Top 10 Craziest Stories in History NO ONE Talks About

#10: Wojtek the Wartime Bear

Aint no rules says a bear cant serve in World War II. In what sounds like something from a Disney movie, a boy in Iran discovered a bear whose mother had been shot by hunters. At the request of a Polish generals great-niece, Anders Army purchased the bear, whod be named Wojtek, aka Happy Warrior. To the 22nd Artillery Supply Company, Wojtek was more than a mascot. He was one of their own, drinking with soldiers, smoking/eating cigarettes, and marching on two legs. Wojtek even carried ammunition crates. To keep Wojtek in their care, the bear was officially made a private and then a corporal. After the war, Wojtek was donated to Scotlands Edinburgh Zoo, where he lived out the rest of his life.

#9: The Bloody Benders

In an age overrun with true crime content, were surprised more people arent familiar with the Bloody Benders. The Benders were a family of four, although its debated whether the two youngest were siblings or a couple. Thats one of the many missing puzzle pieces, including where they came from before arriving in Kansas. What we can say with certainty is that the Benders ran an inn and claimed more than ten lives over roughly two years. Eventually, one of the missing travelers brothers (a colonel during the Civil War) started an investigation. By the time bodies were uncovered, the Benders had already fled. While several accused accomplices were arrested, there are conflicting reports on whether the Benders were killed or got away with murder.

#8: The Great Emu War

LiMu Emu and Doug might lead you to believe that flightless birds and humans have always coexisted in harmony. Long before they helped people save money on car insurance, the emu was mans natural enemy. More specifically, they were the enemies of Australian farmers in 1932. Between World Wars I and II, Australians went to war with emus, which had been destroying crops at a time when wheat was in demand. When we say war, you might think were exaggerating, but many of these farmers were former soldiers. Armed soldiers from the Royal Australian Artillery even got involved. Although a reported 2,500 emus were slain, the birds were faster, stronger, and more agile than expected, winning the war with most of the population preserved.

#7: The Kentucky Meat Shower

Has it ever literally rained cats and dogs? Well, it remains unclear what kind of meat fell from the sky on March 3, 1876. So maybe? Kentucky residents felt like they were in a scene straight out of Exodus when what looked like pieces of red meat bombarded the land below. It only lasted a few minutes between 11 am and noon, but historians are still searching for answers over a century later. Assuming these chunks for the heavens were indeed meat, people couldnt seem to agree on whether it derived from cattle, lamb, or even humans. As for how this happened, the most popular theory was that vultures vomited while in flight. Whatever the explanation, its an enigma with plenty to chew on.

#6: President Lincolns Theatre Guests

Much has been written about Abraham Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth, and the assassination that altered American history. What many fail to realize is that the Lincolns werent the only ones sitting in the presidential box that fateful night. Henry Rathbone, a lawyer turned Union Army officer, and his fiancée, Clara Harris, were invited to Fords Theatre as Lincolns guests. Once the shot was fired, Rathbone attempted to stop Booth, who stabbed him as he made his escape. Rathbone recovered from his physical wounds, but his mental health diminished over time. After marrying, Rathbone killed Harris. Their children mightve met the same fate if not for a groundkeeper. Although Rathbone attempted to take his own life, he spent the remainder of his days institutionalized.

#5: The Fairy of Verdun

A soprano opera singer from Paris, Nelly Martyl regularly appeared on stage and in fashion magazines. Amid World War I, Martyl pursued a new career path as a Red Cross nurse. Between 1916 and 1917, she provided aid during the Battle of Verdun and the Second Battle of the Aisne. For her efforts at the former, Martyl came to be known as the Fairy of Verdun. Even after the war ended, Martyl dedicated herself to helping others. She provided care throughout the 1918 flu pandemic and later started a medical charity. Martyl would be honored with the Croix de Guerre, a French military award for soldiers who served in the first World War. Yet, her name deserves to be sung higher praises.

#4: The Dancing Plague of 1518

Dance fever is one thing, but a dancing plague? Thats the only way to describe the bizarre phenomenon that, for lack of a better word, plagued the city of Strasbourg in 1518. Frau Troffea was reportedly the first person who took to the streets and broke out into dance. Over time, her solo act turned into an ensemble piece that ranged from 50 to 400 dancers. Some would supposedly dance themselves to death over the weeks, which turned to months. What inspired this case of dancemania? Mass hysteria brought on by stress? Food poisoning from ergot fungi? We may never know for sure, but the only thing crazier than the story itself is the fact that its not taught in more schools.

#3: Yasuke the African Samurai

In 1581, an Italian Jesuit missionary named Alessandro Valignano met with Oda Nobunaga, the first of Japans three great unifiers. In Valignanos company was a Black man, whom the missionaries employed for protection. Nobunaga was intrigued by the African mans skin color, initially convinced it was paint. Hitting it off, Nobunaga requested that the man join his service, giving him the Japanese name of Yasuke. He not only stood out as a Black samurai, but the first documented samurai who didnt originate from Japan. Following Nobunagas death, Yasuke served his son and successor, Oda Nobutada. Yasuke was captured by the forces of Akechi Mitsuhide, the general who betrayed Nobunaga. The African samurai was spared, although what became of him after is a mystery.

#2: Project A119

In the mid-20th century, the U.S. raced against the Soviet Union to reach the Moon first. America fell behind its Cold War rival with the launch of Sputnik 1. While the U.S. retaliated with Explorer 1 shortly after, the Air Force was conceiving another plan to one-up the Soviet Union: nuke the Moon! Dubbed Project A119, the plan was to send a nuclear device to the Moon, causing an explosion that could be seen from Earth. Surely, this would lift the spirits of the American people, right? It was rumored that the Soviet Union had a similar operation in mind, planning to use a hydrogen bomb. Project A119 was ultimately deemed too potentially hazardous, opting to put a man on the Moon instead.

#1: Undercover in Auschwitz

Getting captured on purpose is a common trope in movies. For Polish officer Witold Pilecki, though, it was part of a real plan that sent him to one of human historys most dangerous and inhumane locales: Auschwitz. Pilecki agreed to infiltrate the infamous concentration camp, which had been established a few months earlier. Allowing himself to get arrested along with about 2,000 others, he arrived at Auschwitz with a fake identity and formed a resistance. Receiving help from inmates, Pilecki sent reports about the atrocities taking place to the Home Army. After nearly three years, Pilecki staged his escape with two fellow prisoners, eventually making it to a safe house. Ironically, the house had belonged to Tomasz Serafiski, the name Pilecki used while undercover.

What are some other crazy historical stories that not enough people talk about? Let us know in the comments.