› added 3 months ago

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TIL the most effective surrender leaflet in WW2 was known as the "Passierschein". It was designed to appeal to German sensibilities for official, fancy documents printed on nice paper with official seals and signatures. It promised safe passage and generous treatment to any who presented it.

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p8lBQ TIL The single most destructive bombing in human history was in Japan during WWII, but it wasn't the atomic bombings, it was firebombing raids on Tokyo.
0D7N TIL that during the Japanese invasion of China, two soldiers challenged each other to kill 100 people using only a sword. Since both surpassed 100 in the heat of battle without a clear winner, they decided to raise the challenge to 150 people.
8N8P TIL The Grape flavoring in Grape Kool Aid is also used as Bird Teargas. In 2004, Grape flavoring started being used to drive birds away from major Airports such as the 7,800 acre O'Hare International Airport. The grape flavoring acts to birds much like Amonia acts to humans.
XEe8r TIL Mary Babnik Brown donated her hair during WWII and later received a personal letter of thanks from Ronald Reagan explaining that her hair had been the perfect fit for complex bombsight called a Norden sight. Both wire and spider silk had been used beforehand, and neither worked as well.
41Za TIL that it is still technically possible to obtain a Letter of Marque from Congress and become a privateer.