Search Historical Events

1944

World War II: U

World War II: U.S. Navy and Royal Navy ships bombarded Cherbourg, France, to support U.S. Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg.

1940

Second World War: Operation Aerial, an evacuation of nearly 200,000 Allied soldiers from French ports, was completed

Second World War: Operation Aerial, an evacuation of nearly 200,000 Allied soldiers from French ports, was completed.

1918

World War I: The 26-day Battle of Belleau Wood near the Marne River in France ended with American forces finally clearin

World War I: The 26-day Battle of Belleau Wood near the Marne River in France ended with American forces finally clearing that forest of German troops.

1942

World War II: The Wehrmacht launched Case Blue, a strategic German offensive to capture oil fields in the south of the S

World War II: The Wehrmacht launched Case Blue, a strategic German offensive to capture oil fields in the south of the Soviet Union.

1940

Second World War: The Grand Quartier Général of the French Army was disbanded, following the French surrender.

Second World War: The Grand Quartier Général of the French Army was disbanded, following the French surrender.

1916

First World War: The first day of the Battle of Albert, the opening phase of the Battle of the Somme, became the…

First World War: The first day of the Battle of Albert, the opening phase of the Battle of the Somme, became the bloodiest day in the British Army's history, with 57,470 casualties, including 19,240 d�

1940

Second World War: The Royal Navy attacked the French fleet at Mers El Kébir (pictured), fearing that the ships would…

Second World War: The Royal Navy attacked the French fleet at Mers El Kébir (pictured), fearing that the ships would fall into Axis hands after the French–German armistice.

1918

World War I: Allied forces led by the Australian general John Monash won the Battle of Hamel, demonstrating the…

World War I: Allied forces led by the Australian general John Monash won the Battle of Hamel, demonstrating the effectiveness of combined-arms techniques in trench warfare.

1944

Second World War: Canadian troops defeated the last German counterattacks against Carpiquet, Normandy, France.

Second World War: Canadian troops defeated the last German counterattacks against Carpiquet, Normandy, France.

1941

Second World War: After a three-month siege, the Italian garrison of Saïo (in modern-day Ethiopia) surrendered to…

Second World War: After a three-month siege, the Italian garrison of Saïo (in modern-day Ethiopia) surrendered to Belgian, British and Ethiopian troops.

1916

First World War: Russian troops won a victory in the Battle of Kostiuchnówka, with the Polish Legions playing a key…

First World War: Russian troops won a victory in the Battle of Kostiuchnówka, with the Polish Legions playing a key role on the Austro-Hungarian side.

1915

First World War: The British and French prime ministers, H. H. Asquith and René Viviani, met at Calais to discuss…

First World War: The British and French prime ministers, H. H. Asquith and René Viviani, met at Calais to discuss future offensives including the Gallipoli campaign.

1943

World War II: The Battle of Saipan concluded after a mass Japanese suicide attack was repelled by American forces.

World War II: The Battle of Saipan concluded after a mass Japanese suicide attack was repelled by American forces.

1943

World War II: German and Soviet forces engaged each other at the Battle of Prokhorovka (tanks pictured), one of the…

World War II: German and Soviet forces engaged each other at the Battle of Prokhorovka (tanks pictured), one of the largest tank battles in military history.

1916

First World War: Second Lieutenant Kléber Dupuy defeated a German attack on Fort Souville at a key moment of the…

First World War: Second Lieutenant Kléber Dupuy defeated a German attack on Fort Souville at a key moment of the Battle of Verdun.

1943

World War II: Operation Fustian, an Allied operation to capture the Primosole Bridge in Sicily, was launched.

World War II: Operation Fustian, an Allied operation to capture the Primosole Bridge in Sicily, was launched.

1942

World War II: The 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment was converted from a battalion to accommodate a larger number of…

World War II: The 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment was converted from a battalion to accommodate a larger number of volunteers spurred on by the Japanese invasion of the Philippines.

1944

Laden with munitions for World War II, two ships exploded at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California, killing…

Laden with munitions for World War II, two ships exploded at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California, killing 320 people and injuring more than 400 others.

1919

Following Peace Day celebrations marking the end of the First World War, English ex-servicemen unhappy with…

Following Peace Day celebrations marking the end of the First World War, English ex-servicemen unhappy with unemployment and other grievances rioted and burned down Luton Town Hall.

1916

First World War: The "worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history" occurred when Australian forces unsuccessfully…

First World War: The "worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history" occurred when Australian forces unsuccessfully attacked German defences at Fromelles, France.