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14 Of the Strangest Wars Ever Fought (That Sound Completely Made Up)

Trista July 7, 2025 8 min

13. The War of the Worlds Panic (United States, 1938)

orson welles war of the worlds 1938 — Photo of Orson Welles meeting with reporters in an effort to explain that no one connected with the *War of the Worlds* radio broadcast had any idea the show would cause panic. Source: Wikipedia

Sometimes, war exists only in the mind. When Orson Welles aired his now-legendary War of the Worlds radio drama, chaos ensued as thousands of Americans believed an actual Martian invasion was happening. While no shots were fired, the resulting panic felt as real as any battlefield. For a deeper dive into this surreal event, visit History.com.

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Trista

13. The War of the Worlds Panic (United States, 1938)

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