“That Wasn’t Me. That Was Germany”: 50 History Lessons, As Shared By ‘History Told In Memes’

Whilehistorymight seem like a boring subject to some, many would argue that it is absolutely fascinating. But no matter which side you belong to, you ought to admit that learning history with the help ofmemescan be quite fun.Nowadays, those interested in history-based memes have many options to choose from. But today we want to shed light on the ‘History Told In Memes’Instagram account, and some of the pearls it has shared with history enthusiasts online. Covering everything from wars to royalty and so much more, the posts are both entertaining and informative, so if you’re curious to browse them, wait no longer and scroll down to find them on the list below.On the list below you will also findBored Panda’sinterview with Assistant Professor of History at the Department of History, Philosophy, and Geography at Columbus State University,Dr. Laura Davis, and Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst,Dr. Samuel J. Redman, who were kind enough to answer a few of our questions about history.This post may includeaffiliate links.

Nowadays, those interested in history-based memes have many options to choose from. But today we want to shed light on the ‘History Told In Memes’Instagram account, and some of the pearls it has shared with history enthusiasts online. Covering everything from wars to royalty and so much more, the posts are both entertaining and informative, so if you’re curious to browse them, wait no longer and scroll down to find them on the list below.

On the list below you will also findBored Panda’sinterview with Assistant Professor of History at the Department of History, Philosophy, and Geography at Columbus State University,Dr. Laura Davis, and Professor of History at the University of Massachusetts Amherst,Dr. Samuel J. Redman, who were kind enough to answer a few of our questions about history.

This post may includeaffiliate links.

Tesla Edison joke meme, including a retro illustration and text, related to history lessons from ‘History Told In Memes’.

Metronome meme illustrating U.S. switching between establishing and destroying dictatorships in history lessons.

Cat meme humorously depicting 18th-century French royalty, with a cat in a basket and another cat facing away.

Man smirking with text: “Austria after every world war - That wasn’t me. That was Germany."

Cartoon of a woman and man with a museum, satirical text on questions of age, salary, and artifact acquisition.

“Understanding history allows us to gain invaluable critical thinking skills: contextualization, analyzing problems, evaluating evidence, and debating,” Dr. Davis continued. “It helps us gain cultural awareness and empathy for those who may be different from us. It teaches us about both the past and the present, allowing us to see patterns and to understand cause and effect—-and how and why things are the way that they are. And, history can even help us understand ourselves better.”

Comparison of a durable 2000-year-old Roman road and a deteriorated modern road after 20 years, highlighting history lessons.

Two historical figures captioned as open-minded presidents, accompanied by a humorous tweet.

Meme contrasting Eastern European architecture pre- and during the Cold War with cartoon imagery.

Dr. Samuel J. Redman seconded the idea that knowledge of history can help us understand today’s happenings. “Students of history learn to build up an important muscle, sometimes called ‘historical thinking.’ Through history, we often come to a better understanding of what has motivated people throughout time and what things challenged them,” he told Bored Panda.“We also learn that we are not necessarily alone in terms of the emotions we experience or the challenges we face. Previous generations of humans have dealt with many of the same challenges. Those who have spent time learning about and thinking through history also tend to develop greater empathy and a better understanding of the richness of human perspectives and ideas. We learn about the forces that have shaped our world and that many of them are still active, influencing the world in which we live today.”

“We also learn that we are not necessarily alone in terms of the emotions we experience or the challenges we face. Previous generations of humans have dealt with many of the same challenges. Those who have spent time learning about and thinking through history also tend to develop greater empathy and a better understanding of the richness of human perspectives and ideas. We learn about the forces that have shaped our world and that many of them are still active, influencing the world in which we live today.”

Meme comparing British and American English spelling with portraits of historical figures in humorous context.

Volkswagen awkward meme about history, comparing founders with Ford and Toyota, highlighting German connection.

Cartoon character with maps, humorously depicting Great Britain’s colonial era catchphrase.

It’s no secret that many people nowadays get their knowledge from online sources, be ithistoryor any other subject they’re interested in. But when browsing the loads of information, it’s crucial to make sure that the sources are reliable.“For better or worse, many people get their history from the online world: recorded lectures on YouTube, informative TikToks, social media accounts that recount past events or share primary sources, web sites for museums and historic sites, and online articles like this one that engage in historical content. The issue of this, of course, is that not all accounts are trustworthy or based on historical data,” Dr. Davis pointed out.“Just as we train our students to analyze primary sources to understand the creator’s intent, audience, message, and historical context, we need to be critical of the online sources where we learn our history. Who is creating it? Why are they creating it? Where are they getting their information from?”

“For better or worse, many people get their history from the online world: recorded lectures on YouTube, informative TikToks, social media accounts that recount past events or share primary sources, web sites for museums and historic sites, and online articles like this one that engage in historical content. The issue of this, of course, is that not all accounts are trustworthy or based on historical data,” Dr. Davis pointed out.

“Just as we train our students to analyze primary sources to understand the creator’s intent, audience, message, and historical context, we need to be critical of the online sources where we learn our history. Who is creating it? Why are they creating it? Where are they getting their information from?”

Cartoon character labeled “Commies” expressing frustration about events in 1950s America, humorously highlighting history lessons.

Comparison of smartphone cameras capturing iconic history scene with tanks and protester.

Actors portraying historical figures and actual historical figures for history lessons in memes.

Meme about Poland’s historical invasions, featuring a cartoon character saying, “I’m in danger,” from “History Told in Memes."

Homer Simpson meme about British Royal family name change, linking to historical context with Germany.

Meme about Napoleon Bonaparte’s early military success, featuring Gru’s plan with British flags and historical text.

According to Dr. Redman, social media is a mixed bag for learning about history. “Without fact-checking, peer review, or any significant regulation, social media tends to favor stories that sound convincing, rather than stories we know to be true,” he noted.

Meme about history lessons showing a soldier with glowing eyes under text about Queen Victoria.

Young boy in WW1 uniform saluting, with text: “WW1 recruiters be like, ‘Yeah, he looks eighteen.'” History meme.

History meme contrasting USA presidential elections with influence in Latin America.

While some online sources can be a double-edged sword for history enthusiasts, factually correct memes tend to do more good than harm. “I think people can benefit from history-focused memes,” Asst. Prof. Davis told Bored Panda. “Memes can be an effective way to engage in history-based humor and draw people into the past. Memes often grab our attention, make what we are learning more memorable, and can make people, events, and ideas of the past seem more relatable to the present.“I think the key is to take things a step further and then share more historical information about the event, place, or person highlighted in the meme. So, for example, a meme about World War II could also include a link to theNational World War II Museumor a book about the conflict for more information,” she suggested.

“I think the key is to take things a step further and then share more historical information about the event, place, or person highlighted in the meme. So, for example, a meme about World War II could also include a link to theNational World War II Museumor a book about the conflict for more information,” she suggested.

Meme comparing reactions: crying over Library of Alexandria burning, indifferent to Spaniards burning Mesoamerican codices.

Pile of disassembled Lego heads with “French people in 1789” meme text, referencing history lessons through humor.

Meme depicting UK, US, and Germany’s humorous views on Belgium with images of architecture, waffles, and a road sign.

“Funny memes shouldn’t be the only way we learn about history, but they do have the potential to open the door for educators to reach new audiences,” Dr. Redman noted, talking about the role memes and humor play in regards to educating oneself about history.According to him, humor can be incredibly impactful in learning history. “People tend to learn better when they are plugged in and sincerely interested in the things being taught. Humor in teaching and storytelling tends to keep us engaged. In many times and places throughout history, amusing stories have been told not just to entertain, but also to make us think.“Of course, not all histories lend themselves to humor in their being recounted, human lives also feature remarkable drama, tragedy, and sadness,” the historian added. “It is also the case that during many of the darkest moments in human history, people have sought out humor as an escape or a way to navigate life’s many challenges.”

According to him, humor can be incredibly impactful in learning history. “People tend to learn better when they are plugged in and sincerely interested in the things being taught. Humor in teaching and storytelling tends to keep us engaged. In many times and places throughout history, amusing stories have been told not just to entertain, but also to make us think.

“Of course, not all histories lend themselves to humor in their being recounted, human lives also feature remarkable drama, tragedy, and sadness,” the historian added. “It is also the case that during many of the darkest moments in human history, people have sought out humor as an escape or a way to navigate life’s many challenges.”

Meme about history with a paper fortune reading “You will be spending some time on the beach soon,” referencing WWII.

Gold medal and soldier contrasting Russia’s experiences at Finnish line in 1999 and 1939, meme history lesson.

Ancient Greeks looking at stars meme, humorous take on historical perspectives, stars connected to form a horse shape.

Meme featuring extreme weather events and a map of Poland related to history lessons.

Britain puppet meme reacting to history lesson on Ireland’s population decline in YouTube video screenshot.

History memes comparing empires’ military to armed farmers over 200 years.

Meme about history lessons with the popemobile and a comedic reaction with “Oh no! Anyway” text.

European monarchs meme highlighting political use of daughters in history with humorous chef dialogue.

Spanish traders offering tomatoes, Italians reacting with surprise; historical meme humor.

Cartoon of Russia selling Alaska for $7M, highlighting missed oil wealth; history lesson from ‘History Told in Memes’.

Cartoon cat reading a shocking history meme about Stalin and the Holodomor.

Comparison of Roman Empire vs. Holy Roman Empire using humorous TV and movie characters.

Two people texting about being a model on Instagram and a billionaire in the Weimar Republic, illustrating historical memes.

Knife-shaped banana meme about United Fruit Company and South American politics.

Meme with Italian flag colors and text about war criticism, referencing historical events involving Germany.

NATO and UN discussing forgotten nuclear weapons, humorously illustrated in a meme.

Man in front of elephants, meme about Hannibal’s plan to invade Rome, blending humor with a history lesson.