These old photographs record the passage of time and are witnesses of time. When we look at an old photo, we can feel the atmosphere of that era and people's life, and it can also give us a better understanding of history and culture. These old photos have left precious historical imprints in the precipitation of time, witnessed the progress and life changes of mankind, and also gave us the opportunity to think about the development of human civilization and culture.
Body armor testing
In 1923, inventor V.G. showed off his new body armor, which attracted many people to watch. In the demonstration, V.G. had an assistant in body armor stand a few meters away and shoot at the assistant from a Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver. The assistant was not injured after the bullet hit the body armor, which shocked and surprised everyone who watched the demonstration.
The demonstration made a deep impression on the NYPD at the time. Body armor was a relatively new invention at the time, capable of protecting police officers and other law enforcement officers while reducing their risks while carrying out their duties. As a result, body armor gradually began to be widely used in the police and military fields, and became an important equipment.
Now, with the advancement of science and technology, the design and materials of body armor are also constantly improving. They can already withstand higher power bullets and more power, providing humans with more reliable security.
"Two-man turn" during World War II
On June 6, 1944, the Allied landings in Normandy began. Soon after, the Allies gradually occupied Calais, an important city in northern France. On September 22, 1944, Germany announced its surrender at Calais, marking a turning point in the war.
At that time, the tallest soldier in the German army was 38-year-old Jacob Naken, who was 221 cm tall and a real giant. Naken surrendered with the German army, was captured and sent to the Allied barracks. There, he met Eldeen Robbins, a Canadian corporal who was only 160 centimeters tall.
At that time, Roberts searched him. The scene is very interesting because Roberts is so short compared to Naken, and Naken himself is a strong giant, and the contrast between them is very clear in this context.
Naken died in 1948. Roberts retired from the military to become a farmer until his death in 2019.
Black couple living in a white neighborhood
A black couple who had recently moved to a "white quarter" in Chicago, USA, in 1957 looked at a racist sign in front of their home.
The United States in the fifties was a segregated society. Segregation laws stipulated that blacks and whites must live, work, and study separately, which led to extreme discrimination and unfair treatment of blacks.
This discrimination is particularly pronounced in Chicago. As a result of segregation, blacks were excluded from the southern and western parts of the city during that period, while whites were concentrated in the northern and eastern regions. As a result, blacks are often subjected to long waits and severe restrictions when looking for housing, jobs, and educational opportunities.
In real estate, white rejection and discrimination led directly to the formation of black ghettos. Many blacks are forced to live in areas of poverty and high crime rates, and due to uneven schools and housing, many black children attend poor-quality schools and lack proper sanitation and infrastructure. To make matters worse, blacks are often the target of police violence, and murders and clashes between blacks and whites occur.
In addition, blacks often suffer from unfair treatment in the field of employment, making it difficult to obtain high salaries and career development opportunities. Factories, companies, and businesses often refused to hire blacks or offered them only low-paying, low-level jobs.
Female IRA soldier
In 1970, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) began allowing women to participate in armed struggles and gradually expanded the role of women in organizations. Most famously, in the early '80s, the IRA sent a team of female soldiers on an assault mission.
The team consists of seven women, aged between 20 and 30 years. They are professionally trained and proficient in the use of various weapons, such as pistols, bombs, etc. During the mission, they wear masculine uniforms, masks and wigs so that they are not seen. The women also participated in IRA intelligence activities and visited other IRA members in prison.
The participation of these female soldiers has led to more support and attention to the IRA's struggle. Their courage and determination have inspired more women to join the ranks of the IRA, and at the same time have caused deeper thinking and reflection in society. However, over time, the IRA's violent struggle was increasingly criticized and condemned, and the group of female soldiers was disbanded.
To this day, the deeds of these female soldiers are still talked about. They represent a challenge and breakthrough to traditional gender roles, while also making people reflect on the consequences and costs of violent struggle.
Control panel of a German submarine during World War I
German submarines of the era of World War I were among the most advanced and dangerous in the world, known as representatives of "underwater sharks" or "wolves". Their designs incorporated innovative techniques and tactics to increase the efficiency of warfare at sea, and their results are widely credited with having a profound impact on later developments in submarine design and strategy.
German submarines were leading the way in design, armament and operational tactics at the time, mainly using two types of submarines - U-boats and UB submarines. These submarines are very agile, fast, maneuverable, and can switch freely between surface and underwater. At the same time, it is also equipped with advanced communication systems and radar facilities, and through continuous technical improvement, the range and diving ability of submarines have been significantly improved.
German submarines were also very powerful in armament, carrying torpedoes and artillery shells. German submarines were very successful in attacking merchant ships and warships, and were able to attack in any weather and place, causing huge material losses and casualties.
Gas mask testing station, London, 1930s.
In the 30s of the last century, the City of London established the Gas Mask Testing Station, which is mainly responsible for providing gas masks for the public, not only for the citizens to buy, but more importantly, to test, adjust and adapt the gas masks for the citizens to ensure the effectiveness and use of gas masks.
The gas mask test station was built to counter the threat of various chemical warfare agents during World War II. The testing station is located on the outskirts of London and is known as the Massey Shaw Testing Station. Soon after the establishment of the testing station, it began receiving thousands of citizens to be tested and adjusted for gas masks. In addition to local residents, there was a large influx of people from other British cities into London, which also led to a sharp increase in the demand for gas masks.
The Maswell testing station has a hall where staff instruct people on how to properly wear and use gas masks and conduct real-life simulation tests. After wearing gas masks, people should run quickly, go up and down stairs and other actions to ensure that the gas masks can fit closely to the face and will not fall off or be damaged in extreme emergency situations, so as to better protect life safety.
The staff at the Maswell testing station is responsible for testing and documenting the mask model and fit of each citizen so that they can provide timely assistance if necessary. In addition, the test station has trained a large number of gas mask adjustment and maintenance personnel to ensure the long-term effectiveness and reliability of gas masks.
The first person in the United States to open a women's gym
In the 40s of the last century, the female fitness industry did not receive enough attention, and women's physical exercise was considered inappropriate or even harmful. In such an era, Abby Averly founded the nation's first gym for women and led the development of the women's fitness industry.
Abby Averly, a young yoga instructor and gymnastics instructor, recognized that women needed a fitness space of their own, as gyms in many cities were open only to men. So, in 1949, Abby Averly founded Abby Ellin's Women's Physical Culture Studio in Long Island City, New York, which was the first gym in the United States for women.
Abby Every didn't have much money to start her business, and she started teaching yoga and gymnastics at home, attracting some students. Then, she rented a small room on the second floor of a clothing store and began to recruit more trainees. As the number of clients grew, she eventually opened her own fitness center on a larger venue, becoming one of the most popular and famous women's fitness centers in the area.
Abby Averly's gym offers a full range of women's fitness services, including yoga, dance, gymnastics, Pilates and more, as well as cardio and strength training equipment. She also published a booklet called "The Woman in the Physical Culture World" to introduce women to exercise, nutrition and healthy living, attracting more women to the fitness bandwagon.
Abby Averly successfully led the development of the women's fitness movement and laid the foundation for what would become the women's fitness industry. Her influence has also prompted more gyms to embrace women, offering more comprehensive and advanced fitness classes and facilities. To this day, her contributions to women's fitness are widely recognized and praised.