Archaeo-Histories
A 16th Century CE, Manuscript (UPenn Ms. Codex 109) includes an image of 'Cat with a rocket on its back'.
It comes from a work that examines gunpowder and weaponry, one idea was to use doves and cats loaded with flammable devices to set fire to enemy positions.
Detailed Post -
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxkSXyfPky2/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
@archaeohistories
@andreeafont
Barbaric practice that I had not heard of but quite creative.
Is there any evidence of this having actually been practiced?
Andreea Font
@HistoPol @archaeohistories Indeed, the idea is barbaric, but there is no clear evidence that it was ever employed.
The instagram link above has more information. It appears that the idea of using animals and birds as carrying weapons has been floating around for many centuries.
However, I doubt it ever worked with cats...
Happy #caturday 🐈
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
@andreeafont
Yeah, I had the same hunch, knowing cats. They' probably be to scared to run back.
It might have worked with dogs, though. - Horrible thought.
BTW, alas I cannot read all the characters (no problem with German) and I refuse to have an IG account (but copied and pasted it). He seems to have the full texte in German, as he provides a translation.
Would be nice to put it in the #AltText, I think.
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
Sounds really horrible.
So sad.
@archaeohistories @andreeafont
Cody Boone Ferguson
@HistoPol @archaeohistories @andreeafont … many Americans offered up their pets for the war effort. At first American officials were sceptical. Sadly it changed.
When I got to the point where they were offering up pets I couldn’t take it any longer. I was already disgusted by it all.
I feared it when I got the book but I decided to give it a go.
It wasn’t something I could do.
Cody Boone Ferguson
@HistoPol @archaeohistories @andreeafont there’s an entire book about animals in the Second World War. I have over 40 books on it last I counted and I have added since then. It’s the only one I couldn’t read. I put it down.
Humans don’t care. Anything to help them win. Doesn’t matter how. Animals are disposable to them.
And think about dogs used to sniff out bombs.
Of course there’s evidence as awful as it is.
Cody Boone Ferguson
@HistoPol @archaeohistories @andreeafont I am afraid that yes there is.
Look up Project Pigeon. People have used animals in war for years. There’s the famous baboon Jackie. The bear Wojtek (First, Second World War respectively). Americans trained dogs to try and sniff out Japanese blood. That was on Cat Island.
UK dropped pamphlets telling citizens it would be inhumane to have pets. Many were killed because of it.
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
No you didn't re/ myself, but yes, it might trigger some people.
You can still add a CW, like Animal cruelty, War or something.
Andreea Font
@xexyl @HistoPol @archaeohistories And I'm sorry if I've upset anyone with this post. I probably should have add a warning.
🙏
Cody Boone Ferguson
@HistoPol @archaeohistories @andreeafont it is definitely horrible.
That is sadly a very human trait.
You know. People think they are superior to everything else. A species that is truly superior would treat everything as equal. I don’t see humanity doing that.
Certainly many people do but on a whole it’s just not going to happen. It’s a terrible tragedy.
I do not know how it is nowadays but I seriously doubt that it is any better.
Andreea Font
@xexyl @HistoPol @archaeohistories
Indeed, horrible and sad stuff.
Thank you for sharing this, it is important that these things are known.
Cody Boone Ferguson
@andreeafont @HistoPol @archaeohistories I am sorry I had to.
I am a Second World War and NSDAP buff so I know a great deal about that time but I happen to know about some others too.
A German friend is frequently amazed how much I know but it takes sifting through things due to so many lies on all sides. But it’s not just in war!
I think it was a monkey that was sent to space in a rocket. But some animal or maybe animals have been.
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
The Russians sent the dog Leika if I remember correctly.
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
Please do add a CW to ALL posts re/ war, SS, NSDAP, etc.! - There are many people here who have ancestors lost in WWII, or friends and family, many still have traumatic memories or might even suffer from PTSD.
Thank you for your consideration and sorry about the editing work.
Cody Boone Ferguson
@andreeafont @HistoPol @archaeohistories you might be surprised what people can be capable of when it’s a matter of life and death.
One Jewish doctor inmate actually collaborated with the SS doctors. Others went out of their way to try and save lives.
Will follow with more …
Cody Boone Ferguson
@andreeafont @HistoPol @archaeohistories So the question is how do you reconcile with all this? We could all be the worst sadists in different situations. We can only hope that we would be better. That is an unfortunate fact of the human species. But because I can accept these things I can more easily fully appreciate the horrors. Unfortunately some things in this world require discomfort in order to understand and often those are most in need of understanding! Animal abuse is one such thing.
Andreea Font
@xexyl @HistoPol @archaeohistories
Yes, there is plenty of evidence of evil deeds throughout history, and, unfortunately, 'normal' people can do unthinkable things inc certain situations.
But, I know for a fact that not *all* people can be swayed to do these things. That is what gives me hope.
I agree that we have a long way before we as a species do remedy our harmful ways in which we treat animals.
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge on the subject.
Have a great day, too!
Cody Boone Ferguson
@andreeafont @HistoPol @archaeohistories From the Nazi Doctors:
Cody Boone Ferguson
@andreeafont @HistoPol @archaeohistories victims in sight of the gas chambers (German Gaskammern) didn't believe it. Or some didn't. They had flowers there and along with the unbelievability of it and mass deception - can you blame them? Some even saw in themselves in their captors and that disturbed them very much. 0/n
Cody Boone Ferguson
@andreeafont @HistoPol @archaeohistories yeah. That’s humans for you.
Andreea Font
@xexyl @HistoPol @archaeohistories
yes, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkeys_and_apes_in_space
Cody Boone Ferguson
@HistoPol @andreeafont @archaeohistories did I miss anything? Thanks for the reminder.
HistoPol (#HP) 🏴 🇺🇸 🏴
Thank you!
I was recently in contact with a survivor who even gets triggerd by DMs, so for any kind of violence, a CW is important.
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