Hi, I recall reading somewhere a story about Fabrique National (belgian weapon maker) during WW2, but since I'm not able to find it anymore I'm guessing was made up by someone.

The story was about that, when nazi germany invaded belgium, someone at FN (maybe the head?) fled with the blueprints of weapons and took them to england to give it to the allied forces.

Was this story made up by someone on internet? Or is it real?

TY!

(Repost since I felt my original post's title was too vague)

In Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, women living in the theocratic Republic of Gilead are forbidden from reading. Atwood has said that everything in the book was inspired by something that happened in real life. Were there ever sects or splinter groups that wouldn't allow women to read?

My question is really about possible antecedents to holocaust deniers rather than holocaust deniers themselves.

General Eisenhower is widely quoted quoted as saying, of his visit to the camp near Gotha:

"I made the visit deliberately, in order to be in [a] position to give first hand evidence of these things if ever, in the future, there develops a tendency to charge these allegations merely to propaganda".

That seems remarkably prescient and, to me at least, unlikely to have been sui generis or said without context.

Do we know what he had in mind when he said that?

Was it born out of his war time experience with propaganda or were there holocaust denier equivalents in his time? What were their issues?

What factors are likely have influenced his desire to be in a position to give first hand evidence (as distinct from the desire just to visit the camps, which is understandable from his position of leadership)?

I understand from a practical view that mummification was used to preserve the bodies of the deceased, but was this a ritual provided for the benefit of the deceased or their family, or some combination? Did the Ancient cultures (Egyptian or otherwise) believe that the spirit left the body before mummification, and that they were simply honouring their dead? Or did they believe they needed to perform the ritual in order for the deceased to pass on peacefully?

Note that I'm using "country" in the sense of a larger geographic entity that people identify with. That may not be appropriate for the early 18th century, even in places like, say, France (which look quite modern on a map).

It seems like much of the Holy Roman Empire after the Peace of Westphalia devolved into little more than city-states outside of what became Austria and places like Bavaria.

How did people living in cities in what is now Germany think of themselves? Did they see their cities as part of the Holy Roman Empire? Or was that institution so pointless by the early 18th century that it didn't mean anything to anyone, especially as far as broader geographic identities were concerned?

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What was the benefit of having 4 vs 3 planes in a flight during ww2?

I'm wondering whether the story of the invention and the inventor could be apocryphal, or even the device itself. Are there recorded examples of its use outside of that event? If so, how common was it for this method of torture to be utilized?

(edit - sorry, apparently italicizing doesn't work in the title field)

If you were to build a big project, like a castle or a church or something, how would you get your workers on site on time?

I've heard that farmers were largely confined to remaining in their domains, though permission to leave was often granted for pilgrimages to shrines and temples. On the other end of the social spectrum, the famous poet Basho seems to have been able to wander about whenever and wherever he wished. And of course, the sankin-kotai system mandated daimyo travel to Edo periodically. Basically, what were the rules as to who could go where during the Edo period? I realize this may be a big question, so recommendations for further reading are welcomed and encouraged.

To anticipate certain answers:

The lack of Christians in Japan would have to do with the repression and forced conversions of Christians by the Japanese government during the 16th century.

Korea also banned Christianity in the 18th century--although I can't speak to the relative extent of the persecution.

As well as the the historical lack of devotion to one particular faith, indicated by the mixture of the Shintoism and Buddhism...

Korea also traditionally believed in a blend of religions and philosophies including Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and indigenous shamanistic beliefs.

Russia and Ukraine are similar in culture and language and I know they used to be the same country in the past. I am in Ukraine now and most of the people here speak Russian and Ukrainian fluently. Even the place where Russia started (Kiev) is here. What happened?

Can't seem to find any information about this. He was alive during the election and the first year of John Quincy Adam's presidency, so it made me curious.

I'm currently reading about sub-Roman Britain, and in his "Ecclesiastical History of the English People", Bede writes that their are 5 languages spoken in Britain at the time (Early 8th century): The languages of the Angles, of the Britons, of the Picts, the Scots, and of the Latins. Were there communities of Latin speakers in Bede's day? Or, is he referring to a few scattered individuals? Thanks

In high school English class we were often taught that at Shakespeare's plays there write be a broad mix of classes. The Globe Theater would have the peasant class on the floor level, while the balconies would have the rich.

I guess first, is that first premise true? Secondly, Would common folks be able to go see an orchestra, ballet, or opera?

I'm reading Europe's Tragedy by Wilson at the moment, and I have to say he makes a convincing argument that Gustavus wasn't really all that impressive as he's been made out to be. Lutzen was a disaster, he relied off of pure frontal assaults and in the end practically lost the battle in addition to losing his life.

Why has there been a cult of support and admiration around Gustavus Adolphus when he really wasn't even the greatest general of the conflict? Turenne, Wallenstein (who Wilson argues thrashed him twice), and others were more capable. Why is this the case?

Also, can you recommend me some definitive books on Generalship during the Thirty Year's War? What are some of the best books to read that are purely military history driven?

Thanks!

I've got some vague memory of reading medieval peasants were tasked to grow peach in hamlet by their lords despite they were forbidden to eat these fruits they grew. However I cannot find it no more on google/reddit.

Was this true or false?

Bernie Sanders was the mayor of Burlington, Vermont from 1981-1989. My question is, what was Bernie Sanders like as the Mayor of Burlington, Vermont? For example, what did he accomplish as mayor and how did the citizens of Burlington view him? And how was he like to work with?

Thanks!

I've heard people lightly touch upon nerves King George V may have held in regards to revolutionary spirit following the Tsar and his family to Great Britain, but was that it? Were these concerns valid? Finally, following the death of the Imperial family, did George have any regrets about not granting them asylum? He must have reflected upon them in some way, was anything recorded?

Apologies if this is poorly worded, and thank you for reading!

I'm watching Land of Mine and German Prisoners of War are being used to clear minefields on Danish beaches. Why didn't they have tanks run over the beaches and other regions to clear the minefields? Wouldn't that have been a much faster way to detonate and find them?