Facts and Stories from WWII That We Won’t Find in History Books

24. The True Heart and Soul of the British

According to a longstanding legend, the British hold on the strategic Rock of Gibraltar was believed to be secure as long as Barbary macaques inhabited it. This belief was taken seriously enough that during WWII, Prime Minister Winston Churchill initiated a clandestine operation to ensure the survival of this symbol of British perseverance.

Concerned about the dwindling population of macaques, which could be seen as an ominous sign for the British presence on the rock, Churchill ordered the secret importation of additional macaques from North Africa to replenish their numbers.