World World 2 Facts: Did You Know These 29 Interesting Details?
Monopoly Boards Help POWs Escape With Hidden Tools
The Monopoly Game first appeared on the market in America in 1934. It is a symbol of of the American way throughout its history. When World War II threatened democracy, Monopoly came into “play” in an unexpected way and from an unexpected source. Thanks to the Geneva Convention, Germany accepted care packages for the Prisoners of War it acquired throughout the war. These packages were then distributed by organizations such as the Red Cross. The Allies used this to their advantage by stocking the care packages with Monopoly games that were essentially escape kits in disguise. The British Secret Service (M19) and the United Kingdom Licensee of Monopoly, John Waddington, Ltd., got together to create ways to surreptitiously include items that could lead to successful escape. Each Monopoly kit contained a compass and metal file disguised as playing pieces. Additionally, German, French, and Italian bank notes hidden under the Monopoly money, and a silk map concealed in the playing board itself. The Royal Air Force were told what to look for on the Monopoly packages should they be taken prisoner. The key: a small red dot on the Free Parking Space.