Were there any specify scenes or events that caused people to think they were living in an apocalyptic age or an ongoing apocalypse?

My grandfather was an immigrant to the US from Germany. He used to tell us stories about going to Kenyon College in Ohio to undergo intensive French language training for 8 hours a day during WW2. The story was that this was some kind of training to be a US spy during the war- that a person born speaking German (and learning French) would be able to infiltrate and work undercover. As far as I know, my grandfather never actually went overseas as a spy, and I am unable to find any history related to Kenyon College or wartime spy recruitment like this.

My question is- how true is this account? if it's possible, what branch of the service was involved? The only information I have is what my grandfather (now deceased) told me, as well as his ability to speak+read French. Thanks!

According to Wikipedia, there are currently 10 million Mongols whereas Turkic peoples amount to 140-160 million. How did this happen?

What is then needed for something to be considered factual?

Hi I'm doing an extended project and I've been trying to evaluate the Roman Republic and one thing I've been unable to find out is if certain positions, specifically magistrate ,were restricted to the upper classes. I understand they were elected by the people and their major choices usually effected by advice from the senate but I have been unable to find out how such candidates were chosen. Was it common for them to be nominated by senate members trying to gain power? Could anyone take such roles and was it common for Plebs to gain the position. Could lower classes gain lower ranks within the Magistrate organisations but like the army even the most talented unable to achieve high ranks. Thanks for the help GBM.

Today, NGOs muster up major aid campaigns for typhoon relief on islands like Vanuatu. Obviously this didn't always exist and people thrived just fine even without advance warnings of big storms. What infrastructure (physical and otherwise) did those civilizations develop that allowed them to endure such natural disasters?

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I've read lots of books by English authors blaming KGB,SMERSH and making themselves heroes and innocent. But didn't find books on the same thread against USA secret policies. I searched many threads in goodreads but get nothing on this very topic. Don't know whether I missed or there's no such series (like James Bond) in Russian literature, which is quite bizarre of course. And why?

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I saw a comic with a pirate in it, and like every other time you see a pirate it was saying Arrrrr. When did this stereotype emerge? Is there any historical significance?

When you look at them save for deterioration due to time most are intact except for the 'face' area

As far as I'm aware, the vast majority of countries in asia were Monarchies of some form or another. During the Victorian Era there was generally an increase in contact between the east and the west; the British Empire facilitating travel and trade between multiple countries and so on.

Also during this time you had things such as Admiral Perry forcing Japan to open to trade, and America conquering the Philippines. What I want to know is, is there any record of Asian countries reacting to the U.S.A.'s government? Do we have any notable incidents where, say, Japan or Malaysia attempted to inquire about America's "King"? As a bonus question: was the concept of democracy overall pretty foreign to Asia around the Victorian Era? Was there any consensus on whether it was a good or bad form of government by the people of that region?

I'm not clued up on the subject but given Cameron's recent wish for action in Syria and to for a government that represents all I was wondering how often this has worked.

The only example I can think of is the Bush/Blair government in Iraq which, we all know how that panned out.

Has this idea ever actually worked; in the East, or anywhere where democracy hasn't "grown organically"?

It always bothers me a bit when I'm watching or playing something and there are huge, immersion-breaking inaccuracies. I know this is a little different than the usual question, but I hope the mods allow it. Does AskHistorians have any recommendations for entertainment that also shows deference to history?