Facts and Stories from WWII That We Won’t Find in History Books

The Gurkhas, elite soldiers from Nepal serving in the British Army, were renowned for their bravery and stealth tactics during combat. Their unique method of identifying friend from foe in the darkness of battlefields held a critical warning for Allied soldiers: never wear an enemy’s helmet as a replacement for your own.

Gurkhas operated under the cover of night, silently approaching potential threats by feeling the shape of their helmets to determine allegiance. This practice stemmed from the need to avoid friendly fire in the confusion of nocturnal operations, where visibility was severely limited.