Yakov, born in 1907, was the son of Stalin’s first wife, Ekaterina Svanidze. His mother died a few months later, and he was raised by his maternal uncle, who urged him to acquire higher education. He traveled to Moscow, learned Russian (his native language was Georgian), and eventually graduated from a military academy. Yakov and his father Stalin never got along. Allegedly once Stalin referred to Yakov as a “mere cobbler”....

However, one of the strangest and least promising applications of rocket propulsion was by using one in a bicycle. In 1931, German engineer Herr Richter attached rockets to his bicycle to create his Raketenrad (rocket-bike). With twelve black powder solid-fuel rockets attached to the rear of his bicycle and a battery hanging from the top tube acting as the ignition system, Richter set off down the Avus race track in Berlin reportedly reaching a top speed of 55 miles per hour before losing control and being thrown from the bicycle....

Since its inception in the early 1920s, this iconic pageant has not only celebrated the accomplishments and charisma of young women from across the nation but has also mirrored the societal shifts and evolving ideals of America. The origins of beauty pageants in the United States can be traced back to the late 19th century. One of the earliest documented beauty pageants in the country was the “Atlantic City Pageant,” held in 1854 in Atlantic City, New Jersey....

The Amphicar’s engine was mounted at the rear of the craft, driving the rear wheels through a 4-speed manual transmission. For use in the water, the same engine drove a pair of reversible propellers at the rear, with a second gear lever engaging forward or reverse drive. Once in the water, the main gear lever would normally be left in neutral. By engaging first gear as well as driving the propellers when approaching a boat ramp, the Amphicar could drive itself out of the water....

The Germans held out, although by early 1945 just about everyone knew that catastrophic defeat was the inevitable outcome. They did not give up even when Russian soldiers arrived in the garden of the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. Not even the Japanese resisted like that. By March, Western Allied forces were crossing the Rhine River, capturing hundreds of thousands of troops from Germany’s Army Group B. The Red Army had meanwhile entered Austria, and both fronts quickly approached Berlin....

Pictured are five-year-old Warren “Whitey” Bernard and his parents Bernice and Jack Bernard, as the family was about to be separated by the war. The picture received extensive exposure and was used in war-bond drives. Five-year-old Warren “Whitey” Bernard was in Grade 1 at nearby General Wolfe Elementary. Whitey’s Dad was enlisted in the British Columbia Regiment and was stationed in the city on various sentry points throughout the city....

Two members of the coastguard were tasked with showing important visitors around inside the submarine. The visits were curtailed when both men became severely ill, they both died shortly after. It was a mystery what killed the men at the time and so all trips into the sub were stopped, it was later discovered that chlorine gas which had been escaping from SM U-118′s batteries had caused severe abscesses on the lungs and brains of the unfortunate men....

Crisp bread or knackerbrod was a staple of the 19th-century Scandinavian diet. It was often made of rye, required no yeast, and had an incredible shelf life. In fact, this type of cracker was traditionally produced only twice a year and was made with a hole in the center so that they could be efficiently stored on a single rod. While their early ads appealed to Scandinavian immigrants who found comfort in eating the traditional rye crackers, the brand later changed its strategy after being sold to Purina in 1926....

Unlike many other Western photographers of the time who were interested in capturing exoticism and staged portraits, Genthe had a unique approach. He was drawn to capturing everyday scenes and candid moments, which offered an intimate insight into Japan’s culture and way of life. The Meiji period, lasting from 1868 to 1912, was a time of significant social, cultural, and economic transformation in Japan. During this period, the country underwent a process of modernization and Westernization, which brought about dramatic changes in the lifestyle of the Japanese people....

Although the usefulness of asbestos has been known for centuries, it was not until the late 19th century when large deposits of asbestos were discovered in parts of Canada and the northern United States that the emergence of asbestos as a common construction material occurred. The relatively inexpensive production and mass abundance of asbestos-containing materials created a widespread desire to utilize asbestos in building materials. Experimentation with the mineral revealed that asbestos was an excellent fire retardant, an exceptional component of acoustical plaster, and decorative material....

But, in continuous effort under ever-increasing pressure, the US Embassy in Saigon, and its Defense Attache Office (DAO) there, helped plan, prepare for, and ultimately conduct, the final evacuation from South Vietnam. Operation Frequent Wind extracted 130,000 people including: Vietnamese citizens, Third Country Nationals, and US citizens — a truly important feat. Faced with hundreds of hard decisions, enormous logistical requirements, continuous security problems, and the threat of enemy military action, American civilians and the military men conducted an efficient evacuation....

This decoration was instituted on 20 December 1939 by the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch. It could be awarded to members of non-motorized Infantry units and units of the Gebirgsjäger that had participated in Infantry assaults, with light Infantry weapons, on at least three days of battle in the front line on or after 1 January 1940. When a counter-offensive led to fighting, it could also apply....

Usually, it’s the combination of both that gets you. And in fact “don’t lock the knees!” is the advice given to troops standing in formation for long periods in the heat. By locking your knees, you are resting all your weight on the bones and your muscles don’t get to work. The blood flowing to your legs has the benefit of the heart pumping it there. Once blood is there, it needs the action of leg muscles to help pump it back to the heart....

By the mid-to-late 19th century, divorce rates in the United States increased, and Americans obtained more divorces annually than were granted in all of Europe. Previously, divorces in the US were mainly granted to the middle and upper classes due to their cost, but the legal process became less expensive. Other proposed explanations include the popular acceptance of divorce as an alternative to marital unhappiness, decay of the belief in immortality and future punishment, discontent with the existing constitution of society, the habits of mobility created by better transportation, and the greater independence of women resulting in their enlarged legal rights and greater opportunities of self-support....

This practice served not only to immobilize those accused of crimes but also to humiliate them in front of their communities. These unsettling photos offer a rare glimpse into the harsh realities of justice in a time of social and political upheaval, showing the burdens—both physical and psychological—that these individuals were forced to carry. A cangue (known in Chinese as jia or tcha) was a device used for public humiliation and corporal punishment throughout East Asia and parts of Southeast Asia, remaining in practice until the early 20th century....

Recognized as the “King of Rock and Roll,” he is celebrated as one of the most influential cultural figures of the 20th century. Presley’s vibrant interpretations of songs and his daring performance style, which often pushed the boundaries of societal norms, resonated deeply with audiences. His ability to blend various musical influences across racial lines during a pivotal period in history not only brought him great success but also sparked significant controversy....

Subsequently, when Eisenstaedt approached Goebbels for a candid portrait, the politician’s expression was very, very different. Instead of smiling, he scowled for the camera, and the famous photo that resulted shows the man wearing “eyes of hate”. His tense posture transmits an almost palpable enmity. In the 1985 book, “Eisenstaedt on Eisenstaedt: A Self-Portrait”, the then-87-year-old photographer discussed how the Goebbels picture came about: I found him sitting alone at a folding table on the lawn of the hotel....

By many accounts, his primary sport as a schoolboy was basketball. He was tall, at 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3, and he told the biographer Tad Szulc that the anticipation, speed and dexterity required for basketball most approximated the skills needed for revolution. In the years which followed the revolution, Castro strongly advocated making sports accessible for all. Its underlying foundations were an echo of Castro’s view that sports should be “the right of the people” and not just the affluent sections of society....

The Easter Parade was an annual event that saw New Yorkers dressed in their finest clothing, taking to the streets to celebrate Easter Sunday. The parade became a prominent socialite affair, attracting the wealthy and fashionable of the city, who would showcase their latest fashions and elaborate hats. The event also drew attention from the media, with newspapers and magazines publishing photographs of the stylish attendees, making the parade a popular cultural phenomenon of its time....

Known for their distinctive style, they wore knee-length skirts, bobbed their hair, and embraced jazz music. Flappers boldly challenged societal norms by wearing makeup, drinking alcohol, smoking in public, driving cars, and having a casual attitude towards sex. This behavior, seen as rebellious, allowed them greater freedom of movement and privacy, especially with the increased availability of automobiles. These women became symbols of the Roaring Twenties, a time of significant social and political change, along with heightened cultural exchange between America and Europe....