What are the most well - known ridiculous World War 2 stories?

The story of the 'War of the Stray Dog' is quite well - known. It all started because a stray dog wandered across a border and soldiers from both sides got into a skirmish over it. It seems so absurd that a dog could be the cause of military tensions.

The Rape of Nanking is one. The Japanese army carried out mass killings, rapes, and looting in Nanking. Tens of thousands of civilians were brutally slaughtered. Women were raped in large numbers, and the city was left in ruins. It was a great tragedy for the Chinese people and a dark chapter in World War 2.

The rescue of the Danish Jews is very well - known. When the Nazis planned to round up the Jews in Denmark, the Danish people united. They hid Jews in their homes, churches, and other places. Fishermen used their boats to transport Jews to safety in Sweden. This mass rescue was an amazing display of the Danish people's resistance against the Nazis and their compassion for the persecuted.

The Einsatzgruppen's massacres are among the scariest. These mobile killing units were responsible for the mass murder of Jews, Roma, and other groups in the occupied territories. They would round up people and execute them in cold blood, often in mass graves.

The Red Tails squadron, an all - African - American unit in the USAAF. They faced discrimination at home but in the air they were heroes. They had great success in escorting bombers over Europe, proving their worth as pilots and their courage in the face of danger.

In World War II, the Germans had a very powerful military machine at the start. But they made the ironic mistake of underestimating the Soviet Union's ability to endure and fight back. Hitler thought his blitzkrieg tactics would quickly defeat the Soviets. However, the harsh Russian winter, the vastness of the Soviet territory, and the tenacity of the Soviet people turned the tables. The Germans, who seemed invincible initially, faced a major setback due to their own overconfidence.

The story of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is extremely tragic. The atomic bombs dropped there killed hundreds of thousands instantly and led to long - term effects like radiation sickness and birth defects for generations. It was a dark moment in human history.

The Battle of Stirling Bridge is well - known. William Wallace led the Scots to victory against the English. His leadership and the Scots' will to fight for freedom were on full display. It was a remarkable moment in Scottish history.

The South African Border War is also a well - known African war story. South Africa was involved in a long - running conflict in Namibia and Angola. It was a complex war involving different political and military interests. The war had far - reaching consequences for the region in terms of politics, economy and social relations.

A famous story is about a small group of Gurkhas who held off a much larger enemy force during a night battle. Despite being outnumbered, they used their superior combat skills and the element of surprise. They fought with their kukris in close - quarter combat and with their rifles at a distance, making it difficult for the enemy to overrun them.