World War II was a grim affair filled with stories of sacrifice, heroism, and misanthropy. But a few WWII stories are just plain weird. Here are five of the weirdest.

1) Going Into Battle? Wear Your Necktie

General George Patton was known as a stickler for small details. He believed that if a soldier paid attention to the small stuff he would also do a good job on the big stuff. One of the things General Patton was very strict on was the proper wearing of uniforms. When he arrived in North Africa to take over command of the II Corps from Gen. Lloyd Fredenhall after the latter’s troops were badly mauled at the Battle of Kasserine Pass, Patton found II Corps in a state of utter decay. He wrote in his diary that he saw, “No salutes. Any sort of clothes and general hell.”

Patton issued orders immediately to turn things around beginning with the uniforms, writing “How can we trust soldiers to fight when we can’t trust them to wear their uniforms properly?”

All soldiers would be ordered on the threat of a $25 fine (half a month’s pay for a private) to wear their leggings, unrolled sleeves, have all buttons buttoned and their steel helmets strapped, even when using the latrines. Officers were ordered to wear their neckties, even in combat.