› added 4 years ago

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TIL that when practicing for the D-Day landings in "Exercise Tiger" at least 749 Americans were killed by friendly fire and a "wolf pack" of 6 German E-boats who stumbled on the LST ships in the dark. D-Day was nearly called off because 10 officers who knew the exact plans went missing.

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8aRML TIL of Nellie Bly, a 19th century female journalist who went around the world in 72 days, pretended to be insane in order to expose the deplorable conditions in mental asylums, patented two designs for steel cans and ran a million-dollar iron manufacturing business, all before the age of 40.
5ner TIL the only senator to vote against the US entering the Second World War, after the Pearl Harbor attack, defended her position by saying “As a woman, I can’t go to war and I refuse to send anyone else.” Republican leaders from Montana – her state – demanded she change her vote, but she refused.
yV7ra TIL about Daeseong-Dong, a South Korean village located in the DMZ. Due to the many dangers and restrictions on living there, residents of the village are exempt from compulsory military service.
x68Xw TIL that a high school student exposed the King of Belgium's illegitimate daughter. Mario Daneels, 18 years old, wrote a biography of Queen Paola, wife of Albert II, in 1999 which revealed the secret. The embarrassing book appeared as Albert's heir Philippe (the current king) was about to marry.
rRomd TIL That Tom Meschery was the NBA's first Russian player, was nicknamed the "Mad Russian" and was the first player to have his number retired by the Golden State Warriors