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TIL during the Siege of Leningrad, the Soviet military warned all soldiers that if they surrendered their families would be shot. Later, one of the soldiers who ended up surrendering was Stalin's own son, Yakov Dzhugashvili.

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WkRB4 TIL the beginning of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony (dit-dit-dit-dah) is morse code for the letter V. Representing victory, this was an acknowledged symbol of the war effort, made by Winston Churchill forming a 'V' with the first and second fingers of his raised right hand.
4k0ZX TIL that the Tollund Man, a 2,400-year-old corpse found in a Danish peat bog, was so well-preserved that scientists could take his fingerprints and even determine his last meal, which included porridge made of barley and flax seeds. His death is believed to have been a ritual sacrifice.
NxXM TIL of Oskar Dirlewanger, commander of the “Dirlewanger” unit, the most infamous SS unit in the German military during WWII. A child molester, violent alcoholic, and sadist, the war crimes committed under Dirlewanger’s command remain unparalleled in their monstrosity.
nGOY TIL that Donald Duck has a huge cult following in Germany. Belonging to the society “D.O.N.A.L.D”, fans (known as Donaldists) hold annual meetings, have lectures, and have even infiltrated respected German newspapers, where they’ve inserted Donald quotes only other Donaldists would understand.
R74Jl TIL in the late 19th century, the Sears catalog used to offer a heroin kit, two vials of heroin included, for only $1.50 - slightly less than 50 2019 dollars.