Funny Nature & Travel Art & Stage Going Viral Science Greetings Inspirational

Edit Profile Recently Viewed Favorites

Main > Going Viral > Baba Recommends

How Monopoly Helped WWII Prisoners Escape...

Edited By: David B.

Add to Favorites In Favorites

Español

Font Size:

A+ A-

For over a century, Monopoly has been one of the most popular board games in the world. While it was invented to help friends and family members around the world spend quality time together, what nobody could have imagined is what a crucial role it would play in the Second World War. What role could a board game possibly have played in a war, you ask. Read on to find out.

How Monopoly Helped WWII Prisoners Escape...

Throughout WWII, thousands of British prisoners were held captive in camps with practically no hope of escape. However, the British intelligence forces realized one day that they actually had a single huge advantage.

This is because the Germans allowed British captives to receive care packages from humanitarian groups while they were in prison. Despite the knowledge that each care package would be thoroughly inspected before being passed on to the captives, the British intelligence forces still managed to find a way to get around this...

MI9, the British intelligence organization, devised a simple plan. Before sending troops off on a mission, they informed them to be on the lookout for Monopoly games in the event of their capture.

MI9 teamed up with Waddington's, Monopoly's manufacturer in Britain, to masterfully hide tiny maps, tools, magnetic compasses and other supplies inside the game itself to aid prisoners in their escape.

Clayton Hutton, the British intelligence officer who came up with this plan once said, 'My aim, right from the start of my association with the escape department, had always been to discover a foolproof system for introducing my ‘toys’ into the camps themselves.”

One of the tricks used was to get the maps printed on pieces of silk to prevent them from wearing out over time, as well as to make them waterproof. It was an absolutely ingenious decision.

During the war, it's estimated that nearly 35,000 British soldiers escaped from imprisonment, and around 20,000 of them claimed to have used supplies found within Monopoly games to give them a hand.

What's more, Monopoly wasn't the only game that helped British prisoners of war during WWII. In fact, messages, bank notes, and maps were also routinely added to packs of cards and chess sets, which all went right under the Germans' noses!

Who would have ever thought that such an ordinary board game could have been responsible for saving the lives of so many people? Talk about a 'Get Out of Jail Free' card!

If you enjoyed reading this article, then don't forget to share it with your friends and family, too.

Source

Related Articles:

11 Especially Original Uses for Box Games

Fascinating: The History of Chess!

Did You Ever Play These Ridiculously Odd Board Games?

Like Next Post Send Share WhatsApp

Copy Link

Did you mean:

Continue With: Facebook Google

By continuing, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy

Report copyright infringement

Print this content

You may also like:

Baba Recommends

A Moment in History: The Ghost Army that Scared the Nazis!

One of the most fascinating army units during World War II was constantly at the front lines, but never did any fighting...

Vehicles of Ground, Air & Water

Full Documentary: The Legendary Spitfire

44:39

How the Spitfire Became the Most Iconic Plane to Ever Fly

This full documentary will tell you all you need to know about the plane that saved Britain from invasion and defeat during the Second World War.

Baba Recommends

Looking for a Short Show to Watch? Try These Miniseries

Have You Watched These Amazing TV Miniseries Yet?

Short-run TV shows are great for quick entertainment. Here’s a list of some of the best miniseries you might not have seen.

Riddles & Quizzes

History Quiz: How Well Do You Know The French Revolution?

Think you know the basics of the French Revolution? Show us what you've got by giving this quiz your full attention!

Baba Recommends

The Historic Avalanche Minutes After Hitler's Death

12:49

The Things That Happened Shortly After Hitler's Demise

What they never bothered to tell you in history lessons at school.

Baba Recommends

13:08

The Epic Battle of Stalingrad Comes to Life

One of the most epic battles in history, and the biggest of WWII comes to life and explored in this in-depth video.

Tips, Life Hacks and DIY

Don't Go! World Destinations to Avoid in 2026

The prestigious American travel magazine Fodor's has released its annual list of destinations best avoided in the coming year.

Health

Study: Even Two Cigarettes a Day Double the Risk of Death

A comprehensive study by the American Heart Association reveals alarming findings: smoking just 2 cigarettes per day doubles the risk of heart disease and increases mortality risk by approximately 60%.