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TIL that the last German Kaiser, Wilhelm II (born 1859), lived to see the rise of Hitler and the first two years of WW2, dying in 1941. When Hitler took Paris, he wrote a telegram, writing "Congratulations, you have won using my troops."

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DQXBj TIL that in the 1630s there was a song only played in the Sistine Chapel. The Vatican kept the composition of "Miserere Mei, Deus" secret for 140 years until 14-year-old Mozart listened to it 2 times, transcribed it from memory, and produced one of the earliest records of musical piracy.
gMD1y TIL since record keeping began in 1915 fifteen people have been killed during the annual Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.
X0war TIL the earliest known toy trains were made in the 1850s and powered by alcohol fires and real steam. They had the tendency to start house fires due to their fuel leaking and igniting when the toy fell over. Earlier models had no safety valves and would explode due to excess boiler pressure.
N7Wjb TIL the important jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman's first saxophone was made of plastic. He bought it because he couldn't afford one made from metal. At first he didn't like the sound, though he continued to play it for years after he likely could have afforded a metal one
jNxEj TIL there is a Museum of Soviet Arcade Games in Moscow, where visitors can try out over fifty playable games (including Tankodrome!) dating from the Soviet Era.