When a leader has been responsible for a military disaster in a misbegotten war, it’s time for him to resign.

Most familiar with the history of the second world war are aware of the failed attempt to assassinate Hitler in 1944. But this is the first time I heard of one a year earlier. If the story is true, it’s ironic that the Fuehrer was saved by a British bombing raid.

…by the Marines happened 231 years ago, in the Bahamas. Before they were the US Marines.

Cecil Adams apparently never heard of the Wilkes Exploration Expedition, in which he suppressed a (probably justifiable) mutiny. Unless the question is about successful mutinies, but it doesn’t seem like he uses that restriction in his own examples. And of course, it’s also unsurprising that he’s unaware of it–it’s a little-known part of American history, at least until this book came out.

In Jamestown.

I had never realized that the anniversary of the founding of the Marines was the day before Armistice Day. It’s been two hundred thirty one years. They’re older than the nation itself–there’s never been a US of A without them.

Such may indeed be the state of our edumacational system. Early to bed, early to rise, makes one have no fear except fear itself.

[Sunday morning update]

Alan K. Henderson has some more misnamed action figures.

Two thirds of a century later, many historians are saying that the RAF didn’t win the Battle of Britain.

The Berlin Wall was erected forty five years ago today. And it’s been sixty-six years since the beginning of the Battle of Britain.

Did anyone call WWII WWII during WWII? Or was it only called that in retrospect? If not, what did they call it?

Would it make sense to simply rename the Cold War WWIII and call this one WWIV, so we can get away from this stupid “War On Terror” name?