Good Guy Hurricane breaks up a brawl between Germany and the USA.

>In 1888, [Otto von Bismarck](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-R68588%2C_Otto_von_Bismarck.jpg) decided to establish a German colony in Samoa and sent a fleet of ships to take over this group of South Pacific islands. They shelled the native villages – destroying some American property – and later ripped down an American flag. In response, the United States sent a fleet of ships to protect the Americans. As the two groups of warships prepared to fight it out in a Samoan harbor, a hurricane suddenly struck the islands, destroying both fleets. The German and American sailors found themselves frantically trying to save each others’ lives. Both countries soon forgot their grievances, but if that hurricane had hit just a few days later, it’s very likely the United States and Germany would have gone to war. __________________________________ **Source:** Stephens, John Richard. “Alternative Views.” *Weird History 101: Tales of Intrigue, Mayhem, and Outrageous Behavior*. New York: Barnes & Noble, 2006. 69, 70. Print. __________________________________ **Further Reading:** [Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg / Otto von Bismarck](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck) [The First Samoan Civil War and the Samoan Crisis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Samoa#The_First_Samoan_Civil_War_and_the_Samoan_crisis)