Topic

Wars, Conflict & Heroes

A collection of 84 issues

The 19-Year Duel: How Two Napoleonic Officers Turned a Petty Insult into History's Longest Rivalry

In 1794, a trivial insult sparked a 19-year duel between French officers Fournier and Dupont. Their pact led to over 30 battles across Europe amidst the Napoleonic Wars. The legendary rivalry ended not with a fatal blow, but with a surprising handshake and an unlikely friendship.

Black Agnes: The Countess Who Mocked an English Siege and Became a Legend

In 1338, during the Second War of Scottish Independence, Countess Agnes of Dunbar led the five-month defense of Dunbar Castle against a superior English army. Her psychological warfare and a chillingly defiant retort when her captured brother's life was threatened cemented her status as a folk hero.

The Polish Spy Who Became a Nazi General: The Unbelievable Story of Kazimierz Leski

Kazimierz Leski, a Polish intelligence officer, adopted the disguise of a Wehrmacht general to travel across Nazi-occupied Europe. He completed over 25 missions, stealing vital military secrets and funneling intelligence to the Allies, all while never being caught by the Germans.

Operation Vegetarian: Britain's Secret WWII Plan to Starve a Nation with Anthrax

During WWII, Britain devised 'Operation Vegetarian,' a chilling plan to drop anthrax-laced cattle cakes on Germany to decimate its food supply. Tested on a Scottish island, it created a deadly contamination zone that lasted for decades, a stark reminder of the horrors of total war.

Too Many Caesars: The Chilling Pragmatism Behind Augustus's First and Most Important Murder

In 30 BC, Julius Caesar's adopted son Octavian secured his future as Emperor Augustus by ordering the death of Caesarion, Caesar's biological son with Cleopatra. Heeding the advice that "Too many Caesars is not good," Octavian ruthlessly eliminated the only rival to his inherited legacy.

Kipper und Wipper: The 1620s Crisis That Turned Coins into Children's Playthings

During the 1621-23 Kipper und Wipper crisis, states in the Holy Roman Empire debased currency so severely to fund the Thirty Years' War that hyperinflation ensued. Coins lost so much value, containing more copper than silver, that they were reportedly used by children as worthless toys.

From Foe to Hero: The Astonishing Story of Emir Abdelkader, France's Enemy and Humanity's Friend

Emir Abdelkader led a fierce Algerian resistance against French colonization. Years later, while in exile, he risked his life to save thousands of Christians from a massacre in Damascus, earning international acclaim and even France's highest honor. A warrior, scholar, and humanitarian.

The 11-Time President Who Barely Showed Up: The Curious Case of Santa Anna

Antonio López de Santa Anna was Mexico's dominant political figure for decades, serving as president 11 times between 1833 and 1855. Yet, by strategically retreating to his hacienda and letting others govern, he spent less than six years in total actually holding the office he so often won.

An Unbreakable Honor: Sadao Munemori and the Fight for a Double Victory

In 1946, Sadao Munemori was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the first for a Japanese American. His ultimate sacrifice in Italy came while his family was confined in an internment camp, a stark testament to his unwavering loyalty and heroism in the face of profound injustice.

Invisible Cloud: The Secret Cold War Experiment That Sprayed a Chemical Across America

During the Cold War, the U.S. Army's Operation LAC secretly released microscopic zinc cadmium sulfide particles across North America. The goal was to simulate the spread of a biological weapon, testing dispersal patterns on an unknowing public and raising lasting ethical concerns.