![]() Unsuspecting German officers allowed Monopoly games and cards into the POW camps as a diversion to keep prisoners from focusing on escape plans, not knowing they held money, metal files and notes encrypted on the cards and silk maps folded into the hotel pieces. ![]() Water soaked cards issued by the Royal Air Force revealed concealed strategy maps. World War 11 troops were issued cards printed with various enemy warfare crafts hoping for valuable time to prepare for attack. Allied soldiers playing cards in Iraq became familiar with the faces of Saddam Hussein and his regime, printed on the cards, In the 16th century Spanish navy officers would challenge potential recruits to play for large pots of money, only to be enrolled for service if they lost. ![]() Playing cards had an important role in military history. Most historians believe the kings represent David, Charles, Caesar and Alexander the Great.Ĭard games continued to spread across Europe, often in the decks carried in the pockets of soldiers, well worn and creased like the faces of those who dealt them. Queens made their way on and off the cards through the years as some countries discounted their relevance however, as the deck found its way to England, the Queens were finally given a permanent place within the hierarchy. The next step was to put the Royal Courts faces on the cards in order of importance and many royal households throughout Europe contended for the rights to have their royalty depicted on the cards. Around this time card players themselves decided a deck of 52 was the optimum number of cards. ![]() Various suits were designed including bells, acorns and swords until the 1480's when the French settled on Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds and Spades as well as dividing the suits into red and black cards. Quickly card games became popular and looking to produce cards faster, Germany stepped up with wood block printing, as opposed to hand painting, and began to steadily produce cards. It is speculated that cards arrived in Europe in the mid 1300's presumably from Egypt, along with a caveat that card playing would not be allowed on the Sabbath. There is no definitive origin to a deck of cards, although there is evidence of paper playing cards from 12th century China. ![]()
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