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The story of the first McDonald’s restaurant is more than a tale about hamburgers and milkshakes. It is a story about innovation, efficiency, postwar American culture, and the transformation of eating habits across the world. What began as a modest roadside hamburger stand in Southern California eventually became one of the most recognizable business enterprises…
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The battle of the Netherlands was really best described in biblical terms, it was a fight between David and Goliath. Valiantly the Dutch fought the Germans for 4 days, Although they were poorly equipped and badly organized they kept fighting and caused significant damage to the Germans. But on May 14,1940 when the Luftwaffe virtually…
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During the war in Papua New Guinea, the local population who were sympathetic to the Australian troops would assist where they could. Notably they would help in transporting stores and equipment over the rough terrain. Teams carried seriously wounded and sick Australian soldiers all the way back to their bases. Their compassion and care of…
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Abraham Icek Tuschinski was one of the most remarkable figures in the history of European cinema. Born in Poland and later becoming a celebrated entrepreneur in the Netherlands, Tuschinski transformed moviegoing into a luxurious cultural experience. His life reflected the hopes of immigrants in early twentieth-century Europe, the rapid rise of the film industry, and…
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It is strange how things can come full circle. My first real blog was about an event during WWII in my hometown of which I was blissfully ignorant about, until I stumbled upon it by accident.. I came across the story of Frieda Goldschmidt-Jakob which actually ties into that story. On October 5,1942 the RAF…
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In any war or crisis, there are companies that make a profit. To some people, this may sound disgusting—but unfortunately, it is a fact. Abraham Puls owned a removal company in Amsterdam. He had been a member of the NSB, the Dutch Nazis, since 1934. His company was responsible for the ransacking of the homes…
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Some of you may know that I’m a rock fan, and one of my favourite bands is Queensrÿche(with Geoff Tate). One song in particular has always stayed with me: “Home Again.” The song explores the emotional toll of war from two perspectives — a father on the battlefield and his daughter waiting for him at…
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I appreciate that the speed of communication in 1945 was not as fast as it is now—but the Wehrmacht soldiers in Amsterdam on May 7, 1945, would definitely have heard that on May 4, 1945, Field Marshal Montgomery accepted the official surrender of the German army in Northwest Europe at his headquarters on Lüneburger Heath…
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All I want is to be treated like a Human being. I don’t want big presents or fancy food. I don’t even want to be treated like a Prince. All I want is to feel the sunlight touch my skin on a warm summer day. Or to hear the crackling of the snow under my…
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British politics is probably the most intriguing politics in the world. With all its traditions and even the sometimes humorous debates in the house of commons are often fascinating. However what many people don’t know that in 1812 on the 11th of May the only ever assassination of a British Prime minister took place. Spencer…
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