Back In The Good Old Days

2 Young girls assemble weapons from a supply drop during the Siege of Leningrad in the USSR in 1943. This was part of a group of pictures used for propaganda to show the rest of the Soviet people the strength and courage of the residents in Leningrad fending off the foreign invaders.

However, this is what the Siege of Leningrad was really like. This picture shows 2 civilians carving whatever they can from a horse carcass to eat in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), USSR (now Russia) in 1943. This dead horse had already been stripped of most of its meat before these 2 civilians had a chance at it. Notice how 2 dead soldiers lie near them? And this was before it got worse by the way. The civilians in the city actually resorted to cannibalism, eating those who died in raids and the fighting. Many civilians starved, as whatever food got into the city, which wasn't much, mostly went to fighting soldiers. The siege lasted over 2 years. The Nazi's wanted the entire cities population dead it seems, and blocked all possible ways to supply the city with food and clean water. The Finnish, who for a time guarded part of the Northern outskirts of the city, did let in food trucks when a pass was cleared by the Soviets. By then though, most of the damage was done. Over 1 million Russian soldiers and civilians died, with another 3.5 million captured, wounded, or missing. For their part, the Axis forces had over half a million casualties. The city was never captured, and held out until the siege was lifted.

Seabiscuit leads War Admiral in the first turn of their famous match race at Pimlico Race Track in Maryland, US in 1938. Ridden by jockey George Woolf as the normal jockey Red Pollard was hurt, the underdog and far small Seabiscuit beat jockey Charles Kurtsinger and War Admiral handily in a much publicized race. The news painted it as the little guy taking on ridiculous odds, and was gobbled up by the public who had just started to get out of the Great Depression. The terrific film Seabiscuit depicts these events.

Seabiscuit leads War Admiral in the first turn of their famous match race at Pimlico Race Track in Maryland, US in 1938. Ridden by jockey George Woolf as the normal jockey Red Pollard was hurt, the underdog and far small Seabiscuit beat jockey Charles Kurtsinger and War Admiral handily in a much publicized race. The news painted it as the little guy taking on ridiculous odds, and was gobbled up by the public who had just started to get out of the Great Depression. The terrific film Seabiscuit depicts these events.

Iranian women learn to shoot at a range outside Tehran, Iran in 1986. Many of the men were away as the Iran-Iraq War was raging on. This picture was used as propaganda possibly to show other Iranian people that if Iraq started winning that the Iranian women were ready to fight. What I find interesting is only half the women in this picture are even holding their gun correctly.

One of the 56 police vehicles to be burned during the riots in Brixton, England in 1981. During a British recession, social unrest stirred until all out rioting occurred in the city. Some 5000 people overwhelmed the police. A lot of the unrest came from racial tensions. as virtually all the rioters were African Caribbean decent. No deaths were reported thankfully, but some 299 police officers were injured, with only 65 members of the public reported injured. Also, some 28 premises were burned and another 117 damaged and looted during the riots. Surprisingly, the police made only 82 arrests. Shortly after, smaller riots occurred in Leeds, Leicester, Southampton, Halifax, Bedford, Gloucester, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Bristol, and Edinburgh. Again, virtually all rioters were black and a lot of the unrest was racially driven.

A tribal dancer in a traditional outfit poses for a picture before his routine in Ivory Coast in 1947.

The first official masquerade costume content at the annual San Diego Comic Con in San Diego, California, US in 1974. The convention had already been around for a bit, but no one would wear costumes. Then after this contest, costumes became the norm and in my opinion is one of the coolest part of any convention.

The Prussian Army prepare to parade through Paris, France after defeating France in the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. The war lasted just 6 months, with a decisive Prussian victory.

Otto von Bismarck on his death bed in 1898. He would die shortly after this picture was taken at age 83. This man does not get enough credit for the work he did during his time in power. He helped create reforms that made the Prussian Army strong, which attributed to quick defeats of both Austria in 1866 and France in 1871 (as pictured above). He then used his diplomacy to make the wars short and even helped negotiate amiable treaties. He used these victories to unify Germany, and then made amazing diplomatic moves across Europe to make Germany strong but also to avoid war for the rest of his time in power. After he fell from power, the powers to be in the German Empire made alliances and moves that eventually led to WWI. What happened in WWI is a key reason WWII happened. Otto von Bismarck made sure no such war happened while he was in power. Many historians agree a war as massive as WWI could easily have happened in the 1870-80s, but it didn't, and Bismarck is the main reason why. Read up on him, his life is fascinating.

Injured people are helped after being removed from the World Trade Center in NYC, US after it was bombed in 1993. 6 People would die with another 1,042 injured when a car bomb exploded in the parking garage. It caused extensive damage and was a shock when it happened. The WTC housed major companies from around the world that also had multicultural employees. 8 years later, and 16 years ago today, the WTC would be attacked again in the worst terrorist attack against the US in its history and one of the worst ever credited as a terrorist act.

A billboard advertising the film The Little Hut in Damascus, Syria in 1958. Despite being what many considered a far more laid back Arab nation, Syrian history is full of wars and political strife in the past 100 years. Involvement in WWI and WWII that saw government changes. Wars with Israel immediately after the Jewish state was created in the late 1940s. A political change following coups in 1954 and another in 1961. War with Israel again in 1973. Then in 1976 Syria invaded Lebanon and started an ongoing conflict that lasted 30 years. Oh and they are currently fighting in another ugly civil war since 2011 that helped give rise to ISIS and has involved chemical attacks by their president Assad against their own people. Not to mention how the Russian backed Syrian regime is being used as a major pawn in the chess game of the Middle East between the US and Russia.

Employees working at the Social Security Office in Baltimore, MD, US in 1950. There are only 3 men in this picture. Like a good Where's Waldo, can you spot all 3?

People separate Buffalo bones somewhere in Alberta, Canada in the 1880s. The North American Bison almost went extinct solely based on excess hunting of the beast. People all across the US and Canada slaughtered them at a ridiculous rate just for their fur coats, while others and the Native Americans used every part of the animal especially eating their meat but also their bones for tools. Around 1800, it was believed some 60 million bison roamed North America. By 1900, there were maybe 300.

A Cambodian boy is given Kymer Rouge style crussification in the Hhao Iarn refugee Camp in Cambodia in 1979. The Khmer Rouge were seeking refuge from the Vietnamese Army. Apparently, this boy stole some food. As with many of the locals and other refugees, he was starving. The camp leader was about to execute the boy before some soldiers intervened. Instead, they tied metal wires on his hands high enough that he has to stand on his tippy toes. They then leave him out all day. Depending on the severity of the crime, someone could be up for days or until they die. This boy was lucky, he was up only 1 day then released. The Khmer Rouge were in power for 4 years after the Cambodian Civil War ended in 1975, but the communist group ran guerilla style for another 2 decades until 1999. During their time in power, they murdered over 1 million of their own people. This genocide was known as the Khmer Rouge Killing Fields. Over 20,000 mass graves exist from the ruthless regimes summary executions. Like I said, this boy was in fact very lucky.

An armored soviet vehicle sits burning during the Hungarian Uprising in 1956. Soviet tanks and troops had left a week before it started, leaving a communist government in control with Soviet backing. However, the people rose up quickly, and overthrew and executed communist party members. The Soviets responded by sending back in their tanks, heavy weapons and troops and soon crushed the uprising. Like many European countries liberated by the Soviets, the Hungarian people wanted democracy, but the Soviets were firm on keeping their influence on Eastern Europe. Up to 3000 Hungarian fighters died, another 3000 civilians died, and up to 13,000 people were wounded during the uprising. The Soviets lost 722 soldiers, with around 1500 wounded.

The Ku Klux Klan marches down Constitution Avenue in Washington D.C., US in 1925. Anywhere from 35,000 to 60,000 members participated in the march. At the time, the Klan had around 3 million active members. They organized in large rallies and were open about their affiliation in the 1920s. Notice no one in the parade has their hoods down. The crowd was mostly white, and as you can see there is little activity from the crowd. The people were more curious than supportive. You can see more support from the American crowds in the pictures during the Nazi rallies in the US in the late 1930s. Despite this immense show of members and power, this is actually the height of the Klan, as its numbers continuously dwindled after the 1920s.

Survivors of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 sit in front of the fuselage of the crashed plane after being rescued in the Andes Mountains in 1972. The fuselage was mostly intact after the crash, which allowed them to close off the back and survive the cold. However, they were out there for 72 days before being rescued, and were forced into cannibalism to survive. Of the 45 people who were on the plane, only 16 survived the ordeal. 2 of the survivors actually climbed out of the mountains to get help and rescue the others. The book and film of the same name Alive documents their story. And yes, that is a human vertebrae on the right.

2 Showgirls pose for a promo picture for Mike Todd's revue called "Michael Todd's Peep Show" in Las Vegas, US in 1950. The big shows were becoming huge as Las Vegas was growing. From big name entertainers to pretty girls in dance numbers, each show had to entertain. The girls sometimes worked topless or nude, and were in high demand. However, it is sometimes forgotten how difficult some of the numbers can be as in many shows the girls had to be pristine dancers to make it into the show.

2 Showgirls pose for a promo picture for Mike Todd's revue called "Michael Todd's Peep Show" in Las Vegas, US in 1950. The big shows were becoming huge as Las Vegas was growing. From big name entertainers to pretty girls in dance numbers, each show had to entertain. The girls sometimes worked topless or nude, and were in high demand. However, it is sometimes forgotten how difficult some of the numbers can be as in many shows the girls had to be pristine dancers to make it into the show.

Chinese prisoners of war are marched to a holding area by female Vietnamese militia during the very brief Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979. The war lasted less than 4 weeks, and yet anywhere from 30,000-50,000 people were killed. The Chinese withdrew after their quick advance met heavier resistance, leaving no change it territory or benefit from the war for either country. This also allowed both sides to claim victory. Vietnam had invaded and occupied Cambodia 3 years prior, and this was a key factor that triggered the war. After the Vietnam War, the 2 countries had major issues with one another, and this was the catalyst to their already strained relationship. Interesting note, the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia and removed the Khmer Rouge from control of the country, ending their genocide against their own that cost the lives of 1 million people.

A family living in their 1 room slum apartment in NYC, US in 1890.

A Japanese soldier gives water to a dying horse that was hit by a mortar during WWII somewhere in China in 1942.

Hunters and their pet cheetahs pose for a picture somewhere in India in 1895. Cheetahs were used to hunt the same way North Americans would use dogs.

A family of milk sellers head to a local market in Brussels, Belgium sometime in the 1890s. Apparently in parts of Europe, it was common as recently as the very early 1900s to see a dog pulling carts. If you look up "milk sellers in Brussels," you will see a number of similar pictures of dogs pulling milk carts.