During World War II, Monopoly games were used to send maps, compasses, and real money to American and other Allied POWs in Nazi-occupied areas. This assistance helped many escape. Other items like pens, cigarette cans, and playing cards were also used to send aid.
During World War II, American POWs (POWs) were given maps, compasses, and real money hidden in Monopoly games. The idea belonged to John Waddington, who produced Monopoly board games in England, and the British secret service. Knowing they could send board games to POWs along with essential items like clothing, they used several fake charities to send Monopoly games to POW camps in Nazi-occupied areas. They hid things like maps printed on silk cloth, compasses and money inside the games. The manufacturers and Secret Service also used various codes on game boxes to ensure that the correct maps were sent to the correct areas. It was not only American POWs who benefited from service, but POWs from other Allied powers as well. It is believed that quite a few POWs managed to escape with the help of this assistance. Board games weren’t the only things the Allied Powers used to send assistance to POWs during World War II. Special escape kits were also hidden in items such as pens, cigarette cans and playing cards.
Read more about WWII:
World War II took place between the Axis Powers (Germany, Japan, Italy) and the Allied Powers (USA, Great Britain, China, Soviet Union). It lasted from 1939 to 1945.
Just over 16 million US soldiers fought in World War II and an estimated 400,000 died.
The Soviet Union had the most casualties, with 7.5 million killed in World War II, followed by Germany with 3.5 million and China with 2.2 million killed.
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