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@AntSpeaks

May 14

A 🧵 on why the Belgian Malinois is the military's top choice for special operations, combat zones, and security.

1/ The first formal recognition of the Belgian Malinois came in the late 19th century, specifically in 1891.

A group led by Professor Adolphe Reul, along with other breeders and experts, gathered in Mechelen (Malines) to standardise the Belgian shepherd, which included what would eventually become the Malinois. They examined 117 specimens to identify the unique characteristics of the breed.

The Belgian Malinois, along with other varieties like the Groenendael, Tervuren, and Laekenois, were classified as a single breed known as the Belgian Shepherd. The AKC later recognised the Malinois as a separate breed in 1959.

2/ German Shepherds have long been the classic K9 choice for armed forces. However, elite military units began favouring the Malinois due to its lighter frame, which enhances agility, reduces joint issues, and provides greater endurance in hot weather. It also possesses a strong prey and defensive drive and is generally easier to transport by air or parachute.

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Ant

@AntSpeaks

May 8

A 🧵 about Jan Karski: The Man Who Saw WWII’s Atrocities and Fought to Expose Them

In honour of VE Day, I want to share another story of courage and sacrifice. Following my thread about Witold Pilecki, the man who voluntarily got himself arrested to be taken to Auschwitz and collect information about the horrors of the Holocaust, I now have another thread I’d like to present to you, this time about Jan Karski.

Jan Karski, like Witold Pilecki, went to extraordinary lengths to inform the West about the Holocaust. This is his story 🧵:

1. Jan Karski, born Jan Kozielewski in 1914 in Łódź, Poland, was a Polish resistance fighter and diplomat who played a critical role during World War II. His early life as a law and diplomacy graduate positioned him for a promising career, cut short by the war.

2. As a courier for the Polish Underground, Karski used his photographic memory and language skills to smuggle reports between occupied Poland and the Polish government in exile, first in France, then in London. His missions were high-risk, involving multiple aliases.

3. In 1940, Karski was captured by the Gestapo in Slovakia and tortured. Fearing he might reveal secrets, he attempted suicide by slashing his wrists but was rescued from a hospital by the Polish resistance.

The Gestapo. The Third Reich’s political police:

Read 12 tweets

Ant

@AntSpeaks

May 7

The Man Who Volunteered for Auschwitz: A 🧵 about the Life of Witold Pilecki

Since it’s the 80th anniversary of VE Day this week, I thought I’d put together another thread related to World War II. A warning though, this thread, of course, won’t be popular with Holocaust deniers, so expect the usual cry babies in the replies.

1/ Witold Pilecki, born 13 May 1901 in Olonets, Karelia, was a Polish cavalry officer and resistance agent. His family, who were exiled after the 1863 January Uprising, instilled his commitment to Polish independence.

2/ In 1910, Pilecki migrated to Vilnius, where he joined the Polish Scouting movement, which developed discipline. He disarmed Germans in self-defence units and fought in the Polish-Soviet War (1919–1920) and was twice awarded the Cross of Valour during World War I.

3/ In the interwar period, Pilecki managed his family’s estate in Sukurcze, engaging in community projects like a fire brigade and agricultural cooperative. He married Maria Ostrowska in 1931, and they had two children.

Read 16 tweets

Ant

@AntSpeaks

May 5

A detailed 🧵 about the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day in Britain and the rest of Europe, honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice, looking into some interesting facts, and confronting some harsh truths.

1/ On May 8th, 1945, Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. For Britain and her allies, it was a day of joy, of relief, of remembrance and of unity.

Churchill delivered a historic speech. His address was broadcast to the nation from the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street at 3:00 PM, shortly after Germany's unconditional surrender was announced.

2/ The war resulted in approximately 70 to 85 million total deaths around the globe with Europe suffering a great share. Estimated death toll of soldiers alone is 22 to 25 million across the globe with millions of other civilian deaths due to combat famine and war atrocities.

Britain suffered around 384000 troops and 70000 civilians whereas countries like Poland lost up to 16% of their population around 6 million individuals including 3 million Jews.

Read 17 tweets

Ant

@AntSpeaks

May 4

🧵: The BBC, Its Biggest Scandals, and Lack of Impartiality

A closer look at the scandals and political bias accusations faced by the BBC in recent years, and how they sparked a campaign to defund it.👇

1. Jimmy Savile

A British children’s entertainer, often regarded as a national treasure, was found to be one of Britain’s most notorious pedophiles. His crimes spanned decades, coming to light publicly only after his death (October 29, 2011), meaning he escaped justice. Worse, senior BBC figures covered up his actions, as later confirmed by investigations.

Operation Yewtree identified 450+ victims across the UK, with 214 criminal offences, including 34 rapes, many against minors as young as 8.

Abuse spanned from 1955 to 2009, peaking in the 1970s–1980s, with most incidents unreported during his lifetime due to his celebrity status and intimidation.

2. Huw Edwards

Huw Edwards, a British broadcaster and former BBC news presenter, was exposed in November 2023 for possessing indecent images of children, uncovered during a police investigation.

A household name, he covered major British events, including Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. In July 2023, explicit images he allegedly sent surfaced on social media, though no criminality was found in that case.

He was later convicted of possessing 41 indecent images of children. Once again, the BBC was accused of a cover-up, having known of his arrest but retaining him until his April 2024 resignation. Edwards appeared in court and received a six-month suspended sentence, which understandably led to public outrage.

Read 8 tweets

Ant

@AntSpeaks

May 1

A 🧵 about the brilliant @MrWinMarshall, who went from being cancel culture’s prime target, which pushed him to leave his band, to building a significant online presence in the world of political commentary.

1/ Winston Marshall, former Mumford & Sons banjoist, sparked controversy in March 2021 by tweeting praise for Andy Ngo’s book Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy. He called it “important” and Ngo “brave.” The tweet went viral despite Marshall’s relatively small following at the time.

2/ The backlash was intense and downright absurd. Fans and artists slammed Marshall, with some labelling him with the go-to buzzwords of woke ideology: “fascist” or “Nazi.” He was accused of endorsing far-right views, despite denying it. The controversy also affected his bandmates, dragging Mumford & Sons into the mess.

A sample of the ridiculous posts made in response to Marshall simply reading a book:

Read 12 tweets

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