While many well-known aspects of World War II are frequently discussed, several lesser-known facts offer a more nuanced view of the conflict.

Military and Technological Aspects

• Luminous Blackout Buttons: Civilians used luminous buttons to navigate darkened cities during blackouts, selling for just a dime.
• V-42 Stiletto Knife: Specially designed double-edged dagger issued only to the US-Canadian First Special Service Force commandos.
• "Handie-Talkies": Motorola developed lightweight radios with one-mile range, producing 130,000 for US forces.
• Defective Torpedoes: Early Mark 14 torpedoes often malfunctioned, sometimes endangering the submarines that launched them.
• The Alcan Highway: Built in eight months by US Army Corps of Engineers, including African American soldiers, connecting mainland US to Alaska.
• The "Long Patrol": 30-day raid behind Japanese lines on Guadalcanal, killing 488 enemy soldiers while losing 16.

Social and Cultural Aspects

• "Double Victory": African Americans fought both against Axis powers abroad and racism at home.
• Japanese American Internment: Despite loyalty, many were forced into camps; some later volunteered for military service.
• Women's Roles: 350,000 women served, with 38 WASPs and 201 nurses making the ultimate sacrifice.
• Manhattan Project: Highly secretive operation across multiple sites, with many workers unaware of the atomic weapon goal.
• "Secret Cities": Atomic workers lived in restricted areas, using P.O. Box addresses for security.
• Civilian Casualties: 8.9 million labor accidents resulted in 75,000+ deaths.
• GI Bill Discrimination: Black veterans often denied benefits due to racial discrimination.
• Isaac Woodard Incident: Blinding of Black WWII veteran led to military desegregation.

Strategic and Operational Aspects

• "Bodyguard" Plan: Allied deception convinced Germans that D-Day would target Calais, not Normandy.
• Doolittle Raid: One-way mission to Tokyo created major psychological impact despite minimal damage.