from 21st Century Wire: From left to right: Otzma Yehudit leader MK Itamar Ben Gvir‚ Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu‚ and Religious Zionism head MK Bezalel Smotrich (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90) Dr Martin Cohen 21st Century Wire The United Nations is probing whether Israel is committing genocide. The US President pleads with it to stop killing civilians – […]

from Geopolitics &; Empire:  TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

by Eric Peters‚ The Burning Platform: The Church Lady on Saturday Night Live – this was back when it was still funny – used to say: Could it be Satan? Which was funny‚ the way Dana Carvey – who played the Church Lady – said it. And looked when he said it. There is nothing funny about […]

from State Of The Nation: Actually‚ our Lord Jesus Christ may have been the first to issue the dire warning about the truly satanic banksters. It’s totally true that whoever controls the money‚ the currency‚ the primary medium of exchange a nation‚ controls it all. TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/ Starting with the Babylonian Banking Cartel‚ […]

from BANNED.VIDEO:  TRUTH LIVES on at https://sgtreport.tv/

True crime is popular for two major reasons. People love the mystery of unsolved cases and the depths of human depravity. They also love the conclusion of knowing some criminals get caught for their crimes. Unfortunately‚ the latter is much less common than the former‚ even with the most heinous of crimes. One such case is the case of Mr. Cruel‚ an unknown suspect in Australia whose actions led to nearly A$4 million in investigations that led to nothing. To this day there is a reward for any information on the suspect. The victims of Mr. Cruel and a Victoria Police sketch artist drawing of the attacker Mr. Cruel’s Kidnappings Mr. Cruel is a moniker. It was given to the criminal by the magazine The Sun after police relayed a description of a serial rapist in the late 1980s. This serial rapist was guilty of abducting and assaulting three young girls in the late 1980s and early 1990s near Melbourne‚ Australia. They are assumed to be responsible for the kidnapping and murder of a fourth young girl. His modus operandi remained the same in each case‚ with his first crime committed on August 22‚ 1987. Wearing a balaclava mask‚ he broke into a family’s home at 4 am. He was armed with a knife and a gun‚ and tied up the parents. He then blindfolded and gagged their 11-year-old daughter before raping her. As he left the scene‚ the parents found he had cut the phone lines.  A Pattern Emerges He then repeated the same pattern twice‚ with some slight changes in detail. He still entered the home under the darkness of night‚ binding and gagging the parents to prevent them from interfering. In the next two cases‚ he also disabled the phones‚ asked the parents for money‚ and searched their homes. Once he found what he wanted‚ he abducted the young daughters in both cases; a 10-year-old in 1988‚ and a 13-year-old in 1990. He then kept the girls for specific periods of time. He released his first victim after 18 hours‚ and the second victim he released after 50 hours.  One year later‚ a 13-year-old schoolmate of the third victim suffered the same abduction. However‚ rather than being released a few days later‚ her body was found decomposed. She had three bullets to the head a year later. Police never found enough evidence to definitively say if Mr. Cruel was to blame for this abduction. On one hand‚ the girl was the correct age for his victimology and was abducted at night by a man in a balaclava mask from their family home. But on the other hand‚ this would be the first victim that Mr. Cruel killed instead of released‚ which was a break from his established pattern of behavior.  The three victims of Mr. Cruel The Investigation Each victim that he released has confirmed with police officers that the same man is responsible for the attacks. A similar physical description was given by each girl and their family. The two kidnapped victims shared that they had been tied to a bed in a home where they heard planes overhead. This led police to investigate 30‚000 homes and nearly 27‚000 suspects surrounding the Melbourne airport in hopes of finding Mr. Cruel. A new task force was created to search for the suspect. It was called the Spectrum Task Force. They spent three years deeply investigating the cases‚ a feat that cost nearly A$4 million. A reward of A$300‚000 was offered for any information related to the case. This amount was raised to A$1‚000‚000 on the 25th anniversary of his fourth victim’s murder.  The Profile With the limited knowledge they had‚ the police established a profile to help narrow down the suspect pool. Mr. Cruel was a meticulous criminal. He planned every detail of his crimes and paid attention to the slightest detail. Police have said he was highly intelligent. He never left a trace‚ studied each of his victims’ families to strike at the perfect moment‚ and even left red herrings to deter investigations into his crimes. He also took care of his victims by thoroughly bathing them. He would bring them a change of clothes from their homes as he abducted them so that they would be returned in pristine condition. His behavior was unhurried. He took his time in abducting the girls because he knew that he had no reason to rush. He even paused for a meal in the middle of one kidnapping. Finally‚ he promised his third victim as he abducted her that he would return her in exactly 50 hours‚ a promise that he kept very specifically. Despite knowing all these characteristics of Mr. Cruel‚ police were unable to find him.  In the Wake of Mr. Cruel Multiple other task forces have attempted to solve the cold cases in the years since Mr. Cruel disappeared. A Rape Squad was established in Victoria as a result of these cases that allowed detectives to more thoroughly and professionally investigate serial rapists. But they never identified Mr. Cruel. However‚ they did uncover other cases from earlier years that may have also been committed by Mr. Cruel. In 2013‚ a convicted serial rapist named Robert Keith Knight died. He was reported to have been a suspect in the cases. However‚ the lead detective stated on record that he did not think Knight was Mr. Cruel.  The mystery of his identity may never be solved although his legacy persists in the memory of his victims. The reward for his identification keeps climbing. His disappearance influenced a shift in investigative practices within the police in Melbourne‚ which has assisted in catching many others but never Mr. Cruel. Perhaps someday his victims will get closure‚ knowing that the man who violated their lives is paying for his crimes.  References Braddick‚ Imogen. “Pure Evil: How masked child killer ‘Mr. Cruel’ snatched kids in Australia’s most terrifying cold case as cops hunt him 40 years on.” The US Sun‚ August 13‚ 2023. https://www.the-sun.com/news/8830295/masked-child-killer-mr-cruel-snatched-kids-cold-case/.  Whelan‚ Michael. “Mr. Cruel.” Unresolved‚ January 7‚ 2016. https://unresolved.me/mr-cruel. The post Mr. Cruel: The Australian Serial Kidnapper Still at Large first appeared on History Defined.

The New Year celebrated in most parts of the world is January 1 of the Gregorian Calendar. While it doesn’t explicitly say that it’s the Christian New Year‚ the Gregorian Calendar was instituted by Pope Gregory XIII through a papal bull or edict in 1582.  However‚ different cultures and religions have different New Years: Chinese New Year Diwali – Hindu New Year Hijri – Islamic New Year Matariki – Maori New Year Nowruz – Persian New Year Songkran  – Thai New Year This article will focus on the Jewish New Year‚ known as Rosh HaShanah.  Illustration from Juedisches Ceremoniel‚ a German book published in Nürnberg in 1724 by Peter Conrad Monath of Rosh HaShanah festivities Definition of Terms Before we proceed to the discussion of this celebration‚ let us first define some terms that will notably be mentioned in the article.  Akedah – the Genesis story on the Binding of Isaac.  Days of Awe – 10-day Jewish celebration that starts with Rosh HaShanah and ends with Yom Kippur. The Jews believe that these are the days that God judges people.  Selichot – special penitential Hebrew prayers.  Shofar – is a hollowed-out ram’s horn blown during the Rosh HaShanah prayers.  Tishrei – is the first month in the Hebrew calendar. Torah – a compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.  Yom Teruah – is the term for Rosh HaShanah in the Hebrew Bible. Yom Kippur – is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism. The History of Rosh HaShanah Just like most New Year celebrations‚ the Jewish community gets together on Rosh HaShanah to reflect on the year that was and how they look forward to a more prosperous year.  But what is the history of Rosh HaShanah?  The celebration’s beginnings were tied to the agricultural practices of the Ancient Near East‚ which evolved into the modern Middle East. The early Jews considered the beginning of the agricultural cycle – sowing‚ growing‚ and harvesting crops – as the start of the year.  Rosh HaShanah literally means “head of the year” as Rosh is Hebrew for “head‚” Ha is the article “the‚” and Shanah means “year.”  Rosh HaShanah also commemorates the world’s creation. In terms of the celebration‚ it also gives a start to the 10-day introspection that culminates in Yom Kippur. Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur are considered the High Holy Days for the Jews.  The Jews actually celebrate four New Years‚ with Rosh HaShanah as the first of Tishrei‚ or the Hebrew calendar month. The next New Year is the Nisan‚ the start of the Exodus‚ or the time the Israelites left Egypt. The year also represents many bible events‚ such as the first day the flood waters dissipated in the story of Noah’s Ark.  Another New Year is the first of Elul‚ or the harvest month. Finally‚ there is Tu BiShvat‚ or the New Year of the Trees.  Each New Year celebrates the start of a calendar year pertaining to a season.  Yom Teruah The term Rosh HaShanah doesn’t appear in the Hebrew Bible. Instead‚ Yom Teruah‚ or the day of blowing trumpets‚ appears. However‚ the Jewish people believe that Rosh HaShanah started during the 6th century Before the Common Era.  It wasn’t until Year 200 that Jewish texts mention Rosh HaShanah.  How Rosh HaShanah is Celebrated Unlike the Gregorian calendar that celebrates the New Year every January 1‚ the Rosh HaShanah date changes every year. It is similar to the Chinese New Year and Diwali‚ which vary every year based on their respective lunar calendars.  Rosh HaShanah is celebrated every first day of the seventh month of the Hebrew Calendar. In the Gregorian Calendar‚ it usually falls in September and October.  It may be called another name‚ but the celebration resembles the widely celebrated New Year. The Jews would reflect on what happened in the past year‚ repent their wrongdoings‚ and pray for a better year ahead.  The synagogues are always filled to the brim during these days as most of the Jewish people take off work to observe the annual religious tradition. Expecting a deluge of congregants‚ Rosh HaShanah or Yom Kippur is usually held in college auditoriums or hotel ballrooms. In Israel and Ukraine‚ Rosh HaShanah is a holiday.  Many also observe two days of Rosh HaShanah.  Preparation Jewish people celebrate Days of Awe in both the home and the synagogue. Weeks before Rosh HaShanah‚ which marks the start of the Days of Awe‚ Selichot is recited in the synagogue. The Selichot is usually done on a Saturday a week or two before Rosh HaShanah. The solemn tradition is fulfilled by candlelight‚ which heightens its solemnity.  Shofar There are many traditions in Rosh HaShanah. One of the most popular is the blowing of the shofar‚ one of the world’s oldest winged instruments. It is an iconic Jewish tradition with deep meaning‚ as the curve of the shofar symbolizes a person’s humility in front of god. The shofar is blown throughout the Days of Awe.  There are four variations of the shofar blowing: T’kiah – one long blast Sh’varim – three short blasts T’ruah – nine quick blasts T’kiah g’dolah – one very long blast They represent the different “sounds” of people’s everyday lives. They are noted wake-up calls for people to repent and start the new year afresh.  Shofar (Jewish horn): top – Ashkenazi shofar‚ bottom – Yemenite shofar Family Gatherings People usually gather for Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Families have dinner together before they head to the synagogue for service. The following are some of the most important food items served during dinner: Apples dipped in honey – to symbolize the hope for a sweet year ahead Carrots – in Yiddish‚ the carrot is called ma’rin‚ which literally translates to increase. Eating carrots‚ in Jewish tradition‚ means increasing one’s blessings. Plus‚ slicing carrots will make them look like coins‚ and that represents prosperity and wealth. In Hebrew‚ carrot is gezer‚ which sounds like g’zar‚ which means decree. Eating carrots is explained as nullifying any negative decrees.  Pomegranates – as each fruit contains a lot of seeds‚ Jewish people eat it to wish for a year filled with good deeds. Pomegranates are usually eaten before the family celebration.  Round challah – typically‚ challah is oval‚ but for Rosh HaShanah‚ the Jews eat the round one to symbolize the continuity of life and seasons. The round shape is also a reminder that when people sin‚ repentance is always available. Moreover‚ the round challah resembles a crown that the Jews believe symbolizes God’s sovereignty.  Yehi Ratzon platter – many don’t really eat a lot of apples dipped in honey or pomegranates as the Rosh HaShanah celebration is a whole feast. So‚ most Jewish households will prepare the Yehi Ratzon platter that already contains all the traditional New Year food items‚ such as honeyed apples‚ pomegranates‚ dates‚ black-eyed peas‚ beets‚ rondanchas or pumpkin-filled pastries‚ and keftedes de prasa or leek fritters.  Round Challah Torah Every Church service‚ whatever the denomination‚ always involves reading the bible. In the case of the Jews‚ their bible is called the Torah. During Rosh HaShanah‚ the Torah is read‚ and one of the most famous selections is Genesis 22:1-19 or the story of the Binding of Isaac.  Why is the Akedah an important story in the Jewish celebration? The story‚ which is also in the Catholic Bible‚ narrates how God basically compelled Abraham to bind his son and offer him as a sacrifice to God. Many fathers may not have heeded God’s directions‚ but Abraham trusted him implicitly. The story shares the importance of God’s oath. The same story also had Abraham sacrificing a ram for God‚ which is also where the shofar tradition started. The ram was sacrificed in place of Isaac when God finally told Abraham He was just testing him.  There are other Torah readings‚ too‚ particularly when Jewish people celebrate Rosh Hashanah for two days.  Torah scroll written in columns containing Hebrew text Tashlich On the first afternoon of Rosh HaShanah‚ many Jews gather around a large body of water for the tradition known as Tashlich. The activity is recommended for Jewish children between three and five years old‚ but anyone can join the Tashlich if they wish. After all‚ the activity signifies the washing of one’s sins.  People who observe the Tashlich also have small pieces of bread in their pockets that they throw into the water as a way of casting their sins into the sea. Some also throw stones or wood chips as bread isn’t good for any of the wildlife that might eat it.  Shanah Tovah Jews greet each other with “Shanah Tovah” every Rosh HaShanah‚ which means “Have a good year.” Sometimes‚ people add Umetukah at the end to mean‚ “Have a good and sweet year.” There are other variations‚ too‚ but the point is to greet each to have a positively better year ahead.  During Yom Kippur‚ the greeting turns to Gmar Tov or “A good conclusion.” Rosh HaShanah Today Perhaps today‚ more than ever‚ Rosh HaShanah has become more important to the Jewish community.  “Think about the ways that we want to create a safe community‚ a welcoming community‚ a warm community and then be able to enrich the world around us after having those moments of introspection‚” Penn State Hillel reform senior Jewish educator Peter J. Rubinstein said of the most recent Rosh HaShanah celebration.  While not generally considered a holiday throughout the world‚ many employers recognize the celebration and allow Jews to take off work for the festivities and days of repentance. The post History of Rosh HaShanah: The Jewish New Year Festival first appeared on History Defined.

Karma holds that if you do something good for someone‚ something good will also happen to you. This seemed to hold true for the people in the town of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon. In 2020‚ Austrian man Eric Schwam left over 2 million Euros to the town in his will. It was a thank you to the people of the town for protecting him for over two years during the Holocaust.  Vichy France After German forces overran France in 1940‚ the Nazi regime established a new government that was sympathetic to the Nazi cause. The Vichy government‚ as it became known‚ began rounding up Jews‚ Roma‚ and other “undesirables.”  They started to send them to concentration camps in a similar fashion that the Germans did. These populations were sent to camps like Revesaltes in southern France. There‚ they would be held in ghettos until they were to be deported to German concentration camps.  Eric Schwam Arrives in France Eric Schwam was a young Jewish man from Austria. During the 1940s‚ he was imprisoned in Rivesaltes with his family.  Schwam’s parents were both highly educated. They helped form a library at the camp and ease the suffering of those around them.  Little is known about how the Schwam family wound up there‚ but they were held at Rivesaltes until the camp closed in 1942.  When German forces moved into the previously unoccupied south of France in 1942‚ they deported the remaining prisoners and closed the camp as a detention center. It is unknown how the Schwam family escaped the fate of a German concentration camp. It is theorized that they were rescued by a young Swiss social worker named Friedel Reiter. Instead of being sent to Germany‚ the family arrived in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon in early 1943.  The Refugee Village Le Chambon-sur-Lignon is a small French village about 250 miles from Rivesaltes. The town was a haven for Jewish refugees during World War II.  From December 1940 to September 1944‚ the town was able to assist over 5000 refugees‚ including 3500 Jewish people fleeing Nazi oppression. The efforts were led by a local pastor named Andre Trocme and his wife Magda. They believed that helping the oppressed was the right thing to do. He would urge his congregation to “do the will of God‚ not of man.” He urged them to assist in aiding the refugees and not give in to the hatred of the Vichy and Nazi governments.  Townsfolk found ways to aid refugees however they could. Some hid refugees in their homes or barns. Others met refugees at the train station and smuggled them into town.  Another pastor‚ Eduoard Theis‚ would work with Protestant activists in Switzerland to organize a system that smuggled Jewish refugees across the border. The townsfolk tried to make life as normal as possible for the refugees. They offered youth groups and school classes‚ and even encouraged Jews to practice their faith. By the time the Schwam family arrived in 1943‚ word had spread far that the town was a welcome place for Jewish refugees.  The town of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon‚ France The Empire Strikes Back While spreading the news was promising for those fleeing oppression‚ it inevitably fell upon the ears of the oppressors as well.  As the occupation of Southern France spread‚ Vichy and Nazi forces marched upon the town. They demanded that townsfolk turn over any Jews they were hiding‚ threatening harsh punishment for anyone who resisted.  Trocme and Theis‚ along with the headmaster of the local school‚ were arrested for their efforts to shelter Jewish refugees. The men were released shortly after‚ but they were forced into hiding themselves.  Many other leaders in the community would also be arrested‚ including Trocme’s relative Daniel Trocme. He would be sent to the Lublin concentration camp and die at the hands of SS officers there.  Schwam Leaves a Fortune Although some refugees were found by Nazi forces and deported‚ many survived because of the acts of kindness displayed by the townspeople of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon.  Schwam’s family would return to Austria after the war. Eric himself would remain in the town until 1950. After leaving Le Chambon-sur-Lignon‚ he moved to the nearby city of Lyon to study pharmacy‚ where he would meet his wife.  Over the next 70 years‚ Eric Schwam would accumulate a small fortune in the business of pharmacy. As he neared the end of his life‚ Schwam’s mind returned to the small village that had kept his family alive during their darkest years.  He began to inquire about how he and his wife could leave their fortune to the town when he died. He even met with the mayor of the town to discuss the details.  No formal plan was ever established‚ but in December 2020 Schwam passed away. It was revealed that his will granted over 2 million euros to the town‚ encouraging them to use it for education and youth services.  Righteous to the Nations The town received praise from Barack Obama in 2009 during the Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony.  At the World Holocaust Remembrance Center‚ Yad Vashem‚ recognized the town and many of its residents as “Righteous to the Nations” for their efforts in saving Jewish refugees. They are no strangers to being thanked for their selfless efforts.  However‚ nobody in the town knew of Schwam or what had happened to him‚ so the gift was a surprise. Since they received the gift‚ the town has been attempting to uncover more about the story of a young Austrian boy who was rescued by the kind acts of strangers in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon.  References Alt Miller‚ Yvette. “Austrian Jew Leaves Fortune to French Town that Saved His Life.” Aish. https://aish.com/austrian-jew-leaves-fortune-to-french-town-that-saved-his-life/.  McSweeney‚ Eoin and Arnaud Siad. “Austrian man leaves fortune to French village that saved his family from Nazis.” CNN‚ January 30‚ 2021. https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/30/europe/fortune-french-village-nazi-intl/index.html.  United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “LE CHAMBON-SUR-LIGNON.” Holocaust Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/le-chambon-sur-lignon. The post Holocaust Survivor‚ Eric Schwam and His 2 Million Euro Gift first appeared on History Defined.

Mimir is an obscure figure from Norse mythology‚ more ancient than Odin himself. His name in Old Norse meant The Rememberer.  Mimir guarded the Well of Wisdom that lay between the roots of the World Tree‚ which made up the center of their universe. Yggdrasil‚ also called the World Tree‚ is an ancient ash tree that unites all of creation.  He was so renowned for his wisdom that the gods sought him out to seek his counsel. Without Mimir’s consent‚ Odin never would have risen to preeminence among the Norse gods.  Odin found him and asked that he allow him to drink from the Well of Wisdom so that he might become enlightened. Mimir demanded a terrible price: one of Odin’s eyes.  The god agreed‚ and the wisdom and insight that he gained from the waters of wisdom elevated him above his contemporaries.  Even after this‚ Odin continued to seek Mimir’s counsel. When Mimir was beheaded during a war of the gods‚ Odin continued to draw upon Mimir’s wisdom by carrying the head around with him. Illustrations of Mimir from Norse and Viking Mythology Norse Mythology Often associated with the Vikings‚ Norse mythology is the body of myths shared by Norsemen‚ or North Germanic peoples. Long oral traditions were preserved in Eddic poetry and prose written from the 10th to 13th centuries. The Old Norse language was spoken throughout Scandinavia from about the 8th to the 15th centuries. After this point‚ it morphed into more modern languages.  Like the language‚ Norse mythology is rooted in broader Germanic religious traditions. It was an inexorable part of their culture and their understanding of the world and their place within it.  There were a number of gods and goddesses in the Old Norse religion‚ and only some were worshiped. Loki‚ for example‚ was not worshiped.  He was a prominent figure in their stories. He shaped their understanding of the universe‚ but there is no evidence of offerings made to him. Norsemen made sacrifices to their gods – usually animals‚ such as oxen or boars‚ but sometimes humans. Spells and divination were common practices. Religious rituals were not restricted to any sort of clergy.  They believed in reincarnation and often named their children after departed family members.  Norse Mythology included many figures that were neither gods nor humans. Many of these were elves and dwarves. Tolkien found a great deal of inspiration in these ancient stories.  There were the Norns‚ three women who shaped the course of each human’s fate. There were nature spirits and guardian spirits. There were also giants. Mimir was his own entity‚ somewhere between a giant and a God. In some traditions‚ he was Odin’s maternal uncle. He also mentored Siegfried‚ an ancient hero in Old Norse literature. Odin relied on his wise counsel so much that he used elaborate magic to resurrect Mimir after he was beheaded. He continued to consult him for advice. Odin stands by Mímir’s beheaded body. 19th century. Georg Pauli  (1855–1935)    Odin Odin was a Norse god associated with knowledge‚ war‚ victory‚ sorcery‚ royalty‚ healing‚ and death. He was the son of Bestla and Borr. His wife was Frigg‚ the goddess of marriage‚ prophecy‚ and motherhood.  He was an established god from the very beginnings of recorded history in Europe over 2‚200 years ago. Over 170 different names for Odin have been recorded. His name in Old English was Woden‚ giving us the word Wednesday by way of the Old English word meaning Woden’s day. Throughout the mythology‚ he often sought out more and more knowledge – and not just from the Well of Wisdom. He also drank the Mead of Poetry that conferred to its drinkers all the powers of the scholars. He took an active part in the creation of the world and was responsible for creating the first two humans‚ Ask and Embla. Odin was always portrayed with one eye‚ as a result of his deal with Mimir. He rode an eight-legged steed across the sky and was often accompanied by wolves and ravens‚ who brought him information. Odin had many sons‚ the most famous of them being Thor. He was not born of Odin’s wife‚ but rather of a liaison between Odin and the earth goddess Joro. Thor was the god of thunder and protector of the Earth. Thor’s hammer was the most common religious symbol of the culture. From the ninth century onwards they were commonly worn around the neck as pendants‚ possibly in response to the crosses worn by Christians.  Mimir in Poetry and Prose Mimir features in both the Poetic Edda‚ a collection of Old Norse poems‚ and the Prose Edda‚ an Old Norse textbook written in Iceland during the 13th century. The Poetic Edda refers to Odin’s journey to the Well of Wisdom and the bargain he struck with Mimir. It also mentions Mimir’s severed head‚ which Odin turns to for advice. Although the head is decollated‚ Mimir still retains the power of speech.  In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning‚ it is written that Mimir himself drank from the Well of Wisdom and thereby attained great knowledge. The passage explains that the well is located beneath one of the three great roots of the World Tree. An Old Norse saga called Ynglinga provides one account of the Æsir–Vanir War fought between two factions of Norse gods. Odin leads an army from Asgard to attack the prophetic people of Vanaheim. Eventually‚ the two sides agree upon a truce‚ and hostages are exchanged.  An illustration of Mimir. Ancient Origins Mimir is sent in exchange for the wisest man in Vanaheim to ensure that both sides continue to cooperate. When relations deteriorate‚ Mimir is beheaded and his head is sent to Odin. Undeterred by the death of his favorite advisor‚ Odin continues to seek Mimir’s counsel. He fills the decapitated head with herbs to embalm it so that it wouldn’t rot. He then casts spells by chanting magical songs over Mimir’s head so that it will regain its power of speech and Mimir can continue to share his vast knowledge with Odin.  Later in the Ynglinga saga‚ Odin consults Mimir’s head to learn information from other worlds. The post Mimir: The Wise Norse God More Ancient than Odin Himself first appeared on History Defined.

When we hear tales of POWs from the Vietnam War era‚ they are often marked by gruesome torture‚ back-breaking labor‚ and unimaginable hardship.  However‚ for one POW named Doug Hegdahl‚ his time in a North Vietnamese prison camp was much easier.  His ability to fake ignorance about military information‚ coupled with a remarkable memory‚ not only shielded him from the hard life of a prisoner of war‚ but also helped rescue over 500 of his fellow soldiers. In this article‚ we will explore the circumstances of Doug Hegdahl’s capture and his survival strategies that would make him a legend of the Vietnam War. Doug Hegdahl’s enlistment photo and a photo taken as a POW Early Life and Deployment to Vietnam Doug Hegdahl III was born in Clark‚ South Dakota on September 3‚ 1946. He enlisted in the Navy in 1966 at the age of 19.  During the time of his enlistment Vietnam had become a focal point in the Cold War and the fight against the spread of communism. Congress had recently signed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and the U.S. commitment to supporting South Vietnam was escalating rapidly. Hegdahl was soon deployed to Vietnam onboard the USS Canberra. This was a guided missile cruiser that provided naval gunfire support and surveillance against North Vietnamese forces.  On the early morning of April 6th‚ 1967‚ the USS Canberra was patrolling the waters of the gulf when Hegdahl came up on deck for some fresh air. What happened next is not exactly clear.  Some reports say that Hegdahl was trying to retrieve his hat when he fell into the water. Other versions say that the concussion of a missile being fired nearby knocked him into the water.  Perhaps the concussion of the missile launch knocked the hat from his head and he fell in the water trying to get it. Whatever the case‚ Hegdahl fell into the Gulf of Tonkin as his ship steamed away‚ leaving him stranded.  He managed to stay afloat for several hours until North Vietnamese fishermen eventually found and rescued him. Despite being an enemy combatant‚ the fishermen displayed unexpected kindness and compassion for him.  Hegdahl was reported missing when he failed to appear at the 11:30 muster. After searching the ship twice‚ he was officially listed as “missing as a result of being lost at sea.” Later that same day‚ the fishermen who rescued him handed Hegdahl over to the North Vietnamese forces. He tried to explain to them the circumstances of his falling into the water but they didn’t buy it.  They thought he was a spy or a commando on a secret mission. Sensing he could be very valuable to them‚ the North Vietnamese took him to the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison camp for interrogation.  Capture and Life in the Prison Camp After being moved to the prison camp‚ his captors had the idea that they could flip him. They wanted to use him for their propaganda campaign to rally support for their cause.  They pressured him to write disparaging statements against the United States and the perils of democracy. Hegdahl agreed but pretended that he could not read or write.  He started talking in a thick country accent to make himself sound dumb and illiterate. He took some beatings as they tried to break him but he stuck with the charade for several days.  Eventually‚ his captors started to believe that he really was just a stupid backwoods kid. Fooling his Vietnamese interrogators‚ they believed they had a simpleton on their hands and could sway him to their side. They assigned someone to teach Hegdahl to read and write in Vietnamese but Hegdahl continued to play dumb.  After a few weeks‚ the teacher quit in frustration and Hegdahl was declared incompetent. The trick seemed to have worked. The Vietnamese gave up on him and gave him the nickname “The Incredibly Stupid One.” Hegdahl soon found himself enjoying special privileges within the confines of the prison camp that must have made the other prisoners envious. Because he was thought of as harmless‚ he had free reign of the camp.  He was given simple chores‚ such as sweeping. He was treated with kindness by the staff of the camp and looked upon like the company dog. Little did the enemy know that Hegdahl was not “incredibly stupid” but actually incredibly smart. He took advantage of his newly acquired freedom to observe and gather information about the conditions and activities within the prison. Assisted by an American Air Force officer‚ Doug Hegdahl memorized crucial details about over 250 U.S. prisoners of war‚ including names‚ personal information‚ and capture dates. In order to memorize so much information‚ he sang it to the tune of “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”. He even convinced his captors that he needed new glasses. When the soldiers took him into Hanoi to be fitted he paid careful attention to the route that they took.  Release and Aftermath After two years of gathering information inside the prison camp‚ the North Vietnamese decided to release three POWs for propaganda purposes. Hegdahl was considered a low-value captive and was chosen to be one of the prisoners to be released.  At first‚ Hegdahl refused to go because of a pledge they all made that they would either all be released or none at all. But his fellow prisoners urged him to go and tell the world about their situation and get them out. On August 5‚ 1969‚ Hegdahl was turned over to Allied forces. He promptly shared a trove of vital details with U.S. military officials.  In 1970 he was given the opportunity to attend the secret Paris Peace Talks where confronted North Vietnam’s negotiators. He exposed their lies about the treatment of POWs.  His direct confrontation contributed to the pressure that eventually led to an agreement for the release of American prisoners. The process took time‚ but on February 12‚ 1973‚ the first POWs were released.  By late March of the same year‚ all 591 had regained their freedom thanks to the ingenious abilities of one man who outwitted his captors. References Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964) https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/tonkin-gulf-resolution The brilliantly ‘stupid ‘ American POW https://www.chronicleonline.com/opinion/columnists/the-brilliantly-stupid-american-pow/article_cef40410-f1ab-5042-824a-2cdfb70867c2.html The incredibly stupid one https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/amazing-pow-douglas-hegdahl/The post Doug Hegdahl: How One Man Tricked the Enemy and Freed Over 500 POW’s first appeared on History Defined.