Jack Kirby: From Captain America to Military Scout

During WWII, Jack Kirby, co-creator of Captain America, was drafted into the U.S. Army and assigned to land at Omaha Beach in Normandy. Because of his background as a comics artist, Kirby’s artistic skills proved to be valuable to the military. He was tasked with the dangerous duty of advancing into towns to draw reconnaissance maps and pictures as a scout.

It’s interesting to note that Kirby’s time in the military influenced his work as a comic book artist. His experiences during the war inspired him to create characters that reflected the heroism and sacrifice of soldiers, including Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos and The Losers. Kirby’s contributions to the world of comics and his service to his country will always be remembered.

Schweres Wasser

During World War II, the Nazis developed a secret weapon named the “Schweres Wasser” (Heavy Water) which was a isotope of water that was enriched in the hydrogen isotope deuterium. This heavy water was used in the production of nuclear weapons but the allies became aware of this and they launch an operation to sabotage the heavy water production in Norway. The operation was successful and it slowed down the Nazi’s Nuclear weapon development program which in turn changed the outcome of the war.