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1842

Treaty of Nanking signing ends the First Opium War.

Treaty of Nanking signing ends the First Opium War.

1842

Under the Treaty of Nanking, an "unequal treaty" that ended the First Opium War, the Chinese island from which Hong…

Under the Treaty of Nanking, an "unequal treaty" that ended the First Opium War, the Chinese island from which Hong Kong would grow was ceded to Britain.

1896

Philippine Revolution: In the Battle of San Juan del Monte, the first real battle of the war, a Katipunan force…

Philippine Revolution: In the Battle of San Juan del Monte, the first real battle of the war, a Katipunan force temporarily captured a powder magazine before being beaten back by a Spanish garrison.

70

First Jewish–Roman War: Roman forces led by Titus set fire to the Second Temple during the siege of Jerusalem.

First Jewish–Roman War: Roman forces led by Titus set fire to the Second Temple during the siege of Jerusalem.

1916

World War I: Leefe Robinson destroys the German airship Schütte-Lanz SL 11 over Cuffley, north of London; the first…

World War I: Leefe Robinson destroys the German airship Schütte-Lanz SL 11 over Cuffley, north of London; the first German airship to be shot down on British soil.

1939

World War II: William J. Murphy commands the first Royal Air Force attack on Germany.

World War II: William J. Murphy commands the first Royal Air Force attack on Germany.

1914

World War I: First Battle of the Marne begins. Northeast of Paris, the French attack and defeat German forces who are…

World War I: First Battle of the Marne begins. Northeast of Paris, the French attack and defeat German forces who are advancing on the capital.

1914

World War I: The First Battle of the Marne, which would halt the Imperial German Army's advance into France, begins.

World War I: The First Battle of the Marne, which would halt the Imperial German Army's advance into France, begins.

1932

The Battle of Boquerón, the first major battle of the Chaco War, commences.

The Battle of Boquerón, the first major battle of the Chaco War, commences.

1642

First English Civil War: Royalist and Parliamentarian forces clashed in the Battle of Babylon Hill, after which both…

First English Civil War: Royalist and Parliamentarian forces clashed in the Battle of Babylon Hill, after which both sides claimed victory.

1944

World War II: London is hit by a V-2 rocket for the first time.

World War II: London is hit by a V-2 rocket for the first time.

1914

World War I: The creation of the Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade, the first fully mechanized unit in the…

World War I: The creation of the Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade, the first fully mechanized unit in the British Army.

1914

First World War: The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force invaded German New Guinea, winning the Battle…

First World War: The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force invaded German New Guinea, winning the Battle of Bita Paka.

1297

First War of Scottish Independence: Scottish forces under Andrew Moray and William Wallace defeated English troops at…

First War of Scottish Independence: Scottish forces under Andrew Moray and William Wallace defeated English troops at the Battle of Stirling Bridge on the River Forth.

1942

World War II: First day of the Battle of Edson's Ridge during the Guadalcanal Campaign. U.S. Marines protecting…

World War II: First day of the Battle of Edson's Ridge during the Guadalcanal Campaign. U.S. Marines protecting Henderson Field are attacked by Imperial Japanese Army troops.

1958

The first two German post-war rockets, designed by the German engineer Ernst Mohr, reach the upper atmosphere.

The first two German post-war rockets, designed by the German engineer Ernst Mohr, reach the upper atmosphere.

1944

World War II: Maastricht becomes the first Dutch city to be liberated by allied forces.

World War II: Maastricht becomes the first Dutch city to be liberated by allied forces.

1916

World War I: Tanks are used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the Somme.

World War I: Tanks are used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the Somme.

1894

First Sino-Japanese War: Japan defeats the Qing dynasty in the Battle of Pyongyang, causing the Qing army to withdraw…

First Sino-Japanese War: Japan defeats the Qing dynasty in the Battle of Pyongyang, causing the Qing army to withdraw to the Chinese border with Korea.

1916

World War I: Manfred von Richthofen ("The Red Baron"), a flying ace of the German Luftstreitkräfte, wins his first…

World War I: Manfred von Richthofen ("The Red Baron"), a flying ace of the German Luftstreitkräfte, wins his first aerial combat near Cambrai, France.