I want a different American anthem!!!!!

If you haven't noticed this already, type in 'French military victories' over at Google and click I'm Feeling Lucky.

If you haven't noticed this already, type in 'French military victories' over at Google and click I'm Feeling Lucky.

That is funny!

At one battle George Washington decided that he needed to establish a fort quickly before enemy troops began their attack so he decided to build shorter walls to get it build quickly. Unfortunatly he also built it at the bottom of a hill.
Between the short walls and the low ground, the fort wasn't even an obstacle.

some of my favorite historical oddities...

a costume ball was given by charles vi of france in 1393 at which the duc d'orleans accidentally set fire to six guests.

circa 1000ad, empress zoe of byzantium's fiance was given the choice of going through with the wedding or having his eyes poked out. he chose the wedding.

the earl of leicester gave a party for queen elizabeth in 1575. it lasted a week and featured a water pageant starring a 24 foot long mermaid.

During WWII, the first bomb that the Allies dropped on Berlin, killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.

Why is a tank (the armored fighting vehicle) called a tank? The first tanks were developed in Britain during WWI. It was a highly secret project that nobody was allowed to know about. So as the first tanks were to be shipped from Britain to the French battlefields, they had to have some kind of disguise to mislead the factory workers (not even they were allowed to know what was being developed). The single tank parts were put into crates which were then being labeled "tank". The workers and loaders thought it was water or oil tanks to supply the tropps. So did the French. And they were quite surprised as the presumed water tank components were put together - what came up was a self-propelled armored vehicle: the tank. :D

The German word "Panzer" is only the short form of "Panzerkampfwagen", which literally means "armored combat vehicle".

At the end of WWII, the Germans started using some Me 262s against Allied planes. They had never seen something like the Me 262 before: An aircraft without propellers, flying at an incredible speed! The first pilots who encountered those machines were grounded by the USAF, because everybody thought they were crazy...

During WWII, the first bomb that the Allies dropped on Berlin, killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.


IIRC the first bomb dropped on the British Isles by the Luftwaffe landed on a small island off the coast of Ireland and killed a rabbit.

IIRC the first bomb dropped on the British Isles by the Luftwaffe landed on a small island off the coast of Ireland and killed a rabbit.
That'll teach 'em for killing their elephant

That actually was a kill team by the SS and GESTAPO. Inmates from a local "camp for reeducation" have been executed and dressed up in Polish uniforms to fake a "attack" by the Polish army on the German-Polish border, the so-calld "Gleiwitz (also: Sender Gleiwitz) incident). One of the reasons why you can´t really blame most German tropps marching gladly off to Poland, as they thought they´d do so in defence of their own country...

Not the first, nor the last time in history a invasion is justified as a "war for the defence of the homeland".

For details and the exact story (as I may have forgot about a fact or two), go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Gleiwitz_radio_station

The Polish uniforms used in the "attack" were supplied by Oscar Schindler, who had stolen them. He was a member of the Nazi Party and did some clandestine work for them from time to time.

The Polish uniforms used in the "attack" were supplied by Oscar Schindler, who had stolen them. He was a member of the Nazi Party and did some clandestine work for them from time to time.
Isn't he the actor from that movie?

That'll teach 'em for killing their elephant

Aha, found the source I was trying to remember:

"BRITAIN'S FIRST CASUALTY. The first civilian killed in an air raid on Britain was twenty seven year old James Isbister, during a German raid on Scapa Flow in the Orkney's on July 24, 1940. On a previous raid on November 13, 1939 during an attack on the Shetland's, all that resulted was a large bomb crater in the countryside and the only fatality was a rabbit, which gave rise to the marching song 'Run Rabbit, Run' . There is some speculation that the 'Rabbit' was actually purchased from a local butcher and placed in the crater for effect....or a laugh! But this must be the worlds most famous dead rabbit."

I can't vouch for its truth or reliability ( and, yes, I was wrong about it being an island off Ireland).

http://groups.msn.com/TheHistoryPage/war.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=17358&LastModified=4675462245725429513

Aha, found the source I was trying to remember:

"BRITAIN'S FIRST CASUALTY. The first civilian killed in an air raid on Britain was twenty seven year old James Isbister, during a German raid on Scapa Flow in the Orkney's on July 24, 1940. On a previous raid on November 13, 1939 during an attack on the Shetland's, all that resulted was a large bomb crater in the countryside and the only fatality was a rabbit, which gave rise to the marching song 'Run Rabbit, Run' . There is some speculation that the 'Rabbit' was actually purchased from a local butcher and placed in the crater for effect....or a laugh! But this must be the worlds most famous dead rabbit."

I can't vouch for its truth or reliability ( and, yes, I was wrong about it being an island off Ireland).

http://groups.msn.com/TheHistoryPage/war.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=17358&LastModified=4675462245725429513
I'd love to see that picture

In order to start WWII and have a decent excuse, the German soldiers ambushed some Polish soldiers near the border (between Germany and Poland), stole their uniforms and attack one of their own radio stations near the border.

Germans didnt start WWII they started an isolated German-Polish war.It was Britain and France who declared war on Germany making it a world war.....

King James I, responsible for the most widely used translation of the Bible - the King James Bible - was gay. He had several male lovers, but he had a long term relationship (7 yrs) with a penniless young man named Robert Carr, who he eventually tossed in the Tower of London after they broke up.

Julia Childs was a spy during WW II.
Clark Gable had false teeth from an early age.
Charles Manson tired out for the band, Three Dog Night.
Harry Truman was a failed business man before entering into politics.
According to legend, there was once a female pope, dubbed Pope Joan. Although, the Vatican calls such a claim a mere legend, to this day popes are required to have their gender confirmed by a doctor before taking office.

Ever heard of President David Rice Atchison?

The presidential term of James K. Polk ended at noon on March 4, 1849. However, this fell on a Sunday and Zachary Taylor refused to be sworn in on the sabbath. Polk's VP had already resigned, so, by law, the pro tempore of the Senate, David Rice Atchison, automatically became president.

His gravestone says, "President of the U.S. for one day."

During the second world war the Russians came up with the idea of strapping mines to dogs and then getting the dogs to run under german tanks and blow them up. In all the training sessions this seemed to go well. However when put to the test on the battlefield the dogs repeadely attacked the Russian tanks and not the German ones. Why? Well Russian tanks run on diesl and German ones on petrol and the Dogs were thus following the wrong scent.

At the beginning of the Cold War, the British invented a battlefield nuclear bomb that was designed to be buried by a retreating British army and set on a timer so that the, presumably pursueing, Soviet army would walk into it. The only problem was that the ground temperature sometimes made the mechanical operations of the bomb freeze effectively disarming the nuke. Consequently, to prevent the bomb from freezing, the casing of the bomb was to be stuffed with live chickens the naturally generating heat of the chickens preventing the bomb components from freezing until such time as it detonated.

During WW 1 airplains of both sides on the Western front were sometimes forced to land in Holland or they just crashed on Holland ground. At the end of the war, The Dutch had an airforce.

In spite of all the shots fired at Fort Sumter, the first battle of the (U.S.) Civil War, no one was killed or even (seriously?) injured.

It is highly likely that John Smith made up the story of his affair with Pocahontas.

Smith never mentioned anything about being rescued by the Indian princess until 17 years later, long after she was dead (it was just one of three different stories in which he recounted being saved by prominent women).

If Smith did ever meet Pocahontas (whose actual name was Matoaka - Pocahontas means "naughty one") she would have been ten or eleven (he was in his thirties). She would have also been naked (Powhatan children wore no clothing) and bald, except for a single pigtail.

Not exactly the stuff of Disney.

In spite of all the shots fired at Fort Sumter, the first battle of the (U.S.) Civil War, no one was killed or even (seriously?) injured.

Except for a Confederate mule.

Edmund Ruffin, a confederate soldier who fired the first shot of the war at 4:30am, shot himself four years later when the south was defeated.