On This Day In History

[Who Me]

April 28 1947, Thor Heyerdahl begins his legendary journey on Kon-Tiki

 

[Johannes Reifsteck]

April 29 1429, Joan of Arc leads French forces to victory over English at Orleans.

 

[Who Me]

April 30th 1960, An American U–2 spy plane is shot down over the Soviet Union near Sverdlovsk. The Soviet Union captured the pilot Gary Powers which prompted continuing deterioration in relations between the US and the Soviet Union.

 

[Johannes Reifsteck]

May 1 1813, Napoleon defeats a Russian and Prussian army at Grossgorschen.

 

[Who Me]

May 1 1961, Fidel Castro declares Cuba a socialist nation and bans elections

 

[Mitsuru]

2 May 2011 Osama bin Laden is killed in Pakistan.

 

[Who Me]

May 2 1945, German troops surrender to Allies in Italy, while Berlin surrenders to Russia's Zhukov.

 

[Johannes Reifsteck]

May 2 1808, The citizens of Madrid rise up against Napoleon.

 

[Who Me]

May 2 1952 The jet age begins with the first scheduled flight of the De Havilland Comet 1.

 

[Johannes Reifsteck]

May 2 1598, Henry IV signs Treaty of Vervins, ending Spain's interference in France.

 

[Who Me]

May 2 1939 Lou Gehrig's 2,130-game streak ended.

 

[Johannes Reifsteck]

May 2 1776, France and Spain agree to donate arms to American rebels fighting the British.

 

[Who Me]

May 2 1863 South defeats North in Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia.

 

[Johannes Reifsteck]

May 3 1855, Macon B. Allen becomes the first African American to be admitted to the Bar in Massachusetts.

 

[Who Me]

May 3 1765 1st North American medical college opens in Philadelphia.

 

[Johannes Reifsteck]

May 3 1952, The first airplane lands at the geographic North Pole.

 

[Who Me]

May 3 1830 1st regular steam train passenger service starts.

 

[Johannes Reifsteck]

May 3 1568, French forces in Florida slaughter hundreds of Spanish.

 

[Who Me]

May 3 1951 Sixth major fire in San Francisco destroys 1500-2000 buildings.

 

[Johannes Reifsteck]

may 6 1527, German troops begin sacking Rome. Libraries are destroyed, the Pope is captured and thousands are killed.