History | History

Was Alexander Hamilton Jewish?

An interview with Prof. Andrew Porwancher, a history professor at Oklahoma University, who thinks the founding father was, in fact, a Jew.

This is always fascinating.

History | History

President Reagan's Address at Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, France, June 6, 1984

Full Title: President Ronald Reagan's Address at a Ceremony Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, France, June...

This is how a president should conduct himself. I remember when he gave this speech. It was outstanding.

History | History

Jewish resistance in Holocaust shown in 'Resistance – They Fought Back'

Paula Apsell’s new film tells the stories of  Jews who fought back in the Shoah.

I’ve never understood why people believe that Jews didn’t fight back.

History | History

Jewish Kingdoms Throughout History

There have been several Jewish states inside and outside the Land of Israel during ancient times, some lasting for centuries, others for only a few years.

History | History

October 7 Happened Before, in Hebron

A brutal massacre nearly a century ago in Judaism’s second-holiest city makes clear that murderous Palestinian rage against Jews has little to do with Israel or Zionism

None of the hatred toward Israel has ANYTHING to do with Israel itself, ALL OF IT is simply because these people hate Jews.

History | History

Israel: Who Are the Indigenous People?

The Land of Israel has changed hands many times over the centuries. But it has always been the homeland of one particular people. Noa Tishby, author of…

This is excellent, with the one exception that it is the Temple Mount itself which is the holiest place in Judaism, the Western Wall, a retaining wall of the Temple Mount, is our second holiest place.

History | History

Victor Davis Hanson: Remembering the Horrors of D-Day

Seventy-nine years ago this week, the Allies assaulted the Normandy beaches on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Their invasion marked the largest amphibious landing since…

History | History

December 7, 1941: Recalling the Heroes of the 'Day of Infamy'

Wednesday will be a day of remembrance at Pearl Harbor but without a single, USS Arizona survivor.

History | History

The whole truth about Ukraine’s past matters

Kyiv is right to ask that Stalin’s terror famine be recognized as genocide. But it should be equally honest about those who collaborated with Hitler.

History | History

Chilling, newly discovered photos show Nazi Kristallnacht up close

Yad Vashem says images are first to show pogrom from indoor vantage point; indicate German public was aware and that violence was coordinated by authorities

History | History

The Untold Truth Of Band Of Brothers

Band of Brothers is one of the most acclaimed TV series of all time. Here are some things about the WW2 drama that you might not have known.

Greatest WWII miniseries, and possibly the best WWII anything, ever.

History | History

‘Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land’ - Meir Y. Soloveichik, Commentary Magazine

On July 4, 1976, in honor of the bicentennial and during Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Philadelphia, the government of Great Britain decided to present a

History | History

Ronald Reagan: The Boys of Pointe du Hoc

(Note: The following are remarks delivered by President Ronald Reagan on June 6, 1984 commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Invastion of Normandy.)
We're here to mark that day in history when the...

The greatest D-Day anniversary speech ever given (and one of the greatest speeches in general by an American president).

History | History

Photos: D-Day remembered – A look at the invasion 78 years ago in Normandy

On June 6, 1944, the Allies invaded German-occupied western Europe by way of Normandy, France, during World War II. It would become the turning point

History | History

D-Day & Pointe du Hoc: Remembering the Sacrifices of World War II

We would do well to recall the sacrifices of our forebears, through tribute, memory, instruction, and perpetuation of what they fought for, as D-Day itself fades from living recollection.

History | History

'I cheated death': World War II gunner, Wisconsin native survived 4-mile tailspin, 17 months in Nazi POW camps, and a 600-mile forced march

As was the case for so many families of veterans, the details of their loved one’s deployments remained largely unknown. But after years of "We don’t go there," Gene Moran’s story of falling 4 miles and surviving has reached book form.

Easily the greatest generation. Easily.

History | History

Elder Of Ziyon - Remembering an incredible American Jewish WWII hero, Captain Ben L. Salomon

Blogging about Israel and the Arab world since, oh, forever.

I’m the son of a Jewish WWII vet and these stories always mean so much to me.

History | History

The Temple Mount: The Astonishing Israeli Concession of 1967

In a triumphant moment, Israel’s flag was hoisted over the newly conquered Temple Mount—then quickly taken down.

Moshe Dayan thought he was preventing bloodshed, and I am sure foremost on his mind was preventing Jewish bloodshed. But he made a mistake. You never surrender and inch of land to people who want to murder you. How much more so when you are talking about Judaism’s holiest place on earth? Ever since Israel relinquished control of the Temple Mount Arabs have used it as a propaganda tool. In fact their ability to do so has only expanded as they have conned large numbers of ignorant people into, against every bit of historical evidence, believing that Arabs in the region are a separate ethnic people called “Palestinian” who are the “real” indigenous people. Had the Israelis kept the Temple Mount, it would have sent the message to the world that ALL of Israel is Jewish, they aren’t afraid to proudly proclaim it, and that Arabs are welcome to live and pray anywhere in Israel, including the Dome of the Rock, ONLY if they accept the reality of the situation. Instead, now we have a “Jewish” state where Jews aren’t allowed to pray at the most revered place in our religion and in our history.

History | History

The New York Times’ ‘Nazi Correspondent’ - Tablet Magazine

As Adolf Hitler rose to power in Germany and then embarked on his program of world conquest and mass extermination, The New York Times’ Berlin bureau chief was busy slanting the news in his favor

An older article (not that old, from last June), but an important one.

History | History

How the Science of Racism Led to the Holocaust - The war against the divine image in man

Can the world survive on ethics devised by human reason? Well, we tried. It’s called the 20th century.

This is a great article. There are a couple of errors (Charles I was not the first regicide, and many Founding Fathers did not own slaves). But those innocuous errors should not detract from the important points this article makes.

History | History

20 years before the Holocaust, pogroms killed 100,000 Jews - then were forgotten

'In the Midst of Civilized Europe' by Jeffrey Veidlinger revisits the brutal violence in 1918-1921 that portended a genocide of Europe's Jews, and was soon overshadowed by it

History | History

Pearl Harbor: A Day That Lives in Infamy

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese Imperial Navy bombed the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor. The surprise attack shocked the nation and brought it into a world…

History | History

Jews in the Wild West

10 surprising facts about Jews in the American Frontier.

History | History

On This Day: Nazi Germany invades Poland, starts World War II in Europe

The Nazi invasion of Poland, joined shortly by the Soviet Union, saw the end of Poland as an independent country, bringing WWII to Europe and paving the way for the horrors of the Holocaust.

I’m a day late on this. Still important.

History | History

The last, overlooked but still active front of World War Two

Current convulsions are far more momentous than many realise

History | History

60 Years Ago, Alan Shepard Became The First American In Space

The passing of Apollo 11's Michael Collins along with the 60th anniversary of Alan Shepard's historic flight reminds us how inspiring exploration can be.

History | History

The Jews who fought back during the Holocaust

Our communal sense of history and peoplehood give us the strength to continue while our enemies fall by the wayside. Op-ed.

History | History

Chuck Yeager: Broken Ribs, Broom Handles, and Glamorous Glen. The Unbelievable True Story Of The Hero Who Broke The Sound Barrier

At the age of 97, retired U.S. Air Force Brigadier General pilot Chuck Yeager died on December 7th 2020. His wife, Victoria Yeager, announced his passing.

I am from that he generation who learned about Chuck Yeager from seeing “The Right Stuff.” He was the badass of all badasses during that era. I’m going to have a stick of Beeman’s in his honor. We definitely do not produce men like this anymore in this nation. I’m the son of a WWII vet and I understand how far we’ve slid. They were absolutely the “Greatest Generation.” Kids need to be taught their story, although I am pretty sure that they are not, and will not be taught about the shared sacrifice, bravery, and heroism of Americans during WWII.

History | History

It’s Time to Recognize the Contribution of the Jewish Resistance to the Rescue of the Jews of France

Léon Blum, the Jewish socialist politician who served as Prime Minister of France, led the efforts of the “Vichy 80” …

History | History

When George Washington Met Moses

Scholars of religious freedom have called Washington’s letter to Moses Seixas and the congregation a milestone in human rights. For the first time, members of religious minorities were granted full partnership in the nation they inhabited as a matter of p

History | History

Wreck of renowned USS Nevada uncovered near Pearl Harbor

USS Nevada (BB-36) was found as the result of a joint project between SEARCH, Inc., an American archaeology firm, and marine robotics company Ocean Infinity.

Wow. This is amazing!

History | History

Twin sisters were liberated from Auschwitz, but not from Mengele

The experiments to which Yehudit and Lea Csengeri were subjected to by Dr. Josef Mengele have made them afraid of doctors to this day

History | History

Why the Bombing Auschwitz Argument Still Matters

The Allies’ refusal to devote sufficient resources to rescue and halt the Nazi murder factory is one more reason why a sovereign State of Israel is necessary.

History | History

Historian: New evidence shows FDR's bigotry derailed many Holocaust rescue plans

In his book about Franklin Roosevelt and the Holocaust, Rafael Medoff finds links between the US president's anti-Japanese stances and his policies against Jews fleeing Hitler

We’ve known for a long time that thousands, if not millions, of Jews could have been saved if FDR wasn’t an antisemite. It’s becoming clearer and clearer how true that is.

History | History

Florida Man Discovers Original D-Day Audiotapes in His Basement

Bruce Campbell never expected to find some of World War II’s most important radio broadcasts buried in his cluttered basement.

History | History

December 1941: How did Pearl Harbor affect Hitler? The Second World War's Most Important Month

From the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor to Hitler's declaration of war on the US, historian Laurence Rees explains why December 1941 was such a significant month during World War II.

History | History

Holocaust survivor owes her life to a Nazi officer’s Great Dane

Nina Dinar, 93, has loved dogs since childhood and that saved her in a Nazi labor camp in Poland

I wasn’t sure if this belonged in Jewish Community, History or Dogs. What a fascinating story. I didn’t know about this at all.

History | History

The best and worst ads that celebrated the Apollo 11 Moon landing

The advertisements honoring the Moon landing in 1969 were the Super Bowl ads of their day.

History | History

The race to the Moon was so unpopular at one point, President Eisenhower called JFK ‘nuts’

Enthusiasm for the Apollo program waxed and waned, and when people couldn’t see the value in it, they dubbed it a ‘Moondoggle.’

History | History

Apollo in 50 numbers: The Rocket

To get astronauts to the Moon, Nasa had to build the most powerful rocket ever flown successfully. The Saturn V was just the rocket for the job.

History | History

Dwight Eisenhower Wrote a Letter Accepting Blame for D-Day's Failure, Just in Case | Mental Floss

"Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops."

History | History

Chasing demons: 75 years on, D-Day haunts, drives its vets

They are back, some for the first time since war stole their innocence 75 years ago on Normandy's D-Day beaches.

History | History

The 20th Century’s Most Important Day Was D-Day. This Is Why. | PragerU

On June 6, 1944, Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy in northern France. Their goal: to liberate Western Europe from Nazi tyranny. From a distance, it might seem that victory was pre-ordained, but no one felt that way at the time. British milita

History | History

Normandy tries to keep alive ‘infinite gratitude’ for D-Day

With fewer veterans and witnesses able to share personal memories, the French who owe their freedom to D-Day's fighters are more determined than ever to keep alive the memory of the battle and its significance.

History | History

45 Amazing Facts About All 44 American Presidents | Mental Floss

Read on to discover which American president wanted to be a concert violinist, which carried a dictionary around in his pocket, and who burned his official White House portrait.

History | History

How Zionists Helped Destroy Segregation in Baltimore

Ben Hecht. Photo: Alchetron. After a year when Jewish and African-American relations were strained by the Black Lives Matter’s denunciation of Israel and …

History | History

10 Things You Might Not Know About Calvin Coolidge | Mental Floss

Test your knowledge with amazing and interesting facts, trivia, quizzes, and brain teaser games on MentalFloss.com.

One of the three greatest presidents of the 20th century.

History | History

Presidential Feuds With the Media Are Nothing New - HISTORY

Journalists have angered presidents from the earliest days of America’s founding.

History | History

Intense photos show the WWII Battle of Leyte Gulf — the biggest naval battle of all-time

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was a decisive Allied victory over the Japanese Navy, which unfolded over the course of three days.

History | History

8 Things to Know about Crispus Attucks. The First Man Killed In The American Revolution.

Test your knowledge with amazing and interesting facts, trivia, quizzes, and brain teaser games on MentalFloss.com.

The first American killed in the American Revolution was a black man.

History | History

Americans Have Almost Entirely Forgotten Their History

History blindness, and a lack of basic civic knowledge, is unhealthy for a free country. Today, we are too busy tearing down our history than learning from it. That needs to change.

Americans are appallingly ignorant of our own history. I can probably count on one hand how many people I know who know the absolute basics.

History | History

What Did the Founding Fathers Eat and Drink as They Started a Revolution?

They may not have been hosting a cookout, but they did know how to imbibe and celebrate

History | History

A World War II Bomber Lost with 11 Servicemembers Has Been Found After 74 Years

Project Recover tracked down aircraft in a bay near Papua New Guinea.

History | History

The Jewish History of the Tower of London - Jerusalem Post

Site acted as both haven and prison for medieval community members.

This is totally fascinating to me. I've been to the Tower of London several times. It's fascinating on its own. I really love history so that's not unusual for me. However, it never occurred to me that there would be a specifically Jewish history of the Tower. That shouldn't be a surprise. The Jewish people have been in Europe for millennia, and a lot of that history is tragic, unfortunately, this is not an exception.

History | History

FDR wanted Jews ‘spread thin’ and kept out of U.S., documents reveal

New documents revealed by the FDR library shows the president's secret plans to resettle Jews out of Europe.

FDR doesn't deserve the almost mythical hero status he has in some quarters for many reasons. These are just the latest. He was a serious bigot and thousands of Jew died needlessly because, when it came down to it, couldn't care less about what happened to us. Yet millions of American Jews STILL believe that he represented some kind of progressive friend to the Jews.

History | History

Why George Washington was nearly impossible to kill

He survived tuberculosis, dysentery, pneumonia, malaria, and more.

Stories like these are why it seems VERY illogical to scoff at the idea of Divine Providence's role in American history.

History | History

When a Jewish man was lynched for murdering a little girl, the Klan was reborn

On Thanksgiving night in 1915, Joseph Simmons and 15 men gathered at the peak of Stone Mountain, near Atlanta, Georgia. Their faces lit by a flaming cross, they declared that the Ku Klux Klan was…

Most people don't know that the Klan lynched Jews as well as blacks. Obviously, in far fewer numbers. Remember that the next time you hear someone Jewish being accused of "white privilege" simply because our skin tends to be light. Bigotry is not confined to racism and never has been. People seem to selectively forget that.

History | History

"Darkest Hour' - Churchill’s powerful ‘fight on the beaches’ speech: The words few people actually heard

As the 'Darkest Hour' debuts in movie theaters, the strange story of how people finally got to listen to Churchill deliver one of history's most stirring speeches.

I strongly recommend that you go see "Darkest Hour." In my opinion, it is one of the finest films about Churchill. Of course, this speech is a highlight.

History | History

Auschwitz-Birkenau: 4 out of 10 German students don′t know what it was | News | DW | 28.09.2017

Just 47 percent of 14- to 16-year-olds in Germany know that Auschwitz-Birkenau was a Nazi death camp, a survey shows. Its authors cite fewer history lessons as a reason.

When I was in my 20s, I knew Germans in their 30s who knew next to nothing about the Holocaust. These were people who grew up in its immediate aftermath. Germany is still schizophrenic about Holocaust education and that only feeds the deniers in their despicable attempts.

History | History

Reconstructed Auschwitz prisoner text details ′unimaginable′ suffering | Germany | DW | 09.10.2017

A newly reconstructed document written in 1944 by a Greek Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz tells of misery "the human mind can not imagine." The text was discovered buried in the ground at the Nazi extermination camp.

History | History

Abba Kovner and Resistance in the Vilna Ghetto

Abba Kovner led resistance fighters in both the Vilna Ghetto and in the Rudninkai Forest against the murderous Nazi enemy during the Holocaust

There are many stories of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. This is just one, they all need to be told. With almost no resources, heroes emerged that took on the Nazis, and in many cases, saved hundreds of lives.

History | History

Coca-Cola collaborated with the Nazis in the 1930s, and Fanta is the proof

The not-so-sweet history

It's amazing that Coke, the all-American beverage, was a favorite of the Nazis AND that the company's attitude toward the Germans was so friendly. Also, how is Fanta even still in business? It tastes terrible and is apparently the product of the Nazis.

History | History

Jewish high jumper barred from 1936 Olympics dies at 103

Margaret Lambert, a Jewish high jumper who was barred from competing at the 1936 Olympics, has died at the age of 103.

This woman was truly remarkable. If you don't know her story, you should definitely read this.

History | History

How Americans Celebrated Independence Day in 1777 | Mental Floss

July 4, 1776, may not be the day the Continental Congress declared their independence from England (that would be July 2). It's not even the day that signing of the Declaration began (that would be a month later and drag on for quite some time).

History | History

The Battleship That Went from Pearl Harbor to D-Day

The D-Day landings featured an immense fleet – including seven battleships. One, HMS Rodney, was notable for being the only battleship to torpedo another battleship. However, one of the American battleships came to Normandy via Pearl Harbor, where she was run aground.

I was obsessed with Pearl Harbor when I was a kid. I still have the guide book that I got there when I was seven. I wrote papers about it in school, have visited many times, and have read dozens of books about it. Somewhat weirdly, I was just talking to someone about the USS Nevada a few days ago (really). It's a fascinating story and illustrates perfectly how badly, not just the Japanese, but all of the Axis powers, underestimated the United States.

History | History

New documents reveal Allies knew of Holocaust years before previously assumed - Diaspora - Jerusalem Post

Despite the knowledge, the Allies did little to help stop the massacre at the hands of the Nazi regime.

History | History

The Holocaust's Great Escape | History | Smithsonian

A remarkable discovery in Lithuania brings a legendary tale of survival back to life

History | History

John Glenn and the courage of the Mercury Seven

In a time before any human had traveled in space, Glenn and his colleagues staked their lives on something that seemed impossible.

History | History

Posthumous honor for US officer who saved 200 Jewish GIs from the Nazis -- and never told a soul | The Times of Israel

With a Nazi pistol pointed at his head, Master Sgt. Roddie Edmonds refused to reveal which of his soldiers were Jews. This week he was recognized for his bravery

This is an amazing story of bravery, principle and American toughness. It may also make you a little teary eyed.

"Upon seeing all the soldiers lined up, the camp’s commandant, Major Siegmann, approached Edmonds. He ordered Edmonds to identify the Jewish soldiers.

“We are all Jews here,” Edmonds said.

Irate, the commandant jammed his pistol against Edmonds’ head and repeated the order. Again, Edmonds refused."

It also proves, again, that the revisionist idea that only the SS, and not the German army (the "Wehrmacht ") participated in the Holocaust is a serious lie:

"Throughout the war, the Wehrmacht either murdered Jewish soldiers captured on the Eastern Front or sent them to extermination camps."

History | History

The Holocaust Without Jews – Attempts to de-legitimize Israel by universalizing the specific suffering of Jews in the Shoah

On Thursday, Israel will mark Holocaust Remembrance Day, Yom HaShoah. As has been the custom for over six decades, a 2-minute air raid siren will be blared across the entire country and citizens from all walks of life will interrupt their daily routines f

"The evolution of two different days of Holocaust commemoration and the ways they increasingly run counter to each other are symptomatic of the seizure of Jewish history and suffering for ulterior purposes. This victim displacement appropriates the most traumatic experience in Jewish history, pointedly erases the specificity of the events supposedly being commemorated, and then harshly chides Jews for inserting their own particularistic concerns into the discussion. At a certain point, these phenomena become a continuation of a specific form of oppression and erasure rather an antidote to “hatred.”"

History | History

Jewish Actor Dustin Hoffman Weeps After Discovering Great-Grandmother Escaped Soviet Concentration Camp (VIDEO) | Jewish

Famed actor Dustin Hoffman was reduced to tears on Tuesday after learning that his great-grandmother had escaped a Soviet concentration camp before starting a life for herself in America, People magazine reported. The Oscar-winning star, who is Jewish,

History | History

44 books on 44 presidents: Hitting the wall with Martin Van Buren

In which our brave reader nearly loses his damn mind reading about the eighth president of the United States.

I would like to do this. Maybe after Moptwo takes off! Seriously, this is an interesting idea. I just finished a great book about Washington. It was only about 100 pages, but amazingly excellent. But Van Buren.....wel....

History | History

Adams vs. Jefferson: The Birth of Negative Campaigning in the U.S.

Negative campaigning in the United States can be traced back to John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Back in 1776, the dynamic duo combined powers to help claim America's independence, and they had nothing but love and respect for one another. But by 180

I have been saying this for many years. Anyone who thinks that politics today is uncivil should learn more about the election of 1800. It makes today look like we're dealing with amateurs in terms of mudslinging.

History | History

The BBC Flew A Drone Over Auschwitz. What They Caught On Film Sent Chills Down My Spine | Greenville Gazette

Recently, a drone flown by the BBC was flown over the remains of Auschwitz. This was one of the most infamous concentration camps from WWII and the release of the footage is timely, as the

This is literally chilling. You don't understand how large this death factory was until you see it. THIS is why the Shoah (the Holocaust) is different. At no other other time in history was this massive of an effort make to eliminate an entire people (remember that Auschwitz was one of MANY camps). There is no other incidence of genocide in history that was like this, on this scale. Shame on people like Justin Trudeau for their failure to acknowledge that it was the Jews that were the primary target, and victims, of the absolute horror that this video gives you a just a "mere" glimpse of.

"The images revealed by the BBC’s drone are disturbing. While one can walk into Auschwitz and take a tour, these bird’s eye view pictures give a sense for the enormity of the atrocity taking place."

History | History

Oldest U.S. vet, 110, helps mark Pearl Harbor Day

Live webcasts from Pearl Harbor, interment at the USS Arizona, Honolulu parade and other events mark the 74th anniversary of the surprise attack that led the U.S. into World War II

Pearl Harbor has always had a special significance for me. My father's birthday was December 7. December 7, 1941 was my dad's 18h birthday. He was also stationed at Schofield Barracks, near Pearl Harbor and also a target of the Japanese attack, from 1943 onward. I went to Pearl Harbor for the first time when I was about 7 and immediately became obsessed with it. I still have the guide book that I bought that day (or my parents bought for me). I wrote a term paper on it in high school and read at least a dozen books on it by the time I was 17. I didn't like reading books as a kid.

This story is very interesting to me. If you do the math, this man joined the military at 37, at an age when most people could have easily opted not to. In those days though, it was more common because we all understood the threat. we also had a much stronger sense that we are ALL equally American EVEN is society didn't see us that way sometimes. We knew that we had an unshakable common interest despite the negative aspects of our society (which were obviously far more commonplace a that time). We also have to remember that many of the "Greatest Generation," including Pearl Harbor survivors and people like this man, are still with us. We should be thanking them, but far more importantly, we should be learning from them. They have experienced an enormous expanse of history which took them from the Great Depression, through WWII, to where we all sit at this moment.

History | History

Correcting Mistakes About Hanukkah - The Michael Medved Show

Despite extensive media coverage and rising levels of public partying, the holiday of Hanukkah still causes confusion among both Jewish and non-Jewish Amer

This is an important article. The meaning of Chanukah is much different than what many contemporary people seem to believe it is. In my opinion he real message of Chanukah is far more compelling.

History | History

Beyond Monticello and Mount Vernon: The Other Presidents’ Houses - NYTimes.com

James Buchanan was in a huff. Sure, he was president, and the Southern states were talking about secession. But in the old “all politics is local” spirit, he was also upset that landlords in his hometown, Lancaster, Pa., were refusing to rent to students at Franklin & Marshall College, where he served on the board of trustees. As a protest, he opened his own estate, Wheatland, to student tenants. While it seems unlikely, that, say, George H. W. Bush would have rented his seaside home in Kennebunkport, Me., to tourists, things were different in the mid-19th century.

History | History

Multimillion-dollar photo of Billy the Kid playing croquet was $2 junk shop find | US news | The Guardian

The image, unearthed in Fresno, California, is only the second confirmed picture of the outlaw – the other sold for $2.3m in 2011

History | History

6 Constitutional Amendments That Just Missed the Cut | Mental Floss

Since 1789, Congress has approved 33 constitutional amendments. Twenty-seven of those amendments were eventually ratified and became part of the Constitution. Six failed after being sent to the states. Here's the scoop on those six that didn't make the

History | History

Video: A New Way of Looking at the True Human Cost of WWII

Using technology and updated numbers, filmmaker Neil Halloran dissects World War II in a new way.

This really portrays the human costs of WWII in a very stark way. It adds much needed perspective to what the war cost in human terms and the price paid by the Greatest Generation.

My father was a WWII veteran. I wish more and more that I had been more persistent in trying to get him to tell me about his experiences (and I was persistent, it just wasn't something he wanted to talk about). Ironically I met someone last night who was very adamant about her pacifism. I asked her if she thought that we should have stayed out of WWII. Her response was that we should never have tried to impose our values on the rest of the world and that "all wars" were only about profit and forcing your "world view" on others. Again, I pointed out that WWII was about eradicating evil from the planet. I also mentioned that I am reading "Band of Brothers" and, to a man, those guys all despised war, but new that what they were doing was necessary. Her response was that (at age 35) she "knows nothing" about WWII and that I would "win" the conversation (not because of facts, but because of her ignorance). The fact that this was not about "winning," but about understanding how the world works was beyond her. This is why history MUST be taught at an early age and taught well.

History | History

WWII Aircraft Carrier Is Found 'Amazingly Intact' On Ocean Floor Near San Francisco : The Two-Way : NPR

It fought in World War II and was used in two atomic bomb tests. Now, 64 years after it was scuttled, the USS Independence has been located by an undersea survey team led by NOAA and the U.S. Navy.

More fascinating WWII history...

History | History

Recalling the liberation of Bergen-Belsen - www.jewishaz.com: World

On April 15, 1945, the British Second Army entered Bergen-Belsen. One week later, prisoners in the concentration camp beat Rachel Genuth (my mother) until she lost consciousness. The 15-year-old had managed throughout the war to evade punishment at the ha

I wanted to post this because today is Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day). There is no shortage of incredible stories about the Holocaust. In fact, we see them all of the time. But just remember: this was real and many of the people who endured this night,are are still with us. As are the people who experienced subsequent genocides because the world has not heeded the lesson of "never again."

History | History

Remains from those killed at Pearl Harbor on USS Oklahoma to be exhumed - CNN.com

Remains of up to nearly 400 unaccounted for service members tied to the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor will be exhumed, the Defense Department said.

This is a little bit morbid in my opinion, but it is history and it is important history. I started my semi-obsession with the Peal Harbor attack when I was about seven years old. Even as a kid I never really understood why it fascinated me so much, but it still does.

History | History

Photos reveal rising anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany in 1935 - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews

Jewish Scene: Eighty years ago, two Jewish journalists sent a Dutch photographer to document anti-Semitism in Third Reich and expose true face of Nazi party to the world, but international media didn't print photos.

And this quote says it all:

"The photographs were meant to stir as much publicity as possible, to make people aware of what's going on in Germany, but even in the Land of Israel they didn't understand what they were being warned from."

Obviously, there is a lesson here that we could, and should, be handling today.