16 March: Vienna

The Vienna offensive began on this date in 1945. 10 things you might not know about Vienna:

1. The locals know it as Wien, pronounced “Veen”. Austria’s most famous dish, wiener schnitzel, therefore, translates to Viennese schnitzel. Which is basically a cutlet of veal beaten flat, coated in Egg and breadcrumbs and fried in clarified Butter. Another culinary speciality from the city is Sachertorte, Chocolate and Apricot cake. It was invented in Vienna in 1832 by Franz Sacher for Prince Wenzel von Metternich. Vienna is also one of the places which lays claim to having invented the sausage, because Hot dogs are sometimes called weiners. However, since some people call them frankfurters, Frankfurt makes the same claim.
2. Vienna has the oldest operating Ferris wheel and the world’s oldest zoo. The former was built in 1897 and is called The Wiener Riesenrad. The latter was built in the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace in 1752. It is probably the only zoo with original baroque architecture, and is considered the world’s most beautiful zoo.
3. The snow globe was invented in Vienna by Edwin Perzy in 1900. He invented it by accident – he was actually trying to improve the brightness of lightbulbs for a surgical lamp by adding water and semolina flakes in the hopes that the light would bounce off them and cast a brighter glow. It didn’t, but the snow globe was born.
4. Vienna has 1,700 acres of vineyards and 320 vintners within its city limits and is therefore the only capital city in the world which produces significant quantities of Wine.
5. More than 450 annual balls are held in the city each year between January and March. Some of the most famous ones are the Opernball (held at the Vienna State Opera since 1877), the Philharmonic Ball (which features a performance by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra), and the Blumenball (famous for its flower arrangements).
6. Vienna has over 20 annual Christmas markets, as well as several Easter markets.
7. Famous people from Vienna include, from the world of science, Hans Asperger, who discovered the syndrome named for him; behavioural scientist Konrad Lorenz; Erwin Schrödinger, the one who may or may not have had a cat; and Sigmund Freud, thanks to whom Vienna is known as the birthplace of psychotherapy and is nicknamed the City of Dreams. In the world of music, Johann Strauss I and II, Gustav Mahler, Maria (Sound of Music) von Trapp and Falco were all born here and Mozart spent a lot of time here. Also the painter Gustav Klimt, Marie Antoinette, director Fritz Lang and actress Hedy Lamarr. At one point in 1913, Hitler, Trotsky, Tito, Freud and Stalin all lived in Vienna at the same time.
8. Vienna has its fair share of museums, including the usual art, history and natural history ones and those dedicated to famous residents like Mozart and Freud. You’ll also find museums dedicated to Clowns, Clocks, globes, horse carriages, crime, schnapps, illusions, wax models, disfigured skeletons, funeral objects, fake artworks, and Coffee.
9. Vienna also has an independent republic within its boundaries, namely the Republic of Kugelmugel, which is 0.00003 km2. It was created by a local artist who declared independence in 1976. It has 650 citizens, none of whom actually live there. These days it is a tourist attraction, since its founder died in 2015.
10. The Vienna Woods, or Wienerwald, which have an area of 521 square miles, are home to 2,000 species of plant and 150 species of bird. At least two endangered species—Ural owls and green lizards are found here.

Character Birthdays

Sidestep, a member of Combat Team Epsilon. He is their teleporter. His power is the result of technology – he has developed a teleport suit. All the combat teams tried to attract him but he chose the independent Epsilon because of his left wing political views.

Alex and Robin Kostellov, twin daughters of Arthur Kostellov and Black Rose. They have the powers associated with the Galorvian royal family, ie flight, energy bolts and the ability to create forcefields. From their mother they have inherited a danger sense and superhuman reaction times. As they grew up in a ski resort they are also accomplished skiers and snowboarders.