History Facts

In United States History, December 7, 1941 is a day that will always be remembered. On this morning in beautiful Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the Japanese navy launched a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific fleet. The attack killed over 2,000 Americans and destroyed many ships and aircrafts. It was this surprise attack that pushed the United States into entering World War II. For more info, check out the Pearl Harbor facts below.

Fact #1 - The attack wrecked two U.S. Navy battleships, one minelayer, and two destroyers beyond repair, and destroyed 188 aircraft; personnel losses were 2,388 killed and 1,178 wounded.

Until September 11, 2001, Pear Harbor was one of the most devastating surprise attacks on United States soil in recent history. If you visit Pearl Harbor today, you can see a memorial set up honoring all the lost lives. Many innocent soldiers and civilians were killed that day.

Fact #2 - The Infamy Speech was delivered on December 8, 1941, by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, one day after the Empire of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.

You’ve most likely heard this famous speech, in which Roosevelt says “a date which will live in infamy.” The speech ran six and a half minutes and is regarded as one of the most famous political speeches in American history.

Fact #3 - 405 planes were to be used in the attacks with 10 not launching because of technical difficulties.

It is hard to image such a large aerial attack. Try to picture yourself in your backyard and looking up in the sky and seeing 405 fight planes overhead drop bombs and destroying everything around you. It’s weird to see 3 planes in the sky at one time, let alone 405.

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was a British politician known mainly for his leadership of the United Kingdom during World War II. He served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. A noted statesman and orator, Churchill was also an officer in the British Army, a historical writer, and an artist. Churchill is one of the greatest leaders in the history of the world. Check out these interesting facts about it.

Fact #1 - Winston Churchill was born with a speech impediment.

It’s hard to believe that one of the greatest orators in history was born with a speech impediment. It must have taken him a lot of time and practice to overcome his disability. After many years, he finally stated, “My impediment is no hindrance.”

Fact #2 - Winston Churchill served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945 and again from 1951 to 1955.

On the outbreak of WWII, Churchill was a proponent of rearmament and advocated joining forces with France and the Soviet Union in a fight against Nazi Germany.

Fact #3 - Winston Churchill is famous for his “finest hour speech.”

One June 18, 1940, just weeks after Hitler had major victories that led to the fall of Paris, Churchill delivered one of the most recognizable speeches in history to the British House of Commons. It ends with this: “Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour’.”

Fact #4 - When Winston Churchill passed away, his body lay in state for three days and a state funeral service was held at St Paul’s Cathedral.

No other state funerals have been held for non-members of the Royal family since Churchill’s in 1965.

Fact #5 - In a poll by the BBC in 2002, Winston Churchill was ranked #1 on a list of the 100 Greatest Britons of All Time.

That’s quite an honour.

Joseph Stalin was one of history’s most ruthless dictators. He murdered millions of his own innocent countrymen, often times without warning or cause. In the process, he took the Soviet Union from a rural country into an industrial super power.

Fact #1 - Joseph Stalin’s official title was General Secretary of the Communist Party. He was given this title in 1922.

This position was actually a modest post when Stalin was first assigned. It was only after several years that Stalin had developed it into the USSR’s most powerful office. I still think the title ‘Dictator’ sounds more ruthless then ‘Secretary’.

Fact #2 - The Russian word stalin means ‘man of steel.’

Joseph does not look like Superman to me.

Fact #3 - At the end of 1930s, Stalin launched the Great Purges, a major campaign of repression. Millions of people who were suspected of being a threat to the party were executed or exiled to Gulag labor camps in remote areas of Siberia or Central Asia.

Those who opposed or had different views from that of the Communist Party were considered threats to Stalin. It is estimated to up to 2 million people died during the Purge.

Fact #4 - Joseph Stalin and the Soviet Union played a major role in the defeat of Nazi Germany during WWII.

The United States and Great Britain pushed the forces east while the Soviet Union pushed Germany back to the west. Germany was ultimately surrounded and could not fight a war on two fronts.

Fact #5 - It is rumored that Joseph Stalin had a 2-year affair with Lidia Pereprygina, then aged 13, with whom he fathered two children.

Wow! And we thought Michael Jackson liked them young. So not only was Stalin a ruthless murderer, but he was also a pedofile.