FunTrivia History Mix: Vol 20 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Utah and Omaha

The attack on Omaha Beach was horrific. It is portrayed in the opening scene of the movie "Saving Private Ryan".

Question by player vinovino

Answer: Panama Canal

The idea of a canal linking the Pacific and the Atlantic goes back to the 16th century but the French attempt involving De Lesseps was the first serious attempt and failed largely due to illness and disease, particularly malaria and yellow fever, amongst the workers.

It also failed because of the enormity of the job - a sea level canal between two oceans.

Question by player chronos77

Answer: Battle of Gettysburg

The battle of the Alamo was fought in San Antonio, Texas, in February 1836 and lasted just 13 days. The short 4-day battle of Refugio was on the southern part of Texas in March of 1836, where Mexico was the winner. The battle of San Jacinto was in April in Pasadena, Texas, where the President of Mexico was captured.

The three-day battle of Gettysburg was fought in Pennsylvania in 1863.

Question by player linkan

Answer: Military invasion in the Cold War

In 1959 at the end of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro ousted Fulgencio Batista as Cuba's leader. U.S President Dwight Eisenhower, and later at the time of invasion, John F. Kennedy, did not like this new leftist direction of the Cuban government, and money was allocated to overthrow Castro.

The American military together with with hundreds of Cuban exiles set out by boat for Cuba on April 13, 1961. On the night of April 16, 1961, the main invasion landed at the Bay of Pigs, but they were met with Cuba's revolutionary militia. By April 20th, the American invaders surrendered, were interrogated and sent back the U.S.

This was also one of the key catalysts in the beginning of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The curious name of "The Bay of Pigs" could be a case of simple mis-translation.

The Spanish name is "Bahia de Cochinos". Cochinos in Spanish could refer to pigs, but it could also mean Orangeside triggerfish that are found in coral reefs in the area.

Question by player napierslogs

Answer: The Diet of Worms

A diet, in this sense, is a legislative assembly, and Worms was the town in Germany where this particular assembly gathered. There were a number of diets in Worms, although the one which began on 28 January 1521 is the best known because it dealt with the problems caused by Martin Luther's complaints against the Church.

The outcome, or 'Edict of Worms', as issued by Emperor Charles V on 25 May 1521, was that Luther be arrested and punished as a heretic. However, Prince Frederick, the Elector of Saxony, hid Luther in Wartburg Castle until such time that other pressing matters and growing support for Luther meant that the Edict was never enforced against him personally.

Some of Luther's supporters, however, were punished under the terms of the Edict.

Question by player Wizzid

Answer: Bonfire of the Vanities

Though burning vanities was a practice that predated the friar Girolamo Savonarola, he made it famous as his following had become quite large and influential. Books, artwork, cosmetics, mirrors; anything that was seen as possibly sinful was given to the flames. It is believed that works by both Botticelli and Boccaccio were amongst those burned.

Question by player trident

Answer: Atlanta

Atlanta recovered well, and in 1868, it was designated as the capital of Georgia over the old capital, Milledgeville, because of the convenient railway system that Atlanta featured.

Question by player xxFregiltxx

Answer: Japanese Kamikaze attacks

Kamikaze attacks were suicide attacks by Japanese pilots on Allied naval vessels in WW II. The term "Divine Wind" was originally used by Japan to describe the typhoons that destroyed invading Mongol fleets in 1274 and 1281. The majority of Kamikaze pilots were young Japanese men, motivated by a fierce sense of loyalty to their nation. How effective the Kamikaze attack was is a matter of debate. Each pilot prior to their last mission would go through a spiritual ceremony, at this cermony they would receive a sash to wear that was made by a thousand women each having sewn one stitch each.

Question by player lpro

Answer: Vietnam

Vietnam came under the control of French in 1884. During WWI, slightly over 92,000 men were in the service of France, serving in combat and transit battalions, as medical staff and laborers.

Question by player sw11

Answer: Mycenaean

One of the best known examples of a 'tholos' is the imposing "Treasury of Atreus", also known as the "Tomb of Agamemnon", which has a chamber measuring over 43ft (13m) in height.

Question by player incognito101