Mussolini was brought up with firm socialist ideals and, as a young man, became a leading figure in Italian socialist circles. In June 1902, in an attempt to avoid conscription, Mussolini moved to Switzerland where he worked as a bricklayer, dabbled in …
The searchlights in this photo aren't intended for the use of the crews running the lights. Their purpose is helping the anti-aircraft gunners spot incoming bombers. And the anti-aircraft gunners aren't located at the lights. The glare from light reflec…
According to Chapman he actually had the gun in his pocket when this photo was taken, but he chickened out. He hung around in front of the Dakota getting his nerves up until John and Yoko came home later that night. Chapman waited outside Lennon's apart…
Drill instructors perform a hygiene inspection to ensure recruits have adequately showered, shaved, and have no medical issues. This was done to make sure that recruits had no health problems that can affect them from training. Back then the recruits ha…
In the picture, right next to him is Zito, one of the best midfielders of all time. He was Pelé´s partner in Santos team and Brazil's player in this World Cup. Pelé turned 18 during the 1958 World Cup, helped Brazil to reach the finals, and then win 5-2…
The building in the center of the photograph is the Old Bailey, one of London's courts, and the statue atop is The Lady of Justice. These iconic buildings including St Paul's Cathedral, where this picture is taken, are a testament to the incredible work…
Two German soldiers with a Wechselapparat ("Wex") flamethrower. The Germans introduced this small flamethrower in 19 17 to replace the earlier Kleif. The Wechselapparat ("Wex") had a doughnut-shaped backpack fuel container with a spherical propellant conta…
A Soviet spy laughs at his executioner in a picture taken in Rukajärvi, in East Karelia, in November 1942. It has been thought within the Finnish Defence Forces that the decision to withhold pictures of the fate of Russian prisoners of war and spies may…
Bobby Fischer is considered by many to be the greatest chess player who ever lived. In this particular simultaneous exhibition, he won 47 of the matches, drew 2, and lost 1. He lost to Donn Rogosin, not a well-known player. Fischer was 21 in this pictur…
The Desert Fox, the most well-respected Nazi commander. German General Erwin Rommel arrives in Tripoli, Libya, with the newly formed Afrika Korps, to reinforce the beleaguered Italians' position. In January 1941, Adolf Hitler established the Afrika Korp…
Until the end of the 1930s, the best women’s stockings were made from silk. This changed in the United States when DuPont began manufacturing nylon in 1939. Nylon stockings went on limited sale in October of that year followed by a national launch at selec…
The short-barreled version of the Thompson was Winston's personal favorite weapon of all time. He looks like a gangster from an old Hollywood movie. This photo was taken during an inspection of invasion defenses near Hartlepool, on July 21, 1940. The in…
Women in uniform have always an appeal. She is so amazingly beautiful. The uniforms were meant to be professional, feminine, attractive, and functional. Women were encouraged to be feminine (like wearing red lipstick) for morale. The Women's Army Corps …
This photo at first was regarded by many editors as too disturbing to print, but later became one of the most famous images of the first Gulf War. This photo was taken by Ken Jarecke, his quote: "If I don’t photograph this, people like my mom will think…
Matthäus Hetzenauer was an Austrian sniper in the 3rd Mountain Division on the Eastern Front of World War II, who was credited with 345 kills. His longest confirmed kill was reported at 1,100 meters (3,600 ft). Hetzenauer was also a recipient of the Kni…
Simo Häyhä, also known as "The White Death," was a Finnish sniper who is credited with killing 505 enemy troops within 100 days during the Winter War against the Soviet Union from 1939 to 1940. Simo Häyhä's involvement in the Winter War was very extraor…
The 1938-1939 German Expedition to Tibet was a May 1938 – August 1939 German scientific expedition led by German zoologist and SS officer Ernst Schäfer. Schäfer’s primary objective for the expedition was the creation of a complete scientific record of T…
Belorussian Strategic Offensive Operation (operation "Bagration") resulted in complete destruction of the German Army Group Center. In 2 months the 1,100 km front-line moved 600 km west. During this operation, the Soviet armies in Belarus completely des…
The vulture is waiting for the girl to die and to eat her. The photograph was taken by South African photojournalist, Kevin Carter, while on assignment to Sudan. He took his own life a couple of months later due to depression. In March 1993 Kevin Carter…
Heinrich Himmler looks at a young Soviet prisoner of war during an official visit to Shirokaya Street Concentration Camp in Minsk, Belarus, on or about August 15, 1941. You had to be a hard man to look Himmler in the face like that. This is standing for…