Fun History Trivia Quiz

Answer: Adolf Hitler's last stronghold

Adolf Hitler died by his own hand in the Bunker in April 1945 along with his very new wife, Eva Braun.

Answer: Napoleon

Napoleon, reasonably confident of victory, spent some little time at an Inn named La Belle Alliance earlier on that fateful day. After his defeat he was almost captured by the Prussians at Genappe. His general movements across the field of battle were not recorded with any accuracy because of the enormous confusion that always attends such events. What is certain is that Napoleon was not the man that he once was.

His choice of commanders was woeful. His most able commander, Davout, he left in Paris.

Some say that this was caused by jealousy (Davout was a talented field commander). Just as likely it was because Davout was the only man that he felt that he could trust in those volatile times to safeguard the city in his absence. Napoleon's Chief of Staff, Marshal Soult, quite possibly betrayed him by making his verbal orders deliberately obscure in written form. Whereas Berthier, Napoleon's former Chief of Staff, would have written orders down in triplicate and sent out at least three copies with different messengers, throughout the campaign Soult merely scribbled barley legible orders and sent only on messenger who more often than not was too late or never got through.

As Soult was an experienced officer and had indeed served as Chief of Staff earlier in his career, one has to wonder as to his motives. Marshal Ney has come in for a great deal of criticism for his handling of the cavalry that day. And on the face of it, his actions border upon the insane. But it is more likely that it was his execution of the cavalry tactic that he should bear the blame for rather than the use itself of unsupported cavalry against infantry. It should be remembered that shortly before this seemingly suicidal cavalry attack that D'Erlon's Corps had been savagely thrown back and almost shattered, leaving a gaping hole in the French centre. Had Wellington seen this gap and advanced into it the battle would have been over very quickly. As it was, Wellington didn't see it and missed his chance. The gap had, nevertheless, to be plugged and the French had no immediate reserves of infantry. Therefore cavalry were used to mask this potentially catastrophic opening in the line whilst D'erlon's Corps was regrouped. This, however, took time and time was what the French did not have. It was necessary to 'occupy' the allies attention until the line was repaired. It is highly unlikely that Ney would have ordered such an attack without Napoleon's permission. His method, however, was a tragedy. A true cavalry commander would have advanced with horse artillery to engage the squares before unleashing a massed cavalry attack. Even though these were available Ney did no such thing. He is to blame for his own tactical ineptitude, not the attack itself.

Answer: Harold II

Harold II fought at Stamford Bridge in 1066 and defeated Harald Hardrada in a most violent and bloody encounter. Informed of William's invasion, he had to rush back down from the North in order to face the new invader. His march was an epic of speed and endurance averaging some 30 miles per day with his exhausted army.

Answer: King Charles I

Charles wanted Parliament to grant him the right to collect customs duties for life, as had been the right of his predecessors. They granted him the duties for one year only. He tried again the following year and was again refused. Buckingham, the King's friend, was murdered in 1628.

Answer: Yes

Douglas Bader lost his legs (at the thigh) in a flying accident before the war. He was fitted with artificial limbs, and when war broke out in 1939 he begged the RAF to let him fly in combat. He was refused permission but he persisted and eventually, because of the huge loss of pilots, he was allowed to fly again.

He became a Squadron Leader and incredibly he shot down 23 enemy aircraft before being brought down himself.

Answer: Americans

During the American Revolutionary War the American Congress frequently used the term 'Continentals' when referring to themselves.

Answer: Britain

In 54 BC Caesar launched his second invasion of Britain. Portus Itius was the closest point for the crossing at a distance of 30 miles. Victorious but by no means the conqueror of the island he returned to Gaul later that same year with many hostages.

Answer: False

Von Braun was a German scientist who later worked on the American rocket programme.

Answer: Xenophon

Upon his return to Athens Xenophon received little in the way of praise for his part in the March of the ten Thousand. He later served for several years in the Spartan army under King Agesilaus and for this Athens condemned him to banishment on pain of death.
It is widely thought that the account of the March of the Ten Thousand, entitled the Anabasis and written by Themistogenes of Syracuse, was in fact written by Xenophon himself under that pseudonym.

Answer: Hector

In Homer's "Iliad" Achilles killed Hector for slaying his friend Patroclus. Hector's wife, Andromache, had already lost her mother and father to the sword of Achilles and begged Hector not to face him alone. Nevertheless, despite fearing the outcome, Hector faced Achilles in single combat and was killed.

In a calculated insult, Achilles stripped Hector's corpse and tied it to the rear of his chariot and then proceeded to drag the dead Hector over the plain in full view of the Trojans.