Quizology.Online

Tag: Second World War

  • On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres—Answers

    Here are the answers to my Walter posted questions.

    Diagram of the Solar System from Copernicus’ manuscript of De revolutionibus orbium coelestium.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of today’s questions relate to the date, February 19th.

    One

    In what century was Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus born?

    Answer: 15th century.

    Born in 1473, Nicolaus Copernicus, a Renaissance polymath, formulated a heliocentric model of the universe, placing the Sun at its centre. His work, published in De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) triggered the Copernican Revolution and significantly contributed to the Scientific Revolution.

    Two

    In 1945, the Battle of Iwo Jima began when US Marines invaded the Japanese volcanic island of Iwo Jima.  What does the name Iwo Jima mean in English?

    Answer: Sulfur Island.

    Iwo Jima, a volcanic island in the Ogasawara Archipelago, is administered by Tokyo. It was the site of a major WWII battle between Japan and the US, resulting in over 20,000 casualties on each side. Today, the island has no permanent inhabitants except for a Self-Defence Force base and is owned by a combination of individuals, the village, and the Japanese government.

    Three

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was born in 1960 and was known as Prince Andrew. He would later also be known as the Duke of York. For the first 22 years of his life, he was second in the line of succession to the British throne, who, born in 1982, replaced him as second in the line of succession?

    Answer: Prince William (The eldest son of Charles, Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) and Diana, Princess of Wales).

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor faced controversy due to his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. He denied allegations of sexual abuse but settled a civil lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre in 2022. In 2025, Charles III removed Andrew’s royal styles and honours, restricted his titles, and relocated him to private accommodation.

    Four

    Born in 1924, this actor was a decorated World War II veteran, where he served in the U.S. Marines. He won an Oscar for Best Actor for Cat Ballou (1965) where he played both Kid Shelleen and Tim Strawn. He appeared in The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Gorky Park (1983). He died in 1987. Who is this actor?

    Answer: Lee Marvin.

    Marvin, an American actor known for his tough-guy roles, received an Academy Award for his performance in Cat Ballou. He was also a decorated World War II veteran and a descendant of the Lee family of Virginia.

    Five

    In 1913, Pedro Lascuráin assumed the role of President of Mexico. What connects the number 45 to his presidency? Was it

    • 45 marriages (he was married 45 times during his presidency)
    • 45 minutes (he was in office for only 45 minutes)
    • 45 murders (he was connected to 45 murders during his presidency)

    Answer: 45 minutes (he was in office for only 45 minutes)

    During the Ten Tragic Days coup, Victoriano Huerta captured President Madero and convinced him to resign. Lascuráin, next in line, briefly assumed the presidency before appointing Huerta as his successor, making Lascuráin’s presidency the shortest in history of not only Mexico but the world.

  • On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres

    Diagram of the Solar System from Copernicus’ manuscript of De revolutionibus orbium coelestium.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of today’s questions relate to the date, February 19th.

    One

    In what century was Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus born?

    Two

    In 1945, the Battle of Iwo Jima began when US Marines invaded the Japanese volcanic island of Iwo Jima.  What does the name Iwo Jima mean in English?

    Three

    Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was born in 1960 and was known as Prince Andrew. He would later also be known as the Duke of York. For the first 22 years of his life, he was second in the line of succession to the British throne, who, born in 1982, replaced him as second in the line of succession?

    Four

    Born in 1924, this actor was a decorated World War II veteran, where he served in the U.S. Marines. He won an Oscar for Best Actor for Cat Ballou (1965) where he played both Kid Shelleen and Tim Strawn. He appeared in The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Gorky Park (1983). He died in 1987. Who is this actor?

    Five

    In 1913, Pedro Lascuráin assumed the role of President of Mexico. What connects the number 45 to his presidency? Was it

    • 45 marriages (he was married 45 times during his presidency)
    • 45 minutes (he was in office for only 45 minutes)
    • 45 murders (he was connected to 45 murders during his presidency)

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Good Herb—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    These five questions are all related to today’s date, January 30th.

    MV Wilhelm Gustloff.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    On 30 January 1945, the greatest maritime disaster in history occurred as the German ocean liner Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk. In what body of water was this sinking, and approximately how many people perished?

    Answer: Baltic Sea; ≈ 9,000 lives were lost

    The MV Wilhelm Gustloff, a German ocean liner originally built as a cruise ship for the Nazi Strength Through Joy organisation, was sunk by a Soviet submarine S-13 in the Baltic Sea on 30 January 1945, during Operation Hannibal. The ship, carrying an estimated 10,000 people, including refugees and military personnel, sank in one hour after being hit by three torpedoes. This disaster resulted in the greatest maritime disaster in history, with an estimated 8,761 to 9,343 casualties. Despite the high civilian death toll, the sinking is not considered a war crime due to the presence of military personnel and weapons on board.

    Two

    On this day in 1847, Yerba Buena became what North American city?

    Answer: San Francisco

    Yerba Buena (good herb), now San Francisco, was claimed by the US in 1846 during the Mexican-American War. The city became a US military territory in 1848 and was admitted to the Union as a state in 1850.

    Three

    Charles I, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, was executed in London. In what decade did this occur?

    Answer: 1640s

    Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1625 to 1649, believed in the divine right of kings and clashed with Parliament over his policies, including taxation without consent and religious reforms. His actions led to the English Civil War, his defeat, and his execution for high treason in 1649. The monarchy was abolished but restored in 1660 with his son, Charles II.

    Four

    Oliver Cromwell was one of the regicides responsible for Charles I’s execution. What happened to Cromwell two years after his own death?

    Answer: He was disinterred and ritually executed.

    Oliver Cromwell, who had died in 1658, was subjected to a posthumous execution. His body was disinterred, hanged at Tyburn, and beheaded. Then it was thrown into a pit and his head placed on a spike at the end of Westminster Hall facing the spot where Charles I had been executed.

    Five

    On this day in 1931 City Lights premiered. The film was written, produced, directed by, and starred whom?

    Answer: Charlie Chaplin

    City Lights is a 1931 American romantic comedy-drama film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. The film, which follows the Tramp’s misadventures, was released with a synchronised musical score and sound effects despite the rise of talking pictures. City Lights was a critical and commercial success, and is considered one of Chaplin’s greatest films.

    Good Herb

    The post title is the translation of Yerba Buena, which is now the city of San Francisco. See question two.

  • Good Herb

    These five questions are all related to today’s date, January 30th.

    MV Wilhelm Gustloff.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    On 30 January 1945, the greatest maritime disaster in history occurred as the German ocean liner Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk. In what body of water was this sinking, and approximately how many people perished?

    Two

    On this day in 1847, Yerba Buena became what North American city?

    Three

    Charles I, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, was executed in London. In what decade did this occur?

    Four

    Oliver Cromwell was one of the regicides responsible for Charles I’s execution. What happened to Cromwell two years after his own death?

    Five

    On this day in 1931 City Lights premiered. The film was written, produced, directed by, and starred whom?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • My Huckleberry Friend

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    In the 1961 comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepburn stars as Holly Golightly. Born on this date in 1924, who wrote the novella that inspired the film?

    Answer: Truman Capote

    Truman Capote’s 1958 novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s is set in 1940s New York City’s Upper East Side. It follows a writer’s recollections of his neighbour Holly Golightly and her life in Manhattan. While based on the novella, the film’s screenplay deviates from the book’s original storyline.

    Two

    In an attempt to appease Adolf Hitler, Great Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s demand for the annexation of the Sudetenland, a region in what former country?

    Answer: Czechoslovakia

    The Munich Agreement, signed on September 30, 1938, was a settlement reached by Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy that allowed for the German annexation of the Sudetenland, a region in western Czechoslovakia. This agreement was part of the policy of appeasement, where European powers aimed to prevent war by conceding to some of Adolf Hitler’s territorial demands. The Czechoslovak government was not consulted during the negotiations and was forced to accept the terms. The agreement is often criticized for emboldening Hitler, as it failed to prevent further aggression, leading to the occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia and eventually World War II.

    Matina Hingis, 2011.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    …professional tennis player who became the youngest person in the “open” era to win a Grand Slam singles title and the youngest to be ranked world number one. In her relatively short, injury-plagued career, she won five Grand Slam singles titles—the Australian Open (1997, 1998, 1999), Wimbledon (1997), and the United States Open (1997).

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    This quote refers to a tennis player born in 1980 in Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). Who is she?

    Answer: Martina Hingis

    Martina Hingis, who was named after Martina Navratilova, was introduced to sports by her tennis-playing parents and excelled in skiing and tennis from a young age. After moving to Switzerland, she became the youngest Grand Slam junior titleholder at 12. Hingis turned professional at 14, becoming the youngest player to win a Grand Slam match and the youngest Wimbledon doubles champion. The WTA later restricted participation for young players.

    Following World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the British, French, Americans and Russians.  Berlin, completely encircled by the Russian zone, was also partitioned.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Today in 1949, an airlift delivering 2,323,738 tons of food, fuel, machinery, and other supplies was officially ended. To what city was this relief supplied?

    Answer: West Berlin

    The Berlin Blockade (1948-49) was a Soviet attempt to force the Western Allies out of West Berlin by severing all land and water routes. In retaliation, the US and Britain launched the Berlin Airlift to deliver supplies to the city by air. This airlift symbolised the Allies’ unwavering commitment to resisting Soviet expansion. successfully supplying the city for 15 months. The operation, involving over 250,000 flights, underscored the ideological divide between East and West and solidified West Berlin’s alignment with the US and Britain.

    Five

    An opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart premiered in Austria on this day in 1791. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, ‘It is an allegory of the quest for wisdom and enlightenment presented through Freemasonry symbols’. What is the opera?

    The Magic Flute

    Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute, is an allegory of the quest for wisdom and enlightenment, rich with Masonic symbolism. The libretto, believed to draw from various sources including medieval romance and Freemasonry, was written by Emanuel Schikaneder, a close friend of Mozart.

    See question 4 above. ‘A U.S. Air Force Douglas C-54 Skymaster making a “Little Vittles” candy drop (note the parachutes below the tail of the C-54) on approach to a Berlin airfield. Aircrews dropped candy to children during the Berlin Airlift.’
    Image Wikipedia

  • My Huckleberry Friend

    Today’s questions all relate to September 30th.

    Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    In the 1961 comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepburn stars as Holly Golightly. Born on this date in 1924, who wrote the novella that inspired the film?

    Two

    In an attempt to appease Adolf Hitler, Great Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s demand for the annexation of the Sudetenland, a region in what former country?

    Three

    …professional tennis player who became the youngest person in the “open” era to win a Grand Slam singles title and the youngest to be ranked world number one. In her relatively short, injury-plagued career, she won five Grand Slam singles titles—the Australian Open (1997, 1998, 1999), Wimbledon (1997), and the United States Open (1997).

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    This quote refers to a tennis player born in 1980 in Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). Who is she?

    Four

    Today in 1949, an airlift delivering 2,323,738 tons of food, fuel, machinery, and other supplies was officially ended. To what city was this relief supplied?

    Five

    An opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart premiered in Austria on this day in 1791. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, ‘It is an allegory of the quest for wisdom and enlightenment presented through Freemasonry symbols’. What is the opera?

    Good luck!. I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Raising the Dead—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    The Raising of Lazarus and the Adoration of the Shepherds
    Regional Museum of Messina, Sicily, Italy
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which Italian artist born this day in 1571, painted the works above which are displayed in Sicily?

    Answer: Caravaggio

    Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, (known mononymously as Caravaggio) an Italian painter from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, gained fame for his realistic religious works.

    Two

    In 1829 the Metropolitan Police was founded, by what name (two words the first contains eight letters) is the force, especially the Criminal Investigation Department, colloquially known?

    Answer: Scotland Yard

    Through the efforts of Robert Peel, England’s first professional police force, London’s Metropolitan Police (often called Scotland Yard), was founded; it became a model for future police departments in various other countries, including the United States.

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Three

    Born in Rome in 1901, who became an associate director of Manhattan Project in 1944?

    Answer: Enrico Fermi

    Enrico Fermi, an Italian-born American scientist, was a pivotal figure in the nuclear age. He developed mathematical statistics for subatomic phenomena, explored neutron-induced nuclear transformations, and directed the first controlled nuclear fission chain reaction, earning the 1938 Nobel Prize for Physics. Fermi is best known for creating the first artificial nuclear reactor, Chicago Pile-1, and for his contributions to the Manhattan Project. His work spanned statistical mechanics, quantum theory, and nuclear and particle physics.

    Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Who was the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Australia?

    Answer: Julia Gillard

    Julia Gillard, born in Wales, served as Australia’s 27th prime minister. She was the first and, as of September 2025, the only woman to hold the position.

    Five

    Following the Challenger disaster in January 1986 and the suspension of NASA’s space shuttle programme, it resumed on this day. In which year and with which shuttle did this happen?

    Answer: 1988 and Discovery

    On January 28, 1986, the Challenger shuttle exploded shortly after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. A presidential commission discovered a joint seal in a solid rocket booster had failed due to mechanical design flaws exacerbated by cold weather. Hot gases leaking from the joint ignited the shuttle’s external tank fuel leading to the devastating explosion. As a result, the shuttle fleet was grounded for necessary design corrections and administrative changes. On 29 September 1988, Discovery was the first shuttle to resume flights. Endeavour, a replacement orbiter, finally flew its first mission in 1992.

  • Raising the Dead

    Here are five questions related to today, September 29th.

    The Raising of Lazarus and the Adoration of the Shepherds
    Regional Museum of Messina, Sicily, Italy.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which Italian artist born this day in 1571, painted the works above which are displayed in Sicily?

    Two

    In 1829 the Metropolitan Police was founded, by what name (two words the first contains eight letters) is the force, especially the Criminal Investigation Department, colloquially known?

    Three

    Born in Rome in 1901, who became an associate director of Manhattan Project in 1944?

    Four

    Who was the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Australia?

    Five

    Following the Challenger disaster in January 1986 and the suspension of NASA’s space shuttle programme, it resumed on this day. In which year and with which shuttle did this happen?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Today—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    Robert Altman.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    M*A*S*H debuted on television on 17 September 1972. It was based on the 1970 film of the same name, which was directed by whom?

    Answer: Robert Altman

    M*A*S*H*, an American war comedy-drama TV series, aired from 1972 to 1983. It follows a team of doctors and support staff at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War. Renowned for its blend of comedy and drama, the show is considered one of the greatest TV series of all time. It was based on Robert Altman’s film, which in turn was adapted from a 1968 novel by Richard Hooker.

    Two

    The opening paragraph of Encyclopædia Britannica‘s article on Wenceslas II is quoted below. What word is missing after ‘king of’?

    Wenceslas II (born Sept. 17, 1271—died June 21, 1305) was the king of Bohemia from 1278 and of Poland from 1300 who ably ruled his Bohemian kingdom and spread his influence not only into Poland but also into Hungary.

    Answer: Bohemia

    Wenceslas II, King of Bohemia from 1278 and Poland from 1300, ruled successfully after overcoming early challenges. He expanded his influence into Hungary and increased his kingdom’s wealth. He is not the Good King Wenceslas of Christmas carol fame who was St Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935).

    Anwar Sadat, Jimmy Carter and Menachem Begin (left to right), at Camp David, 1978.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    In 1978, the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to two leaders who signed the Camp David Accords on 17 September of that year. Name these two leaders?

    Answers: Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat

    The Camp David Accords, signed in 1978, were agreements between Israel and Egypt brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The accords, officially titled the ‘Framework for Peace in the Middle East’, led to a peace treaty between the two countries.

    Four

    On 17 September 1940, Adolf Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. What was the purpose of this operation?

    Answer: The invasion of Great Britain (or United Kingdom)

    Operation Sea Lion was Nazi Germany’s planned invasion of the United Kingdom during World War II. Despite preparations, the invasion was indefinitely postponed due to the German Luftwaffe’s losses in the Battle of Britain.

    Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada, 1993.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Martin Brian Mulroney became prime minister of what nation on this date in 1984?

    Answer: Canada

    Brian Mulroney, a Canadian lawyer and businessman, served as the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993. He led the Progressive Conservative Party to a landslide victory in the 1984 federal election and later secured a second majority government in 1988.

  • Today

    Five questions which are all related to today’s date, September 17.

    M*A*S*H (From left) Actors McLean Stevenson, Wayne Rogers, Gary Burghoff, and Alan Alda in a scene from the television series M*A*S*H. 
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    M*A*S*H debuted on television on 17 September 1972. It was based on the 1970 film of the same name, which was directed by whom?

    Two

    The opening paragraph of Encyclopædia Britannica‘s article on Wenceslas II, who was born on this date, is quoted below. What word is missing after ‘king of’?

    Wenceslas II (born Sept. 17, 1271—died June 21, 1305) was the king of … from 1278 and of Poland from 1300 who ably ruled his …n kingdom and spread his influence not only into Poland but also into Hungary.

    Three

    In 1978, the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to two leaders who signed the Camp David Accords on 17 September of that year. Name these two leaders?

    Four

    On 17 September 1940, Adolf Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. What was the purpose of this operation?

    Five

    Martin Brian Mulroney became prime minister of what nation on this date in 1984?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.