Cracked Archive - History
An Injured Teen Sneaked Back Into WW1 By Cross-Dressing As A Nurse At A Dance
It's unclear why attending this dance helped his plan.
- Authors
- By Ryan Menezes
- Published
- Comments
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5
5 Mall Santas - How St. Nick Went From Shunned To Shopping Fixture
In light of the Santa shortage around the world, let’s look at where the trend of kids sitting on some stranger’s lap and asking him for stuff comes from.
- Authors
- By Zanandi Botes
- Published
- Comments
- 5
The First Time Warplanes Exchanged Fire, It Was Two Americans Faking Being Enemies
They were each deliberately aiming just below the other's plane, missing every time.
- Authors
- By Ryan Menezes
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- Comments
- 4
How Honduras And El Salvador (Sort Of) Went To War Over A Soccer Match
The Football War was fought for just a few days between Honduras and El Salvador. It started after a tense soccer match.
- Authors
- By Ethan Tyrrell
- Published
- Comments
- 1
Winston Churchill Had A Doctor's Note To Avoid American Prohibition Laws
Winston Churchill usually had a drink in his hand, and thanks to a doctor's note, he even got past Prohibition laws.
- Authors
- By Ethan Tyrrell
- Published
- Comments
- 0
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The Woman Who Took On All Of New York City (By Smoking)
In 1908, New York had a short-lived ordinance. One woman was arrested for violating it.
- Authors
- By Ethan Tyrrell
- Published
- Comments
- 3
13 Unexpected Origins of Christmas Traditions
We can thank Hallmark for wrapping paper, and Charles Dickens for a snow-filled Christmas.
- Authors
- By Shea
- Published
- Comments
- 18
How Stalin Weaponized Old-School Photoshop To Eliminate Rivals
Thousands of doctored photos show Soviet officials that Joseph Stalin made "disappear."
- Authors
- By Ethan Tyrrell
- Published
- Comments
- 10
Victorian Doctors (Wrongly) Thought Beards Could Prevent Diseases
For a brief period in the 1850s, some people believed that beards could act as masks to keep germs out.
- Authors
- By Ethan Tyrrell
- Published
- Comments
- 6
The Last Duel In Canada Was Appropriately Apologetic
In 1873, two dumb friends in Newfoundland decided to settle a dispute in a duel. Both of them were sorry about it.
- Authors
- By Ethan Tyrrell
- Published
- Comments
- 4
Sisters Made Motorcycle History (Then Got Arrested For Wearing Pants)
In 1916, two sisters rode across the country on motorcycles to make history.
- Authors
- By Ethan Tyrrell
- Published
- Comments
- 6
16 Ancient Gods That Are Metal As All Hell
Baron Samedi didn't have to go so hard
- Authors
- By Jay L'Ecuyer
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- Comments
- 22
America Killed A Cuban Cow With A Failed Satellite Launch
"With cows or without cows, the revolution will win," said Cuba.
- Authors
- By Ryan Menezes
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- Comments
- 7
'Jingle Bells' Eyebrow-Arching History And Creation
Turns out the guy who wrote about how fun it is to ride and sing some sleigh song also wrote Confederate anthems.
- Authors
- By Zanandi Botes
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- Comments
- 9
5 Strange Details Of Japan's 19th-Century UFO
They didn't have a word for it, but we'd call it a flying saucer.
- Authors
- By Cezary Jan Strusiewicz
- Published
- Comments
- 6
