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TIL That the sign above the gates to Auschwitz-Birkenau, which reads 'Arbeit macht frei' (Work Sets You Free), was made by prisoners in the metalworking labor detail. The prisoners deliberately reversed the letter "B" as a camouflaged mark of disobedience.

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eppMg TIL while the UK's blockade of Africa was largely successful in stopping the Atlantic Slave Trade, the United States was a long-term hold-out and refused permission for the British to search their ships for slaves. Because of this, many slavers flew fake American flags to continue the trade.
ydEJ TIL A third of generated electricity is lost, simply because of the thermal properties of steel.
Bg1GD TIL about the Goodyear Inflatoplane, an inflatable aircraft designed to serve as a rescue method for airmen trapped behind hostile lines. When unloaded, it weighed a mere 102 kilograms, and the engine on the smallest variant output a mere 40 horsepower, comparable to a small motorcycle's engine.
16y98 TIL in 1314 the Tour de Nesle affair was a scandal that saw the daughters-in-law of Philip IV accused of adultery, leading to their imprisonments & executions of their lovers. The severe shock may have contributed to Philip’s death months later & contributed to the start of the Hundred Years War
LkNjP TIL that NASA had to change condom (used as part of the urination system in space suits) sizes from small, medium, large to large, gigantic, humongous since all of the astronauts picked up large regardless of their size.