The summer of 1916 was a time when Americans were concerned with politics and war. The Great War was raging in Europe. Pancho Villa led the Mexican revolution in New Mexico, and U.S. Marines invaded the Dominican Republic. So, as July 1916 began, people were looking forward to a relaxing summer that would give them […]
The Matawan Man-eater: The real-life inspiration for Jaws Read More »
In 1945, World War II was still raging in the Pacific. Though Germany surrendered to the Allies on May 8 and the Italians on April 29, Japan still fought in the Pacific Theater. It was a brutal effort that tested the mettle of ordinary soldiers. The Americans wanted a quick end to the war, and
The Tragedy of the USS Indianapolis: The Worst Shark Attack in History Read More »
As famous as Edgar Allan Poe is, the mysterious circumstances surrounding his passing have never been solved. As for Poe’s young wife, Virginia, there is no doubt about how she passed. What’s less well known is what her tragically short life was really like. Virginia married Edgar Allan Poe, her first cousin when she was
Who Was Virginia Clemm, the Wife of Edgar Allan Poe? Read More »
Hara-kiri translates to “belly cutting” or “stomach cutting.” As the name implies, it involves slicing your stomach with a knife. It’s a horrific, agonizing way to go. So why would anybody willingly do it to themselves? The answer concerns the strict samurai code of conduct, which placed honor above all else. For a samurai, death
The Brutal History of Seppuku and Hara-kiri Read More »
Over 55,000 prisoners of the Buchenwald Concentration Camp never made it out alive. Buchenwald was one of the Third Reich’s largest camps, with over 280,000 prisoners serving time there. Death lurked around every corner, and many killings were never recorded in the camp’s books. Walter Gerhard Mart Sommer, who earned the title “The Hangman of
Martin Sommer: The guard too cruel for even the Nazis Read More »
Following the Second World War, war crimes trials were held to bring the architects of WW2 and the Holocaust to justice. Inside a courtroom in Luneburg, the Belsen Trials took place that sought to deal with the SS men and women of the Belsen concentration camp. Many of these guards had committed horrendous crimes, but
Irma Grese: The Hyena of Auschwitz Read More »
Not to be confused with the Algonquian-speaking tribes of the northeast, the Algonquin tribe refers to the Native American and First Nation people group that inhabited northern Michigan and southern Canada. While the Algonquin tribe is very similar to their neighboring tribes, the Innu and the Ojibwa, they are unique in their own right. If
The history and culture of the Algonquin Tribe Read More »
Iran has one of the most exciting and unique histories of any country. Unfortunately, because of current events and recent military conflicts, most people don’t take the time to learn the history of Iran. Many people also need to realize that Iran used to go by a different name – Persia. Persia was significant throughout
How did Persia become Iran and why? Read More »
The Great Depression, which lasted in the United States from 1929 to 1939, was a time of intense scarcity. Jobs, money, and food were in short supply, so people had to reinvent their menus to survive the prolonged economic downturn. Food that people wouldn’t have earlier considered eating was silently gobbled down as they made
10 Strange Foods of the Great Depression Read More »
The renowned American frontiersman and fur trapper, Hugh Glass, is widely recognized as an emblematic figure of the American frontier era and a beloved folk hero. He gained widespread fame after enduring a brutal bear attack that left him abandoned by his fellow trappers and presumed dead. Despite the near-fatal injuries, Glass summoned the courage
From trapper to legend: The iconic life of Hugh Glass Read More »
