Unsettling Details About World War II That Most Textbooks Leave Out

World War II has been the subject of countless books and movies — but most of us know little about the actual conflict. Far more than just a struggle between the Axis and the Allies, WWII was full of strange coincidences, heartbreaking stories, and colorful heroes and villains.

1. An Unexpected Visitor

No American saw the attack on Pearl Harbor coming. That's why when pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi crashed his plane in Hawaii following the raid, locals welcomed him to their town and celebrated his unexpected visit with a luau. Once officials learned of his role in the bombing, a firefight ensued that killed the Japanese airman.

2. Princess Liz, Reporting for Duty

People from all walks of life joined the fray — including Queen Elizabeth. Back when she was just a princess, Elizabeth enlisted as a driver and mechanic in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. Reporters from the 1940s described, "One of her major joys was to get dirt under her nails and grease stains in her hands and display these signs of labor to her friends."

3. The Death Ray

Government scientists developed plenty of unusual weapons in the 1940s. Japan sought to build a "death ray" that would send out lethal electric waves at enemy forces. This sci-fi invention didn't pan out — but it wasn't the only unconventional idea on the Axis side.

4. Meet the Beetles

Looking to cripple enemy supply lines, German officials considered infesting British farms with the invasive potato beetle. Scientists began breeding the pests... but later abandoned the project when they calculated they would need to somehow transport 40 million of the bugs across the sea.

5. Factory Shifts

It's incredible how almost all American manufacturing turned to the war effort. In the auto industry, for instance, companies pumped out three million cars in 1941. But while the United States fought in World War II, the government banned the sale of domestic vehicles.

6. David and Goliath

In a modern-day David and Goliath twist, the tallest German soldier surrendered to one of the shortest British soldiers. Britain honored Bob Roberts, who reached only 5'3", for capturing gunner and former circus performer Jakob Nacken, who at 7'3" towered over everyone else on the battlefield.

7. Battle of Stalingrad

Many Westerners arguably don't realize that Russia made the biggest sacrifice of all nations during World War II. In the Battle of Stalingrad, for instance, 1.1 million Soviet soldiers and 40,000 civilians lost their lives. That means there were more deaths in one battle than the United States or Britain suffered throughout the entire war.

8. Liberty Steak

American foodies thought it was unpatriotic to eat foods with German names during the World Wars, so they coined some new terms. For example, chefs dubbed hamburgers and sauerkraut "Liberty Steak" and "Liberty Cabbage," respectively. And another treat became viewed as quintessentially American during the war.

9. Soda Fiends

American servicemen fighting overseas couldn't get by without their Coca-Cola. General Eisenhower worked with Coke executives to ensure that soldiers could buy one of their favorite beverages for as little as five cents, no matter the circumstances. As a result, Coke built 64 bottling plants around the various fronts — helping to spread the drink's popularity all over the world.

10. Up in the Air

Dogfights and air raids were usually deadlier than battles on the ground. Enlisted Spitfire pilots fighting during the Battle of Britain were only expected to survive for four weeks. Even on the American side, the Air Corps saw more casualties than the Marines.

11. What's Your Name Again?

The U.S. Navy awarded a Purple Heart to a British-born mate named William Hitler. Though his superiors initially thought it was a joke, he was actually the half-nephew of the German dictator and even worked for him in the 1930s. William wisely changed his last name following the end of the war.

12. Churchill's Quirks

Winston Churchill proved himself to be a brilliant wartime leader, but he wasn't the easiest man to work with. The Prime Minister insisted on bathing twice a day — no matter how busy he was — and often consulted with close advisors while in the nude. Fortunately, when it came to key meetings like the Yalta Conference, he made sure he was fully dressed.

13. Lee Miller

Against the advice of her loved ones, American photographer Lee Miller left Vogue to become a war correspondent. She became one of the most celebrated journalists of her time, thanks in no small part to her pictures of women contributing to the war effort. After the Allies took Berlin, Miller stuck it to the enemy by photographing and sleeping in Hitler's bath.

14. An Unfortunate Miss

Bombing raids often caused collateral damage that nobody could have planned for. The very first bomb that Allied forces dropped on Berlin, for example, didn't serve much tactical purpose. That's because it missed and killed the only elephant in the city's zoo.

15. Switching Sides

Although some historians dispute that he even existed, a Korean man named Yang Kyoungjong supposedly fought for three different armies throughout the war. According to some, the Japanese pressed Kyoungjong into service. After the Soviets captured him, though, Kyoungjong risked his life in the Red Army. Then the Germans apparently captured him and brought him into their own ranks.

16. Stanisława Leszczyńska

War heroes weren't just in the armed forces. Polish midwife Stanisława Leszczyńska found herself incarcerated in Auschwitz, where she personally delivered about 3,000 babies. Although the concentration camp guards killed most of the infants, Leszczyńska's interventions likely saved many mothers' lives. She survived Auschwitz and lived until 1974.

17. Friendly Fire

Lesley McNair got a promotion after a horrible, unintentional act. The American lieutenant general — along with 100 others — was killed by friendly fire in France when a group of errant bombers dropped their payload well short of the intended target. After McNair's death, the U.S. government promoted him to general.

18. The Third Bomb

Japan formally surrendered after the United States detonated nuclear bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki — that's common knowledge. But if the Asian nation had refused to give in, the American government had secretly planned to nuke Tokyo as well.

19. The Youngest Soldier

The youngest service member in World War II was 12-year-old Calvin Graham. After lying about his age, Graham fought and was wounded in the Battle of Guadalcanal. He received multiple medals for his heroism, but these honors were revoked after his family revealed that he belonged in middle school, not on a battlefield.

20. Public Shaming

As the Germans took over more and more of Europe, people were often forced to cooperate with their occupiers. Many resistance members were executed or imprisoned for their efforts in opposing the invaders. And some who collaborated — even if out of fear — lost everything. After D-Day, for example, these French women were accused of collaborating and stripped and shaved in the town square.