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June 23, 2017
Q. How did decks of cards and Monopoly factor into the “war games” played by Allied prisoners of war (POWs) in Nazi camps of World War II?
A. The Nazis allowed POWs to receive mail, including care packages with items such as playing cards and board games, says Dan Lewis in his book “Now I Know.” The U.S. and the United States Playing Card Co. worked together to create special Bicycle-brand cards that had escape maps directly on them. When moistened, the cards' glue would weaken, allowing the cards' faces to peel away—-revealing detailed escape plans.
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