This day in history: 12 april

1606: The Union Flag, combining the crosses of St. George (England) and St. Andrew (Scotland), became the official flag of Britain.
1807: The Froberg Mutiny ended in Malta, involving British and French forces. The conflict lasted 8–9 days and resulted in casualties and prisoners of war.
1941: Bobby Moore, legendary English footballer and captain of the 1966 World Cup-winning team, was born.
1961: Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into space aboard Vostok 1, a milestone in space exploration that resonated globally, including Europe.
1989: The Hillsborough Disaster occurred during an FA Cup semi-final match in Sheffield, England. Ninety-six people tragically lost their lives due to overcrowding, leading to major reforms in stadium safety regulations.
2004: The European Union experienced its largest expansion as ten new countries joined, significantly shaping Europe’s political and economic landscape.

1861: The American Civil War began when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. This marked the start of a conflict that would last until 1865 and reshape the United States.
1945: President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Warm Springs, Georgia, at the age of 63. Vice President Harry S. Truman succeeded him as the 33rd President of the United States.
1955: The polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, was declared safe and effective, marking a major milestone in public health.
1981: NASA launched the first space shuttle, Columbia, on its maiden flight. This event marked a new era in space exploration for the United States.

1927: The Shanghai Massacre, also known as the April 12 Purge, occurred in China. This violent suppression of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and leftist elements was carried out by forces loyal to General Chiang Kai-shek and conservative factions of the Kuomintang (KMT). The event led to a major split between the KMT’s left and right wings, effectively ending the First United Front between the KMT and CCP. Thousands of communists and leftists were killed, arrested, or went missing during this purge.
2024: In Pakistan’s Balochistan province, separatist violence surged on April 12. Militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army enforced a blockade on a strategic highway connecting Iran and Pakistan, killing nine passengers identified as ethnic Punjabis. This event was part of a broader separatist movement against perceived exploitation and oppression by the Pakistani government.

1941: During World War II, German forces captured Fort Capuzzo and Bardia in North Africa, strengthening their position in the region. This marked a significant moment in the North African Campaign, which was a critical theater of the war.
2012: Dioncounda Traoré was sworn in as interim president of Mali following a military coup that had ousted the democratically elected government. This event occurred during a period of intense political instability and conflict in Mali, including the rise of Tuareg rebels and Islamist insurgents in the northern regions of the country.