Five Bizarre Facts You (Probably) Don’t Know About World War II

Crazy details from the Second World War

A photograph of Douglas Bader by Ragge Strand, 1955 (Wikimedia Commons)

World War II is a topic that cannot be avoided. In addition to being a popular topic in schools and universities, it crops up routinely in documentaries, movies, and bookstores.

But despite its overrepresentation, World War II remains a source of intrigue for many people. There are so many wonderful details to discover about this conflict, some of which will definitely take you by surprise.

1. The British Air Force Dropped a Prosthetic Leg Into German-Occupied Territory

A photograph of Douglas Bader by Stanley Arthur Devon, 1940 (Wikimedia Commons)

Back in 1931, British pilot Douglas Bader crashed his plane while attempting a low-level stunt. Though he managed to survive, he was seriously injured, and his legs were amputated.

After learning to fly with prosthetic legs, Bader went on to fight in World War II, piloting Hawker Hurricanes and Supermarine Spitfires against the Germans. On the 9th of August 1941, Bader’s plane was hit over Northern France, forcing him to abandon his aircraft and open his parachute. Worse still, he had…