DECEMBER 2, 1940

Full News Archive

• Headline: U-Boat Assault on British Shipping. Impact: This swift attack set off a chain reaction leading to increased naval defenses and a rise in submarine warfare tactics, which eventually contributed to the invention of the periscope. Yes, thank U-boats for the ability to see what’s going on without actually being there.. Fact: The term 'U-boat' is short for 'Unterseeboot,' which means 'undersea boat' in German. So, essentially, they were the submarines of the 'not-so-friendly seas.'.
• Headline: Regulating Food Prices in 1940. Impact: This initiative sparked a bureaucratic nightmare that would take decades to untangle, leading to the modern-day 'food pyramid' where nobody really knows what they should be eating. Spoiler alert: it's mostly kale.. Fact: Food regulations often lead to the creation of 'organic' labels, which is just a fancy way of saying 'we forgot to add pesticides this time.'.
• Headline: Reichsmark Gains Ground Against Gold Mark. Impact: This financial maneuvering helped revive the economy temporarily but ultimately laid the groundwork for hyperinflation and the subsequent rise of a certain dictator with a very bad mustache. Spoiler: it didn’t end well.. Fact: In the 1920s, Germans literally needed wheelbarrows full of cash to buy a loaf of bread. Talk about inflation—your wallet might break before your bank account does!.
• Headline: TRANSIT UNION PUTS QUIETUS ON STRIKE; No Action to Be Taken During Negotiations With the City-- 'Swell,' Mayor Comments. Impact: This decision to pause the strike created a temporary calm but led to future labor disputes where workers would eventually discover that 'quietus' is just a fancy word for 'we’ll deal with this later—and by later, we mean never.'. Fact: Mayors often comment on strikes like they’re watching a sports game—'Swell' is just another way of saying, 'I hope this doesn’t turn into a disaster on my watch.'.
• Headline: Vichy Restricts Executives of Concerns; Statutes of Bank of France Are Revised. Impact: This move solidified state control over financial institutions and set the stage for modern banking regulations—because who doesn’t love a little government oversight in their financial dealings?. Fact: The Bank of France has been around since 1800, proving that banks can outlast most relationships. Talk about commitment issues!.
• Headline: Arms for British Civilians. Impact: This decision to arm civilians led to an interesting trend in DIY home defense, ultimately resulting in a surge of overly ambitious home improvement shows. Yes, nothing says 'I’m ready for a zombie apocalypse' like a garden shed stocked with makeshift weapons.. Fact: The idea of civilians having arms has led to many entertaining debates—mostly about how many garden gnomes count as defensive weaponry..
• Headline: British Unemployment Continues as Problem. Impact: This persistent unemployment issue set the stage for future economic policies that would come to define welfare systems—because if there’s one thing history teaches us, it’s that ignoring problems usually leads to more problems.. Fact: Unemployment rates can be so frustrating that they’ve inspired more conspiracy theories than a secret society meeting—unfortunately, none of them come with a solution..
• Headline: TIGHTER GIFT TAX WITH HIGHER RATE LOOMS AT CAPITAL; Action, Long Urged by Some Officials, Held a Possibility in Drive for Revenue Rise CRITICISM OF 'LOOPHOLES' Council on Public Affairs, in Study, Says Large Sums Escape Levy--Congress Blamed. Impact: This looming tax shift sparked a wave of creativity where the wealthy became masters of disguise, inventing new ways to gift their money without getting taxed. Yes, the ‘hide-and-seek’ method of financial planning was born.. Fact: Gift taxes are like that annoying friend who always wants to keep track of who owes who. Nobody really enjoys the conversation but everyone pretends to be on board..
• Headline: LISIEUX SURVIVORS IN PORT; 17 Rescued From Canadian Ship --2 Other Vessels in Trouble. Impact: The rescue operation not only saved lives but also led to the establishment of more organized rescue protocols, ultimately paving the way for what we now know as 'the Coast Guard's daily grind.'. Fact: Ships in distress often become the subject of heroic tales, but the real heroes are those who not only know how to swim but also how to make a great cup of coffee while they wait for rescue..