Category Archives: History

History

On this day ,June 26

Today in History

  • 1963 U.S. President John F. Kennedy holds his iconic “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech

    The speech was a welcome gesture of support for the people of West Berlin. East Germany had erected the Berlin Wall just two years earlier to stop mass emigration to the West.

  • 1945 The United Nations Charter is signed

    The United Nations is the world’s most important international organization.

  • 1936 The world’s first practical helicopter lifts off

    The twin-rotor Focke-Wulf Fw 61 was first tested in Bremen, Germany. None of the first prototypes survived World War II but a replica can be seen at the Hubschraubermuseum in Bückeburg, Germany.

  • 1925 Charlie Chaplin’s film “The Gold Rush” receives its premiere

    The comedy featuring Chaplin in his famous Little Tramp role is a classic of the silent film genre. The English star actor repeatedly stated that this is the film he wants to be remembered for.

  • 1906 The first Grand Prix car race is held

    The competition was held on a circuit around Le Mans, France and organized by the Automobile Club de France (ACF). Renault’s Ferenc Szisz won the competition.

History

On this day June 20

Today in History

  • 1991 The German parliament moves to Berlin

    Bonn had been the capital of West Germany until the country’s reunification in 1990. The “Hauptstadtbeschluss” (capital decision) stipulated that the seat of government and the parliament also be moved to the “new” capital Berlin.

  • 1975 The film Jaws is premiered

    Steven Spielberg’s thriller about a rogue great white shark terrorizing a summer resort town is often regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.

  • 1963 The “Red Telephone” is instituted

    The hotline between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was established following Cuban Missile Crisis. Contrary to popular belief, communications between the two superpowers occurred via teletype or fax, and today, via email.

  • 1942 Kazimierz Piechowski and three others escape from Auschwitz concentration camp

    In a feat of “exceptional courage and gallantry”, as stated by the Polish author Kazimierz Smoleń, the four prisoners left via the front gate in a stolen SS staff car, dressed as SS officers. During World War II, the Nazi regime murdered 1.1 million people in Auschwitz. Only 144 are known to have escaped.

  • 1837 Victoria becomes Queen of the United Kingdom

    During the 64 years of her regency, the United Kingdom became one of the world’s most potent powers. The British Empire soon encompassed large parts of the planet. Queen Victoria died in 1901.

History

On this day June 19

 

Today in History

  • 2002 Steve Fossett takes off on his record-breaking balloon flight

    The American adventurer lifted off from Northam in Western Australia to commence history’s first solo flight around the world in any aircraft. On July 3, after having traveled 33,195 km (20,626 mi), he touched down again in Queensland, Australia.

  • 1987 An ETA car bomb kills 21 in Barcelona

    The 1987 Hipercor bombing was one of the bloodiest attacks by Basque separatist organization, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna or ETA.

  • 1978 Garfield, the lazy cat makes his debut

    The first Garfield comic strip by Jim Davis appeared in 41 newspapers on that day. It currently holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s most widely syndicated comic strip.

  • 1964 The U.S. Senate passes the Civil Rights Act of 1964

    18 Senators unsuccessfully launched a filibuster to prevent passage of the law against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Richard Russel stated, “We will resist to the bitter end any measure or any movement which would have a tendency to bring about social equality and intermingling and amalgamation of the races in our (Southern) states.” The bill was signed into law on July 2, 1964.

  • 1913 South Africa implements the Natives Land Act

    The law limited the areas of land that could be owned by black people to “native reserve” areas, which comprised less than 10 percent of the country’s total area. It was in force until Apartheid was dismantled in the 1990s.

 

History

On this day June 17

Today in History

  • 1972 The arrest of five White House operatives sets off the Watergate scandal

    The men were caught attempting to wiretap the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex. The scandal ultimately led to U.S. President Richard Nixon’s resignation.

  • 1944 Iceland becomes a republic

    The Nordic island country had previously been included in the Norwegian and Danish monarchies. The republic’s first President was Sveinn Björnsson.

  • 1940 The three Baltic states fall under Soviet occupation

    While the world’s attention was focused on the recent German invasion of Paris, the Soviet Union annexed Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

  • 1928 Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic

    Wilmer Stultz piloted the Fokker F.VII aircraft, Earhart kept the flight log. They arrived at Burry Port in Wales, the United Kingdom, 20 hours and 40 minutes later.

  • 1885 The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York

    Hundreds of thousands of spectators welcomed the emblematic statue, which was a gift to the United States from the people of France and has become one of the country’s most recognized symbols.