Europa
- 1945: Bombing of Dresden, Germany
On February 13, 1945, Allied forces began a three-day aerial bombardment of Dresden during World War II. The attack resulted in a devastating firestorm, destroying much of the city and killing an estimated 22,000 to 25,000 people. - 1945: Soviet Capture of Budapest, Hungary
On the same day, Soviet forces captured Budapest after a prolonged siege, marking a major defeat for Nazi Germany in Eastern Europe. - 1542: Execution of Catherine Howard, England
Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of King Henry VIII, was executed for adultery at the Tower of London. - 1668: Treaty of Lisbon—Spain Recognizes Portugal’s Independence
The Treaty of Lisbon was signed, ending the Iberian Union and formally recognizing Portugal as an independent nation after 60 years of Spanish rule. - 1689: William III and Mary II Proclaimed Co-Rulers of England
Following the Glorious Revolution, William III and Mary II were proclaimed king and queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, establishing constitutional monarchy in Britain. - 1692: Massacre of Glencoe, Scotland
Scottish government troops killed members of the MacDonald clan in Glencoe after their chief missed a deadline to pledge allegiance to King William III. - 962: Emperor Otto I and Pope John XII co-signed the Diploma Ottonianum, recognizing John as ruler of Rome.
- 1633: Galileo Galilei arrived in Rome for his trial before the Inquisition.
- 1352: Battle of the Bosporus involving Genoese, Venetian, Aragonese, and Byzantine fleets.
America
- 1635: Boston Latin School Founded
The Boston Latin School, the first taxpayer-supported (public) school in America, was established in Boston, Massachusetts, marking a foundational moment in American public education. - 1914: ASCAP Founded
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) was established in New York City to protect the copyrighted musical compositions of its members, shaping the music industry’s legal landscape. - 1935: Lindbergh Kidnapping Trial Verdict
Bruno Hauptmann was found guilty by a jury in Flemington, New Jersey, for the 1932 kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s infant son, a case that captivated the nation and became known as the “Trial of the Century”. - 1945: Bombing of Dresden (U.S. Involvement)
On this day, American and British air forces began a massive bombing campaign on Dresden, Germany, during World War II. The U.S. Army Air Forces participated alongside the Royal Air Force, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. - 2000: Final “Peanuts” Comic Strip
The last “Peanuts” comic strip was published, following the death of its creator, Charles M. Schulz. The strip had been a staple of American culture for decades.
Asia
- 1258: Fall of Baghdad to the Mongols
The Mongol forces captured Baghdad, then a major center of the Islamic world, marking the end of the Abbasid Caliphate and a significant turning point in Middle Eastern and Asian history. Tens of thousands were killed, effectively ending the Islamic Golden Age. - 1565: Spanish Arrival in the Philippines
Spanish conquistador Miguel López de Legazpi and his troops landed on the shores of Cibabao (present-day Philippines), marking the start of Spanish colonization in the archipelago. - 1942: Battles in Southeast Asia during World War II
- The Battle of Palembang began near Palembang on Sumatra, Indonesia, as Japanese forces advanced in the region.
- The Battle of Pasir Panjang commenced as part of the larger Battle for Singapore, a critical moment in the Japanese campaign in Southeast Asia.
- 1966: Soviet Nuclear Test in East Kazakhstan
The Soviet Union conducted a nuclear test in East Kazakhstan, reflecting the ongoing arms race during the Cold War era. - 1984: Indian Naval Expansion
Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi launched the Mazagon Dock in Mumbai for the Indian Navy, marking a step in India’s naval modernization. - 2005: Iraqi Elections
The Shia Islamic Front achieved victory in Iraq’s first election since the fall of Saddam Hussein, a pivotal moment in the country’s post-war political development. - 2007: North Korea Nuclear Agreement
North Korea agreed to end its nuclear program, a significant diplomatic development in East Asian security.
Africa
- 1960: France conducts its first atomic bomb test in the Sahara Desert, Algeria.
On February 13, 1960, France detonated its first nuclear device, code-named “Gerboise Bleue,” in the Sahara Desert near Reggane, Algeria. This event marked France’s entry into the group of nuclear-armed nations and had significant environmental and political repercussions for Algeria and the broader African continent. - 1941: South African forces capture Kismayu, Italian Somaliland.
The 1st South African Infantry Brigade, as part of the Allied campaign in East Africa during World War II, captured the port city of Kismayu (now Kismayo, Somalia) from Italian forces. This was a key victory in the campaign against Italian East Africa. - 2025: Congo Catholic Church meets with M23 rebel leader in Goma.
On February 13, 2025, representatives of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s powerful Catholic Church met with Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group, in Goma. The meeting aimed to push for a ceasefire and the reopening of Goma’s airport and port, amid ongoing conflict in eastern Congo. - 2025: U.S. airstrike kills key Islamic State planner in Somalia.
U.S. and Somali officials confirmed that Ahmed Maeleninine, a leader of Islamic State in Somalia, was killed in a U.S. airstrike earlier in February. This operation was part of ongoing efforts to combat extremist groups in the region. - Death of Henry Highland Garnet in Monrovia, Liberia (1882):
Henry Highland Garnet, a prominent African American abolitionist, minister, and diplomat, died in Monrovia, Liberia, on February 13, 1882. Garnet was the first Black speaker to address the U.S. House of Representatives and later served as U.S. Minister to Liberia.
This day in history: 13 february