World War II, or the Second World War, was a global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies and the Axis powers. Nearly all of the world's countries participated. Tanks and aircraft played major roles, the latter enabling the strategic bombing of cities and delivery of the only nuclear weapons used in war. World War II was the deadliest conflict in history, causing the death of 60 to 75 million people. Millions died as a result of massacres, starvation, disease, and genocides including the Holocaust. After the Allied victory, Germany, Austria, Japan, and Korea were occupied, and German and Japanese leaders were tried for war crimes.
World War II: Captured French general Henri Giraud escaped from German captivity in the Königstein Castle
World War II: Captured French general Henri Giraud escaped from German captivity in the Königstein Castle.
On April 17, in the year 1942, World War II: Captured French general Henri Giraud escaped from German captivity in the Königstein Castle. This event is recorded as a Selected Events event in the history of April 17, one of 401 recorded events on this date across all of history.
Key Facts
- This event took place on April 17, 1942 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Selected Events event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 3 Wikipedia articles.
- Wikipedia source last updated on 15 April 2026.
On This Date in History 401
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
More on April 17
NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-186f, the first exoplanet with a radius similar to Earth's discovered in the habi
NASA announced the discovery of Kepler-186f, the first exoplanet with a radius similar to Earth's discovered in the habitable zone of another star.
An ammonium nitrate explosion occurred at a fertilizer company facility in West, Texas, U
An ammonium nitrate explosion occurred at a fertilizer company facility in West, Texas, U.S., killing 15 people and injuring 160 others.
A Palestinian suicide bomber detonated explosives in a restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel, killing 11 people and injuring 70
A Palestinian suicide bomber detonated explosives in a restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel, killing 11 people and injuring 70 others.
The Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace, having hypothetically been at war for 335 years without a single
The Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace, having hypothetically been at war for 335 years without a single shot being fired and no casualties incurred.
Metropolitan Police officer Yvonne Fletcher was shot and killed while on duty during a protest outside the Libyan embass
Metropolitan Police officer Yvonne Fletcher was shot and killed while on duty during a protest outside the Libyan embassy in London, resulting in an 11-day police siege of the bui…
The Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh, the capital of the Khmer Republic, ending the Cambodian Civil War and establishing
The Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh, the capital of the Khmer Republic, ending the Cambodian Civil War and establishing the socialist state of Democratic Kampuchea.
Comments 0
Sign in to join the discussion.