This day in history: 11 december

Europa

• In 1282, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native Prince of Wales, was killed near Builth Wells, marking the end of native Welsh rule and a significant shift in British history.
• In 1688, James II of England fled to France after being forced to abdicate the throne following William of Orange’s invasion, a crucial event in the Glorious Revolution.
• Royal Abdication
  On December 11, 1936, King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom became the first English monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne. His decision was driven by his intention to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée, which was not accepted by the British government or the Church of England. He was succeeded by his brother, who became King George VI.
• World War II
  On December 11, 1941, a major turning point in World War II occurred when Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Adolf Hitler formally announced Germany’s war against the U.S. on this day.
• Science and Technology
  In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi transmitted the first transatlantic radio signal from Poldhu, Cornwall, England, to St. John’s, Newfoundland, marking a milestone in global communications.
• International Agreements
  On December 11, 1997, the Kyoto Protocol, a landmark international treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, was adopted at a United Nations conference in Kyoto, Japan. The agreement was later reinforced by the Paris Agreement, which was also reached on December 11, 2015, in Paris, France, with 195 countries agreeing to limit climate change.
• In 1967, Concorde, the world’s first supersonic airliner, was rolled out for public viewing in the UK, representing a major achievement in European aviation.
• In 1946, UNICEF (United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund) was established, with Europe playing a key role in its founding and early activities.

America

• Indiana Becomes a State (1816)
  On December 11, 1816, Indiana was admitted to the Union as the 19th state, marking a significant expansion of the United States in the early 19th century.
• World War II: U.S. Declares War on Germany and Italy (1941)
  Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941. In response, the U.S. Congress declared war on both countries, officially entering the European theater of World War II.
• UNICEF Established (1946)
  The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was founded on December 11, 1946. While a global organization, the United States played a key role in its creation and ongoing support.
• Muhammad Ali’s Last Fight (1981)
  On December 11, 1981, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali fought his final professional match, losing to Trevor Berbick in the Bahamas.
• Impeachment Proceedings Against Bill Clinton (1998)
  The U.S. House Judiciary Committee approved three articles of impeachment against President Bill Clinton on December 11, 1998, related to perjury and obstruction of justice during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
• Bernard Madoff Arrested (2008)
  On this day in 2008, financier Bernard Madoff was arrested for operating the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history, defrauding investors of billions of dollars.
• 1861: A major fire swept through the business district of Charleston, South Carolina.
• 1882: Boston’s Bijou Theatre became the first American playhouse lit exclusively by electricity.
• 1961: Melvin Calvin was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on photosynthesis.
• 1978: The infamous Lufthansa heist occurred at JFK Airport in New York, with nearly $6 million stolen—the largest cash theft in U.S. history at the time.

Asia

• World War II and International Relations
  On December 11, 1941, the United States declared war on the Empire of Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor, marking a major escalation of the Pacific War and directly involving Asia in the global conflict. On the same day, Poland also declared war on Japan.
• China’s Entry into World War II
  Around this period, China formally declared war on Japan, Germany, and Italy, transforming the ongoing Second Sino-Japanese War into a fully declared conflict and aligning China with the Allied powers.
• First Anglo-Sikh War Begins (1845)
  On December 11, 1845, the First Anglo-Sikh War began in the Punjab region of northwestern India, as Sikh forces attacked the British colonial army. The war resulted in the defeat of the Sikhs and the eventual annexation of parts of Punjab by the British Empire.
• Highland Towers Collapse in Malaysia (1993)
  In 1993, a block of the Highland Towers condominium complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, collapsed after a landslide caused by heavy rain and water from a construction site. The disaster killed 48 residents, making it one of Malaysia’s deadliest building collapses.
• Kyoto Protocol Opens for Signature (1997)
  On December 11, 1997, the Kyoto Protocol, a landmark international treaty aimed at combating climate change, was opened for signature in Kyoto, Japan. This agreement committed signatory nations, including many in Asia, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Philippine Airlines Flight 434 Bombing (1994)
  On this day in 1994, a bomb exploded on Philippine Airlines Flight 434 en route from Manila to Tokyo, killing one passenger. The pilot managed to land the plane safely, and the incident was later linked to the terrorist Ramzi Yousef and the Bojinka plot.
• Thai Airways Flight 261 Crash (1998)
  Thai Airways Flight 261 crashed near Surat Thani Airport in Thailand, resulting in 101 fatalities. The crash was attributed to pilot disorientation during the approach.
• Great Wall of China Designated as World Heritage Site (1987)
  On December 11, 1987, UNESCO designated the Great Wall of China as a World Heritage Site, recognizing its immense historical and cultural significance.

Africa

• Independence and Self-Government
  On December 11, 1958, two West African territories—French Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso) and French Dahomey (now Benin)—gained self-government from France. This marked a crucial step toward full independence, as both regions became autonomous republics within the French Community, setting the stage for their eventual independence in 1960.
• Notable Births
  On December 11, 1911, Naguib Mahfouz, the Egyptian novelist and Nobel laureate, was born in Cairo. Mahfouz became the first Arabic writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, and his works are celebrated throughout Africa and the world.
• Religious and Cultural Milestones
  In 1870, James Dube, a minor Zulu chief, was ordained as a minister. He was the father of John Langalibalele Dube, who would become the founding president of the South African Native National Congress (later the African National Congress), a pivotal figure in the struggle against apartheid.
• On December 11, 2007, two car bombs exploded in Algiers, Algeria, targeting the Supreme Constitutional Court and United Nations offices. The attacks killed dozens and highlighted ongoing security challenges in North Africa.
• In 2013, the body of former South African president Nelson Mandela was transported to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where it lay in state for public viewing, marking a major moment of national mourning and remembrance.
• UNICEF Established
  On December 11, 1946, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established. While this is a global event, UNICEF has played a significant role in improving child welfare across Africa, especially in areas of health, education, and emergency relief.