› added 3 years ago

98

TIL of the Panjandrum, a weapon consisting of large wheels propelled by rockets and holding explosives. During final testing the rockets broke free in all directions, the wheels began chasing military observers, and admirals/generals were forced to dive into barbed wire. It was never used in battle.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

8aYEK TIL that between 991 and 1018, the Anglo-Saxon kings of England paid an important economic tribute to the Viking invaders worth circa 2.8 million troy oz in silver coins. This explains why today there are still more Anglo-Saxon silver coins in Denmark than in England.
vp84 TIL that 19th century gentlemen looking for “casual encounters” with ladies they’ve never met before would present them with funny calling cards to discreetly ask them to “accompany them home”.
8a1GV TIL Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, who played an important part in the Battle of Waterloo, and was instrumental in defeating Napoleon in 1814, suffered a mental breakdown during the war, lost his sight, and believed that a Frenchman had impregnated him with an elephant.
OEYR TIL At 26 locations across Canada, 35,046 German soldiers, sailors, airmen and potential insurgents were incarcerated under a program one later called “the best thing that happened to me.” A estimate 6,000 wanted to stay in Canada after the War.
e0D4n TIL the movie Jack and Jill won an award in all 10 categories at the 32nd Golden Raspberry awards. This included Adam Sandler winning in BOTH worst actor and worst actress categories.