1989 the tank man halts the progress of a column of advancing tan 06 05
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1989 37 years ago Selected Events June 5 2 sources

An anonymous demonstrator, later dubbed "Tank Man", single-handedly stopped a column of Chinese tanks during the Tiananmen Square protests before being dragged aside.

On June 5, in the year 1989, An anonymous demonstrator, later dubbed "Tank Man", single-handedly stopped a column of Chinese tanks during the Tiananmen Square protests before being dragged aside. This event is recorded as a Selected Events event in the history of June 5, a notable event in this corner of history.

Tank Man is an unidentified individual, presumed to be a Chinese man, who stood in front of a column of Type 59 tanks on Chang'an Avenue near Tiananmen Square in Beijing on June 5, 1989. The confrontation occurred one day after the government of China forcibly cleared the square following six weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people, primarily in areas surrounding the square.

Key Facts

  • This event took place on June 5, 1989 (AD era).
  • It is categorised as a Selected Events event in recorded history.
  • Referenced in 2 Wikipedia articles.
  • The event is associated with a specific geographical location (see map below).
  • Wikipedia source last updated on 27 May 2026.

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This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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