White Friday 1916 – History’s Deadliest Avalanche occurred during WWI

The deadliest avalanche in history occurred at the worst possible time in the worst possible place.   A powerful avalanche killed hundreds of Austrian and Italian soldiers near Italy’s Mount Marmolada on 13 December 1916, in the middle of World War I. It would come to be known as White Friday. Over the next several weeks,Continue reading “White Friday 1916 – History’s Deadliest Avalanche occurred during WWI”

The Lost Amber Room – Russian Treasure and Nazi Plunder

When most people hear the word amber they might think about the popular Jurassic Park movies, where dinosaur DNA was discovered.  But the precious stone has been prized for centuries, most especially by the former Russian Empire. Their famous Amber Room was made with TONS of it.  After several back and forth “exchanges” between NaziContinue reading “The Lost Amber Room – Russian Treasure and Nazi Plunder”

Why Does The Middle East Have Straight Line Borders?!

Drawing the Middle East’s modern borders on a map with a ruler certainly seemed simple. Perhaps that’s why the lines, set in 1916 by Englishman Sir Mark Sykes and Frenchman Francois Georges-Picot were straight ones.