The Son-a-bitch History Question Thread.

[FedUpWithFaith]

Hmmm,

The only one I can think of now is Stalin. I assume it would have been while the Von Ribentrop (sp?) pact was still in effect - before the USSR joined the Allies.

So the only European countries that come to mind are Italy, England and Russia? There's to more to Europe than that

OK Frigid,

I'm starting to think it must be a Swiss person since you're Swiss. But i don't know any Swiss then as badass as Churchill.. But I'm sorry, when you said equal or greater "badassness" than Churchill, that doesn't leave a lot of room so I defaulted to Stalin.

[Chinaski]

Hmmm,

The only one I can think of now is Stalin. I assume it would have been while the Von Ribentrop (sp?) pact was still in effect - before the USSR joined the Allies.

So the only European countries that come to mind are Italy, England and Russia? There's to more to Europe than that

OK Frigid,

I'm starting to think it must be a Swiss person since you're Swiss. But i don't know any Swiss then as badass as Churchill.. But I'm sorry, when you said equal or greater "badassness" than Churchill, that doesn't leave a lot of room so I defaulted to Stalin.

I can't give you any more hints And Switzerland wasn't really badass... although we did scare Hitler off of ever invading us... Maybe that'll be the next question, how we did that

[FedUpWithFaith]

Oh wait, I just recalled this. The Finns were pretty badass too - kicking Russia's ass as they did.

I didn't recall that leader's name - had to look it up: Mannerheim

[Mallardz]

I can't give you any more hints And Switzerland wasn't really badass... although we did scare Hitler off of ever invading us... Maybe that'll be the next question, how we did that

We all know Hitler had a house in Switzerland from the film footage his wife made there.
He didn't invade for two reasons;
1. He lost his skies and wasn't willing to buy all the Wehrmacht a set each.
2. He suffered from bad hypoxia even at 100feet going up to the top of the mountains just to say "haha occupied!" wasn't worth it. He was just waiting to bulldoze the land flat then he'd have invaded only problem was the Americans got in the way and that kept him busy so he didn't get a chance. I guess the Americans, British, Canadians and French resistance were a third problem.

[Chinaski]

Oh wait, I just recalled this. The Finns were pretty badass too - kicking Russia's ass as they did.

I didn't recall that leader's name - had to look it up: Mannerheim

JACKPOT.

When Hitler gave Mannerheim a surprise visit on his 75th birthday, Mannerheim secretly took him to a private military base where he recorded their private conversation (the only existing record of the Führer in private), which revealed Hitler to be vulgar and uneducated, with a farmer's dialect; later, during the formal meeting, in front of Finnish and German officials, when Hitler asked for Finnish military support for some battle or other, Mannerheim responded by lighting a cigar and slowly blowing the smoke into Hitler's face.

No wonder this guy's the national Finnish hero.

[Chinaski]

I can't give you any more hints And Switzerland wasn't really badass... although we did scare Hitler off of ever invading us... Maybe that'll be the next question, how we did that

We all know Hitler had a house in Switzerland from the film footage his wife made there.
He didn't invade for two reasons;
1. He lost his skies and wasn't willing to buy all the Wehrmacht a set each.
2. He suffered from bad hypoxia even at 100feet going up to the top of the mountains just to say "haha occupied!" wasn't worth it. He was just waiting to bulldoze the land flat then he'd have invaded only problem was the Americans got in the way and that kept him busy so he didn't get a chance. I guess the Americans, British, Canadians and French resistance were a third problem.

Funny, but no. Truth is the Swiss military is, first of all, one of the largest in the world, as each male citizen over 18 is a de facto soldier. In addition, our training methods and equipment are respected worldwide (I hope Gawd can attest to this and make sure I'm not blowing shit out my ass). Our WWII tactics, and Hitler was fully aware of this, involved retreating into our alpine hiding spots, withdrawing the population south of the Alps, and hammering the bejesus out of any enemy soldiers who wandered lost through our mountains. Hitler knew perfectly well that it would've been hopeless.

[FedUpWithFaith]

There was more than that to Switzerland's ability to stay neutral - and not all of it is or should be a matter of national pride. All countries have skeletons in the closet and undoubtedly Switzerland's ability to hold its neutrality will be debated by historians for generations to come.

I don't think this is a question that you can expect one clear-cut answer on.

[Mallardz]

Funny, but no. Truth is the Swiss military is, first of all, one of the largest in the world, as each male citizen over 18 is a de facto soldier. In addition, our training methods and equipment are respected worldwide (I hope Gawd can attest to this and make sure I'm not blowing shit out my ass). Our WWII tactics, and Hitler was fully aware of this, involved retreating into our alpine hiding spots, withdrawing the population south of the Alps, and hammering the bejesus out of any enemy soldiers who wandered lost through our mountains. Hitler knew perfectly well that it would've been hopeless.

Okay. Is it Switzerland where everyone has to do national service still?
My English teacher gave me a long dull one on one lecture about why they should introduce it in the UK.

[Chinaski]

There was more than that to Switzerland's ability to stay neutral - and not all of it is or should be a matter of national pride. All countries have skeletons in the closet and undoubtedly Switzerland's ability to hold its neutrality will be debated by historians for generations to come.

I don't think this is a question that you can expect one clear-cut answer on.

"Look at all this gold! And this impressionist art from the 1930's and 40s! Where did it come from? Fairies must have brought it during the night!"

I know that we're guilty of a lot, including giving financial aid to both sides, allies AND nazis. That doesn't mean we're not badass anyway

[Chinaski]

Funny, but no. Truth is the Swiss military is, first of all, one of the largest in the world, as each male citizen over 18 is a de facto soldier. In addition, our training methods and equipment are respected worldwide (I hope Gawd can attest to this and make sure I'm not blowing shit out my ass). Our WWII tactics, and Hitler was fully aware of this, involved retreating into our alpine hiding spots, withdrawing the population south of the Alps, and hammering the bejesus out of any enemy soldiers who wandered lost through our mountains. Hitler knew perfectly well that it would've been hopeless.

Okay. Is it Switzerland where everyone has to do national service still?
My English teacher gave me a long dull one on one lecture about why they should introduce it in the UK.

Yep. It's kinda useless now, as no one in hell would ever invade us, but it saved our asses many times in the past.

[FedUpWithFaith]

"Look at all this gold! And this impressionist art from the 1930's and 40s! Where did it come from? Fairies must have brought it during the night!"

I know that we're guilty of a lot, including giving financial aid to both sides, allies AND nazis. That doesn't mean we're not badass anyway

LOL,

Well, there was this beautiful Swiss exchange student at my high school many years ago. I just know I wanted to fuck her, not fight her. She had one awesome ass on her too.

[FedUpWithFaith]

Is it my turn by the way?

If so here's my question. Who was the ironic model for Indiana Jones?

[cowiz]

Otto Rahn?

[Chinaski]

Paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews.
Italian archaeologist and circus strongman Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778–1823).
Yale University professor, historian, and explorer Hiram Bingham III, who rediscovered and excavated the lost city of Machu Picchu, and chronicled his find in the bestselling book The Lost City of the Incas in 1948.
The University of Chicago archaeologist Robert Braidwood
Fellow University of Chicago archaeologist James Henry Breasted
British archaeologist and soldier T. E. Lawrence
Frederick Albert Mitchell-Hedges
German archaeologist Otto Rahn

Any of these?

[FedUpWithFaith]

Otto Rahn

Depending on what sources you read their were others but Rahn was the closest model. But just in case that's why I added the word "ironic" since Rahn worked with the SS/Nazis. Boo-hiss. There is a fascinating story and mystery surrounding him - well worth a read.

Good job pawiz - your turn.