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If there’s one thing we as humans are going to do, it’s fight. Whether it’s brawls in a bar parking lot, childish skirmishes on the playground, or global, devastating armed conflicts — we humans know how to wreck some stuff.

Throughout history, there have been many kinds of conflicts: the 335-year war, where everyone forgot they were fighting; the friendliest “Whiskey War” between Canada and Denmark; or the Pig War in San Juan, where both sides realized how ridiculous the cause was and just stopped fighting.

We rarely get to see moments from these types of events, but thanks to the “Explaining All Wars” page on Instagram, now we can. With 139k followers, the account shares photographs of historical moments many of us have probably not seen before. Here’s your chance to see the origins of the baseball, the daily routine of President Eisenhower, and how a random starving donkey became the mascot of the French Foreign Legion.

More info: Instagram

#1

A World War II g*****e next to a baseball, highlighting military innovation and historical context, explaining all wars.

explainingwars Report

Boris Mohar
Community Member
3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So you can't write a g*****e, but you can show a picture of one

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    #2

    Dwight D. Eisenhower smoking, a historical moment of a leader under immense stress, explaining all wars.

    explainingwars Report

    Niki
    Community Member
    6 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Considering what he knew it would cost and what was at stake, I can imagine he was a bit stressed.

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    #4

    A historical illustration depicting the Siege of Rouen, showing the city walls, cannons, and soldiers during past wars.

    explainingwars Report

    Heffalump
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Also happened at the siege of Alesia when Julius Caesar was besieging Vercingetorix.

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    #5

    A fully restored WWII Panzer V tank being removed, a powerful historical image showing remnants of wars.

    explainingwars Report

    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Panzer V, aka Panther, was one of the smaller tanks ... only about 45 tons. Thats a hell of a crane load

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    #7

    Lyndon Johnson listening to a tape from his son-in-law from Vietnam in 1968, related to explaining all wars.

    explainingwars Report

    Niki
    Community Member
    1 minute ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This picture says a lot about how even strong, seemingly unflappable humans can be moved to tears and sorrow.

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    #11

    Mushroom cloud from a nuclear war, highlighting the devastating potential of wars.

    explainingwars Report

    Analyn Lahr
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Drink copious amounts of alcohol and wait for the inevitable blast wave. "

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    #12

    Historical image of a flamethrower in a burning town, representing the cruel realities of all wars.

    explainingwars Report

    marianne eliza
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    On some documentary I watched on TV, a Japanese woman, in charge of a Hiroshima memorial, had the cojones to accuse the USA of crimes against humanity for the bombing. Seems her school didn't teach her about China, Pearl Harbor, Comfort Women, D***h Marches, a*****e POW camps, and so on./s

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    #14

    Large group photograph of the British battlecruiser Hood crew before battle, illustrating a historical war event.

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    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    One round hit her ammo magazine ... she broke her back and sank in three minutes

    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Follow on Google News

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    #18

    A meme showing the USA as a new foe appearing, following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, explaining history and wars.

    explainingwars Report

    David Paterson
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    America 1940. We're never going to get government approval to join the war unless Japan attacks Pearl Harbour.

    #20

    A soldier spraying DDT in an Italian home in 1945, a historical moment of explaining all wars.

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    Kabuki Kitsune
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    DDT is still legal to use. Sort of. While widespread use by citizens and farmers isn't allowed, cities in mosquito prone areas are legally allowed to maintain small stockpiles of DDT and use it for vector control. Meaning spraying it over stagnant ponds where mosquitos breed. However the supply can't be replenished, so eventually they'll have to turn to other sources.

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    #21

    Polish Legion members in France prepare for the German invasion of 1940, showcasing history explaining all wars.

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    B Parke
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was thinking the same thing and then saw the comment about Cena.

    #24

    Black and white photo of the Night Witches, an all-female 588th Night Bomber Regiment during WWII, explaining all wars.

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    Elladine DesIsles
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    FYI, this was a Soviet unit, since the text above doesn't locate them.

    #30

    Winston Churchill in 1931, legally drinking alcohol during Prohibition, related to explaining all wars.

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    Dedly
    Community Member
    3 hours ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    #33

    A woman calmly drinking tea amidst rubble after a German bombing raid during the London Blitz, explaining all wars.

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    Loosey Goosey
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    💯 I even made sure that there was a tea urn at my dad's wake.

    #35

    Vintage photos of French girls wearing German boyfriends uniforms during World War 2, a piece of history.

    vintagestuff4 Report

    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Many of them ended up getting their heads shaved and run out of town when the Germans retreated

    #41

    A samurai warrior with his cat, illustrating a unique aspect of historical figures and their connection to wars.

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    Kenny Kulbiski
    Community Member
    4 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kinda like when my cat drags me around on his walk. Except I don't have that cool Samurai gear.

    #42

    Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany inspecting troops around 1915, a historical image related to wars.

    explainingwars Report

    Robyn Hill
    Community Member
    1 hour ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Inspecting troops or auditioning for A Chorus Line?

    #43

    A Warsaw police officer in 1921 wearing experimental body armour, a unique piece of history explaining all wars.

    explainingwars Report

    StPaul9
    Community Member
    3 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stalhelms were adopted worldwide, including an excess sent to China. Poland seized hundreds and copied the design (after Germany lost, of course. They didn't steal it mid-war.)

    #47

    Black and white photo of a bear named Wojtek with Polish soldiers, showing an unusual history of wars.

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    marianne eliza
    Community Member
    2 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Poland needs to admit that civilians participated in purges, murders, and other crimes against the Jewish population. They were not the total victims some claim they were.

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    #52

    Historical black and white photo of Rommel inspecting fortifications on the beach near the Utah landing zone, 1944, related to past wars.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Rommel wasn't daft. He had Luftlandehindernis ("air-landing obstacle"s) aka 'Rommel's asparagus' installed in places where the Allies were expected. Basically, wooden poles linked by wires, including barbed wire and tripwires set to explode mines or hand grenades. Link follows.

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    #56

    A Trident II D5 missile launches from the ocean, representing US nuclear arsenal and explaining all wars.

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    David Paterson
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    After dismantlement, they can still be remantled. They haven't been destroyed. Also, they've been updated to greatly increase their use-by date.

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    #57

    A meme with a portrait of Tsar Nicholas II and text about his attempt to ban vodka, relating to history and wars.

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    David Paterson
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Last I heard. Russia and Belarus had the highest percentage of alcohol related deaths in the world.

    #59

    Winston Churchill as a prisoner of war during the Boer Republic days, a significant event in history of wars.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    W S Churchill deserves a lot of criticism. But for all his flaws, he did have personal courage - joined the British army as a young man, and as it turned out, actually took part in the last significant British cavalry charge. Compare and contrast to some of the current crop of world leaders... 🤔

    #60

    A RAF pilot flying a Hawker Hunter jet under Tower Bridge in London, a historical protest explaining all wars.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a fake. There's no photograph of the actual event - and by the pilot's account, he was flying straight and level at the time in any case. To cut a long story short and quoting Wikipedia he was 'arrested and later invalided out of the RAF on medical grounds, which avoided a court martial' - 'and the embarrassment to the government of Pollock publicising the reason for his stunt and perhaps receiving the support of the public'. He didn't actually plan on flying under Tower Bridge's walkways. From what I recall reading, it's just that he was flying along the route of the Thames and the bridge was there, and he basically just couldn't help himself... 😁

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    #62

    An intact American AIM-9 Sidewinder missile from 1958, reverse-engineered by Soviets, related to explaining all wars.

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    Russell Bowman
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Similar to what the Soviets did with a seized B-29 ... made a carbon copy called the Tu-4

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    #63

    HMS Victory flagship blanketed in snow at Portsmouth Dockyard, an iconic image in naval history of wars.

    explainingwars Report

    Dedly
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's still there, still striking. The oldest commissioned warship I think.

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    #66

    Historical image showing a Mickey Mouse gas mask designed by Walt Disney during WWII, explaining wars and history.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    53 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think the fact that they only made a few of these horrific gas masks makes the point that actually, they were much more terrifying than the normal gas masks. Yes, 'over 1000' is only a few - the entire UK population at the time was supplied with gas masks.

    #67

    Berlin at the end of WWII, a scene of destruction explaining the history of all wars and their impact.

    explainingwars Report

    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Warsaw? Try looking up Dresden. Berlin got off very lightly, all things considered. Well, the buildings did. The inhabitants? Well, Stalin took the view that since his troops had fought their way all across eastern Europe to get there, they were entitled to a bit of 'fun' at the expense of any local females... 🤢 Wars are nasty things, and some wars get nastier than others.

    #68

    Soviet soldiers posing in front of the Bamyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, a piece of history related to wars.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    56 minutes ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Umm, seriously? I think everyone with half an ounce of sense objected to all the d3aths relating to the many decades of recent warmongering in Afghanistan (you could start in the 1970s with the Soviet invasion, and the causes of that invasion). Putting the blame on the Taliban is ignoring those who are to blame for the rise of the Taliban - they have at least as much guilt. The history is very complicated.

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    #70

    A black and white photo of Henry Moseley in a laboratory, with text about his d***h in the Gallipoli Campaign, relevant to history and wars.

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    Forrest Hobbs
    Community Member
    3 hours ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Er, this is massively misleading. Dmitri Ivanovich Mendeleev came up with the periodic table. Moseley's experimental results sorted out some issues, yes; but lots of other people were involved at that point. Link follows.

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