Today's Rotten History

Dec 18 1879

Happy Joseph Stalin's birthday!

Dec 18 1916

Bloodiest and longest battle of World War I ends, with the French defeating Germans at the Battle of Verdun. There were over 1 million casualties, and the Verdun ossuary contains bones of 100,000 unidentified soldiers.

Dec 18 1940

Hitler formulates plans, issued today as Directive 21, for the invasion of Russia. The intent of Operation Barbarossa was to destroy the Red Army. Fighting on two fronts eventually caused Germany's defeat.

Dec 18 1997

Chris Farley is found dead surrounded by empty food containers and porn. That's right...it was 10 years ago today. You're old.