Short Rounds

The Growth of the Royal Navy during World War II

Although at times in its long history Britain's Royal Navy has been sorely tried, perhaps its greatest test came during the Second World War, which saw its resources stretched to deal with multiple threats in history's only truly global conflict, from which it emerged bloodied, but, despite enormous losses, with the greatest strength it had ever attained

For Britain, World War II lasted exactly six years, from the declaration of war against Germany on September 3, 1939, to the surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945. 

In addition, having begun the war with a handful of amphibious warfare ships, military transports, and support vessels, the Royal Navy ended it with several thousand of these, plus thousands of coastal and inshore warcraft, such as torpedo boats, monitors, minesweepers, and so forth.  Moreover, the end of the war saw many ships still under construction, most of which were cancelled.

Otto von Bismarck Has a Rough Night

During the 1860s Prussian Minister-President Otto von Bismarck worked to bring about the unification of Germany in 1871, initiating three wars, one with Denmark (1864), one with Austria (1866), and finally one with France (1870-1871).

During the war with Austria -- called the Seven Weeks' War because of its duration -- an amusing incident occurred, though perhaps Bismarck did not appreciate the humor. 

On the evening following the crushing Prussian victory in the Battle of Koniggratz (July 3, 1866), Bismarck, who was wearing the uniform as major in the reserve, and thus not readily recognized as a big shot, became separated from the royal party.  Riding alone down a road, Bismarck come upon the village of Horitz.  It becoming late, he attempted to secure a place to sleep.  Bismarck searched through the village for a place to lay his head.  Alas, it seemed that every house and building and barn had been assigned to one or another unit in the army, and no one could find a place for him.  Or, rather, no one admitted that there might be room for him.  During his meanderings through the village, Bismarck had had the misfortune to accidentally fall into a manure pit, which probably deterred any offer of space.  Anyway, eventually despairing of find a room, Bismarck bedded down under a colonnade in the market place. 

And there the Minister-President of Prussia might have passed the entire night, were it not for the fact that a passing officer from the staff of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg happened to recognize Bismarck, and arranged a place for him to stay

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