› added 4 years ago

67

TIL during WWI, the British Army had a group of entertainers assigned to every division. They offered soldiers a respite from war, reminded them of home, and provided a neutral outlet to air grievances. "The Diamond Troupe" was most famous because of their female impersonator and trick cyclist.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

OGQJ1 TIL Beethoven admired Napoleon and the French Revolution. When Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804 Beethoven broke into a rage denouncing him, saying "He lowered himself to the level of an ordinary king."
jaVp TIL that the dog breed Komondors use Dreadlocks to protect against Wolf bites
5a4R TIL Germany decided to retroactively pay pensions to african soldiers that served in the imperial colonial army. Claimants were handed a broom and ordered in German to perform the manual of arms. Not one of them failed the test.
KYGBw TIL about Ignatius Timothy Trebitsch-Lincoln, a Jewish Hungarian-born adventure and convicted con artist who lived as a Protestant missionary, Anglican priest, British M.P., German politician and spy, Nazi collaborator, and self-proclaimed Dalai Lama.
ANWLa TIL: Aaron Burr head a conspiracy to secede from the Union in the early 18th century. In the final months he would be outed by general Wilkinson who was a Co-conspirator with a history of treason.