war

What's the Origin of "Kilroy Was Here"?

Kilroy can be found all over the world, and went viral long before social media or the Internet were around.

Kaiser Hopes for 25 More Years of Peace

“Twenty-five years of peace, Mr. Carnegie, and I hope there will be twenty-five more!” Thus Kaiser Wilhelm II greeted Andrew Carnegie, the world-famous industrialist and peace advocate, who had come to Berlin to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Kaise

Grand Vizier Assassinated, Serbia and Bulgaria Prepare for War

Falkenhayn Appointed Minister of War

Thomas Farrell, the Man Who Built the World

In our Retrobituaries series, we spotlight those departed whose lives are insufficiently celebrated. Here is a look at the life of Major General Thomas Farrell, who died at 75 in 1967.

First Balkan War Ends

Ruse of War: 6 Sneaky But Brilliant Strategies

Here are six commanders who were dealt bad hands, but bluffed and ended up flush.

Conrad Urges War Against Serbia

The U.S. Military's Idiotic Idea for a Gay Bomb

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Serbia and Greece Ally Against Bulgaria

Montenegro Backs Down, Greeks and Bulgarians Clash

Austria-Hungary Mobilizes Against Montenegro

Montenegro Takes Scutari, Austria-Hungary Threatens War

Ceasefire in the Balkans, French War Council Approves Plan XVII

The U.S. Army's Plans for WWII Bat Bombs

Dan Lewis runs the popular daily newsletter Now I Know ("Learn Something New Every Day, By Email"). We've invited him to share some of his stories on mental_floss this week. To subscribe to his daily email, click

How the U.S. Army Made War with the Language of Peace

In the 1950s and 60s, the U.S. Army conducted training exercises using an imaginary enemy named, quite simply, Aggressor. The soldiers assigned to play the part of Aggressor troops had to speak a different language: Esperanto, the language of peace.

The Fall of Adrianople

King George I of Greece Assassinated

Google Celebrates UK's WWII Codebreakers

The World's Shortest War