Topic

History

A collection of 372 issues

Hitler's Golden Handcuffs: The Secret Slush Fund That Bought the Wehrmacht's Loyalty

During WWII, Hitler operated "Konto 5," a secret slush fund dispensing 40 million tax-free Reichsmarks annually to senior generals. This official bribery scheme ensured personal loyalty by intertwining their financial fortunes with the survival of the Nazi regime.

How The California Raisins Funded N.W.A.'s 'Straight Outta Compton'

Priority Records, the label that introduced N.W.A. to the world, has a shocking origin. It was founded in the 80s as a novelty label with one purpose: to release albums for the fictional claymation R&B group, The California Raisins. Their success funded the rise of gangsta rap.

The Whale Poop Loophole: Solving the Krill Paradox and Uncovering an Ocean's Lifeline

The Krill Paradox reveals a shocking ecological truth: when whale populations fell due to whaling, krill numbers also crashed. This is because iron-rich whale poop, a vital fertilizer for the phytoplankton that krill eat, disappeared along with them, breaking a critical food chain.

The Disobedient Saviors: How a 'Trigger-Happy' UN Unit Broke Every Rule to Keep the Peace in Bosnia

In 1993 Bosnia, the UN's Nordic Battalion (NORDBAT 2) defied orders and restrictive rules of engagement. By faking radio silence and using aggressive force, they successfully protected civilians in the Tuzla safe area without suffering a single combat death, earning the nickname 'trigger-happy.'

Operation Popeye: How the U.S. Secretly Weaponized the Weather in Vietnam

In 1967, the U.S. military secretly used cloud seeding to extend Vietnam's monsoon season. Codenamed Operation Popeye, the program was deemed 'outstandingly successful' at disrupting enemy supply lines, a fact confirmed in a declassified memo to President Johnson.

The Prime Meridian's 102-Meter Secret: Why Your GPS Says You're Not at 0° Longitude

Tourists flock to Greenwich to straddle the historic Prime Meridian. But the brass line marking 0° longitude is off! Due to modern GPS technology, the true Prime Meridian is now 102.5 meters to the east, a fascinating quirk of historical astronomy and modern satellite science.

The Coup That Never Was: How 'Peace for Our Time' Inadvertently Saved Hitler

In 1938, high-ranking German officials planned to overthrow Hitler if he invaded Czechoslovakia. The plot crumbled when Britain and France appeased him at Munich, giving Hitler a bloodless victory and removing the conspirators' pretext for action, tragically paving the way for WWII.

Killing with Kindness: The Story of Churchill's Polite Declaration of War

On December 7, 1941, with his Foreign Secretary en route to Moscow, Winston Churchill personally drafted Britain's declaration of war on Japan. His surprisingly polite and formal letter concluded with a simple "I have the honour to be... Your obedient servant."