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TIL in 1945 the worst maritime disaster ever happened when the MV Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk by Soviet torpedos. The ship was attempting to cross the Baltic sea to evacuate fleeing Germans. While the total death count is not known, it is estimated at nearly 9,000

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bbLQ TIL that during the battle of Wizna, 800 polish soldiers held off 42,000 nazi soldiers for 3 days. Once the poles ran out of bullets, their commander threw himself on a grenade instead of surrendering. The battle is referred to as the Polish Thermopylae.
KrdG TIL The Black Death resulted in a stronger and longer-living human population. Scientists examined the bones of those who died before and after the plague and determined that people who were born after were stronger and more fit.
p0xe TIL that the Tootsie roll recipe requires the previous day’s batch to be mixed into the current batch meaning theoretically there is some of the very first batch in every Tootsie roll today.
WkkM9 TIL that "sex changes are not effective", according to researchers, who say there is no evidence that these operations improve the lives of transexuals, many of whom remain suicidal and severely distressed after surgery.
wodP TIL, That the DeLorean in Back To The Future, was almost going to be fridge instead.