war

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

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

Austria-Hungary and Russia Stand Down

The Corpse That Fooled Hitler

The Arms Race Shifts into High Gear

Next Time France Won’t Back Down, Poincaré Vows

Project Peacock: How the British Wanted to Heat WWII Mines

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

Origins of the Second Balkan War

Before the First Balkan War between the Balkan League and the Ottoman Empire was even over, another conflict was brewing—this time between the members of the Balkan League.

A Song of the South, Born in the North

While “Dixie” (you know, “Oh, I wish I was in the land of cotton/Old times there are not forgotten…”) might seem as inseparable from the South as collard greens and barbecue, the song was actually written in New York by an Ohio native.

Poincaré Takes Office, Coup in Mexico

Installment #56: On February 18, center-right politician Raymond Poincaré took office in an inauguration ceremony at the Hôtel de Ville. Poincaré’s presidency was an important factor in the lead-up to the First World War for a number of reasons. Although

How a Charm Bracelet Inspired the Monopoly Tokens

No doubt you’ve heard that the Internet elected a new token to the Monopoly lineup—and it’s a cat. Though it’s been a big news item that—gasp!—the iron is no longer an option for passing Go and landing in jail, this is hardly the first time the Monopoly g