10 Times History Repeated Itself in Eerie Ways
History has a strange habit of circling back in the most unexpected ways. From shocking patterns in politics to disasters that seem like déjà vu, some events almost feel copied and pasted from the past. These moments show how often the world repeats itself, sometimes in chilling detail.
- Tricia Quitales
- 3 min read
Some say those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it — and looking at the past, that may be true. Across centuries, similar events have played out with eerie precision, from wars to tragedies to uncanny coincidences. Whether it’s human nature or pure chance, the patterns are hard to ignore. Here are 10 moments where history seemed to press rewind and play again.
1. Napoleon and Hitler’s Russia Invasion
Heinrich Hoffmann on Wikimedia
Napoleon and Hitler invaded Russia more than a century apart and faced the same brutal winter. Their armies were crushed by the cold and stretched supply lines. Each campaign ended in failure despite initial confidence.
2. The Sinking of the Titan and Titanic
Daderot on Wikimedia
In 1898, a novel called Futility described a ship named Titan sinking after hitting an iceberg. Fourteen years later, the Titanic sank in almost the same way. The similarities between fact and fiction are still hard to believe.
3. Kennedy and Lincoln Coincidences
Alexander Gardner on Wikimedia
Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy shared eerie links — both were assassinated on a Friday, succeeded by men named Johnson, and shot in the head. Even their killers’ names had matching syllables. The list goes on and keeps getting weirder.
4. Stock Market Crashes of 1929 and 2008
Tima Miroshnichenko on pexels
Both financial collapses followed a boom of risky investments and too much borrowing. When the market fell, panic spread and economies around the world suffered. The causes and effects mirrored each other more than expected.
5. Plagues and Pandemics
Anna Shvets on Pexels
The Black Death and the COVID-19 pandemic occurred centuries apart but caused similar social chaos. Both brought mask-wearing, travel restrictions, and fear of human contact. History reminded us how fast life can change overnight.
6. Rise of Strongmen After Crisis
yi lu on pexels
Economic or political chaos often leads to the rise of powerful, authoritarian leaders. This happened after World War I and again in several countries during recent financial troubles. People in fear often look for strong voices, no matter the cost.
7. Empire Overstretch and Fall
Frederik Sørensen on Pexels
Rome spread too far and struggled to hold its borders, just as many later powers did — including Britain and even the U.S. in modern wars. Expanding too quickly without stability often leads to collapse, and history has shown this more than once.
8. Twin Towers and the Reichstag Fires
Public domain on Wikimedia
After the Reichstag fire in Germany (1933), leaders used fear to pass sweeping control laws. Similarly, the aftermath of 9/11 led to major changes in surveillance and security. Both events reshaped nations almost overnight.
9. Tech Booms Followed by Bursts
Lalala666 on Wikimedia
The dot-com crash of the early 2000s echoed the radio boom crash of the 1920s. Each time, new tech promised to change everything — until the bubble popped. Investors and businesses got caught in the hype both times.
10. The Battle of Thermopylae and Stalingrad
Nicolas Ozanne on Wikimedia
Both battles featured smaller forces holding off huge armies in desperate situations. Thermopylae saw 300 Spartans stand against Persia; Stalingrad had Soviet forces stop the Nazis. Each was a turning point that changed the course of the war.