The first McDonald’s opened during WWII
WWII is considered one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. Many European cities were practically bombed into oblivion, and no country escaped the war unscathed. The US, however, did not suffer as much as England, France, or Germany did.
While one side of the Atlantic was suffering heavy casualties and food shortages, the other was founding what would become the most successful fast food chain in history. Brothers Dick and Maurice McDonald opened their small hamburger stand in San Bernardino, California, in 1940.