Search Historical Events

1942

World War II: The Battle of Gazala begins, in present-day Libya

World War II: The Battle of Gazala begins, in present-day Libya.

1940

World War II: Operation Dynamo: In northern France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France

World War II: Operation Dynamo: In northern France, Allied forces begin a massive evacuation from Dunkirk, France. The Battle of Dunkirk begins simultaneously as Allied defenders fight to slow down th�

1940

World War II: The Siege of Calais ends with the surrender of the British and French garrison

World War II: The Siege of Calais ends with the surrender of the British and French garrison.

1926

Abd el-Krim ends surrenders to the French, bringing an end to the Rif War

Abd el-Krim ends surrenders to the French, bringing an end to the Rif War.

1903

Românul de la Pind, the longest-running newspaper by and about Aromanians until World War II, is founded

Românul de la Pind, the longest-running newspaper by and about Aromanians until World War II, is founded.

1865

Conclusion of the American Civil War: The Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans-Mississippi div

Conclusion of the American Civil War: The Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, commander of the Trans-Mississippi division, is the last full general of the Confederate Army to surrender, at Galvest�

1644

Portuguese Restoration War: Portuguese and Spanish forces both claim victory in the Battle of Montijo

Portuguese Restoration War: Portuguese and Spanish forces both claim victory in the Battle of Montijo.

1637

Pequot War: A combined English and Mohegan force under John Mason attacks a village in Connecticut, massacring approxima

Pequot War: A combined English and Mohegan force under John Mason attacks a village in Connecticut, massacring approximately 500 Pequots.

1573

The Battle of Haarlemmermeer, a naval engagement in the Eighty Years' War

The Battle of Haarlemmermeer, a naval engagement in the Eighty Years' War.

1988

Somaliland War of Independence: The Somali National Movement launches a major offensive against Somali government forces

Somaliland War of Independence: The Somali National Movement launches a major offensive against Somali government forces in Hargeisa and Burao, then the second- and third-largest cities of Somalia.

1942

World War II: In Operation Anthropoid, Reinhard Heydrich is fatally wounded in Prague; he dies of his injuries eight day

World War II: In Operation Anthropoid, Reinhard Heydrich is fatally wounded in Prague; he dies of his injuries eight days later.

1941

World War II: U

World War II: U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims an "unlimited national emergency".

1941

World War II: The German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the North Atlantic, killing almost 2,100 men

World War II: The German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the North Atlantic, killing almost 2,100 men.

1940

World War II: In the Le Paradis massacre, 99 soldiers from a Royal Norfolk Regiment unit are shot after surrendering to

World War II: In the Le Paradis massacre, 99 soldiers from a Royal Norfolk Regiment unit are shot after surrendering to German troops; two survive.

1905

Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima begins

Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima begins.

1813

War of 1812: In Canada, American forces capture Fort George

War of 1812: In Canada, American forces capture Fort George.

1595

A Gaelic Irish army successfully ambushes an English force in the battle of Clontibret during the Nine Years' War

A Gaelic Irish army successfully ambushes an English force in the battle of Clontibret during the Nine Years' War.

1940

World War II: Belgium surrenders to Nazi Germany to end the Battle of Belgium

World War II: Belgium surrenders to Nazi Germany to end the Battle of Belgium.

1905

Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima ends with the destruction of the Russian Baltic Fleet by Admiral Tōgō Heihach

Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima ends with the destruction of the Russian Baltic Fleet by Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō and the Imperial Japanese Navy.

1644

English Civil War: Bolton Massacre by Royalist troops under the command of James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby

English Civil War: Bolton Massacre by Royalist troops under the command of James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby.