History Facts

    Random History Facts

    There are 163 History Facts!

    Japanese Holdout
    Japanese Holdout
    After World War 2 ended in 1945, a Japanese officer named Hiroo Onoda didn't surrender and continued the war for 29 years because he didn't know that Japan had surrendered and the war was over.
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    Capt. Robert Campbell
    Capt. Robert Campbell
    Capt. Robert Campbell, a British officer captured during World War I, was granted leave to visit his dying mother on one condition - that he return to captivity. He kept his word and returned, only to try escaping as soon as he returned.
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    In 2011, a couple bought a box of textbooks for $10. Inside, they found a 25-cent bill signed by the president of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston, and subsequently sold it for $63,250.
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    Chinese General With Only 100 Men Made An Army of 150,000 Retreat
    According to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Shu general Zhuge Liang had to defend a town with a mere 100 troops against an army of 150,000. He hid his men, flung open the gates, and sat on the walls playing a lute. The opposing general of Wei, Sima Yi, certain it was a trap, ordered a retreat.
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    Contrary to popular belief, the first ironclad warships were built by Korea in the 16th century.
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    In the 1930's, American track star Jesse Owens used to race against horses and dogs to earn a living.
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    Ancient Fart Battles
    Ancient Fart Battles
    There are scrolls from the Edo period of Japan that suggest fart battles took place. The drawings show men blasting farts at other men, women, and even a cat.
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    In 1700s, the deer skin was a common medium of exchange between the trading settlers and the native Red Indians in America. This is how a buck became a slang for a dollar.
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