In the annals of human history, few events have left as profound an impact as World War II. From the rise of totalitarian regimes to the unparalleled scale of global conflict, the Second World War reshaped the course of nations and the lives of millions. Yet, amid the well-known narratives of battles and heroes, lie countless lesser-known facts and anecdotes that offer intriguing insights into this tumultuous period. Join us on a journey as we uncover some of the most fascinating and lesser-known facts about World War II, shedding light on the untold stories that continue to captivate and intrigue us to this day.
1. England back trick Germany
At one point during the Second World War, the Germans built fake airfields from wood to trick England and its allies into believing they were more powerful than they actually were? England saw right through this and took the piss out of it by building fake wooden bombs and dropping them on the airfields
2. Why Coca-cola owns Fanta?
Fanta was created in Germany during World War II due to the unavailability of Coca-Cola syrup because of trade restrictions. With Coca-Cola's syrup no longer accessible in Germany after the United States entered the war, Coca-Cola Germany had to devise an alternative beverage using whatever ingredients were locally available.
The formula for Fanta was developed using surplus ingredients like whey (a byproduct of cheese production), apple pomace (the pulp left over from pressing apples for cider or juice), and beet sugar. This makeshift beverage was then marketed under the brand name "Fanta."
After World War II ended, Coca-Cola regained control over its operations in Germany, including the rights to Fanta. The drink continued to be produced and marketed under the Coca-Cola umbrella, evolving into the popular soda brand that it is today.
3. Canaris betrayed Hitler
Wilhelm Canaris, the head of Abwehr (German Military Intelligence), was deeply disturbed by the atrocities witnessed during the invasion of Poland. As a result, he started working against Hitler's regime. Leveraging his position within Abwehr, Canaris set up ways to smuggle Jews out of occupied territories, collaborated on assassination attempts targeting Hitler, and is suspected of passing intelligence to the Allies. However, his activities were eventually uncovered, leading to his arrest and subsequent execution.
4. Japan's surrender almost failed
After the dropping of the first nuclear bombs and the Soviet declaration of war on Japan, the Japanese high command made the decision to surrender. The night before the emperor announced the surrender, there was an attempted coup to overthrow the military high command and continue the war until the bitter end. Thankfully it failed.
5. D-Day night's illusion
During WWII, The night before D-Day, Allied forces deployed a clever deception strategy to divert German attention away from the actual landing points. Among the airborne troops dropped behind enemy lines were dummies equipped with parachutes and explosives. Upon landing, these dummy paratroopers detonated, creating the illusion of a larger-scale invasion force in different locations. This diversionary tactic successfully drew German defenses away from the true landing zones, allowing the real paratroopers to land and carry out their sabotage missions against key targets. This strategic deception played a crucial role in turning the tide of the invasion in favor of the Allies.
6. Japanese Soldier Didn't Know the WWII is over.
There was a Japanese military soldier in the woods in the Philippines who had kept working on surveillance for 30 years since the end of the war without knowing the Japanese Empire surrendered.
7. Hitler's plan of taking over Polad
Hitler orchestrated the takeover of a German radio station, where German soldiers dressed up as Polish soldiers took over the radio station and broadcast anti-German propaganda to justify the declaration of war and eventual takeover of Poland.
9. Nagasaki was not the original target
During WWII, the original target city was Kokura for the 2nd bomb Fat Man, but smoke from previous bombing runs/fires and cloud cover they tried 3 times but could not see their target - with fuel running low they decided to proceed to the backup target of Nagasaki which also had increased cloud cover but on the last pass before having to return to the base they had a just clear enough window to drop it. It still ended up 2 miles off course and while still devastating the natural hills protected a big chunk of the city. The first bomb dropped on Hiroshima was only off by 800 feet and absolutely decimated the city.
10. Hitler was a spy for German army
Hitler only joined the Nazi party because the German army sent him to a meeting to basically spy on them. Someone was giving a speech suggesting Bavaria should leave Germany and join Austria. Hitler was enraged by this and went on a rant about why that was a bad idea. The other members were impressed and recruited him to join the party and the rest is history.
11. How many people died?
Nobody knows exactly how many people died during WWII, historians estimate the number to be between 70-85 million. The war was so widespread that there was no way to get an accurate body count when everything was said and done. To this day they are still finding the occasional body.
12. A bear had worked for Polish army, and retired
In World War II, a Syrian Brown Bear cub named Wojtek was purchased and adopted by a group of Polish soldiers who had escaped from the Soviet Union. He quickly became an important part of the 22nd Artillery company, so much so that he was officially enlisted as a private in the army to ensure he received rations. During the Battle of Monte Cassino, Wojtek helped carry ammunition crates and gained fame among allied forces. After the war, he retired to the Edinburgh Zoo.
13. People are still scared of Underground mines
After World War II, Even today, farmers across Europe contend with the ongoing legacy of war as they encounter mines, shells, and bombs buried in their fields. This yearly phenomenon, known as the "iron harvest," sees relics of past conflicts unearthed, sometimes with tragic consequences. Alongside the gates of many farms, you can often find these remnants set out for collection each spring.
Moreover, large swathes of France remain designated as the Zone Rouge, where the landscape is still scarred by the lingering presence of unexploded ordnance. Within these cordoned-off areas, entire villages lie destroyed or abandoned, and the soil is contaminated with high levels of arsenic and other toxic substances, rendering it inhospitable to life.
Even in areas deemed safe, the landscape bears visible scars of the past. Pockmarked fields, remnants of trenches, and the occasional discovery of soldiers' remains serve as reminders of the enduring impact of war, even a century after it ended.