Europa
- Paris Attacks (2015)
On November 13, 2015, Paris was struck by a series of coordinated terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic State militants. The attacks targeted the national stadium, the Bataclan concert hall, restaurants, and streets, resulting in the deaths of 130 people. This was the deadliest attack on French soil since World War II and had a profound impact on France and Europe as a whole. - Bloody Sunday in London (1887)
In London, “Bloody Sunday” occurred on November 13, 1887. Poor and unemployed Londoners protesting their hardships in Trafalgar Square were met with violent police action. The clashes resulted in 2 or 3 deaths and several hundred injuries, marking a significant moment in British social and labor history. - German Revolution and End of World War I (1918)
On November 13, 1918, shortly after the end of World War I, Germany and Russia annulled the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The Allies occupied Constantinople, and the Romanian Army began advancing into Transylvania. This date also saw further abdications among German royalty, signaling the collapse of the German Empire and the broader political upheaval across Europe at the end of the war. - St. Brice’s Day Massacre (1002)
King Æthelred II of England ordered the killing of all Danes in England on November 13, 1002, an event known as the St. Brice’s Day massacre. This act was a response to rising tensions between Anglo-Saxons and Danish settlers and had long-term ramifications for English-Danish relations. - Battle of Alnwick (1093)
The Battle of Alnwick took place on November 13, 1093, resulting in an English victory over the Scots. Malcolm III of Scotland and his son Edward were slain in the battle, significantly impacting Scottish succession and Anglo-Scottish relations.
America
- American Revolutionary War
1775: Patriot revolutionary forces under General Richard Montgomery captured Montreal, marking a significant victory for the Continental Army during the early stages of the American Revolution. - U.S. Marine Corps
1775: The United States Marine Corps was established, becoming a crucial branch of the U.S. military. - Famous Quote by Benjamin Franklin
1789: Benjamin Franklin wrote his famous phrase, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy. - Holland Tunnel Opens
1927: The Holland Tunnel, connecting New York City and New Jersey beneath the Hudson River, opened to the public, representing a major advancement in American infrastructure. - Vietnam Veterans Memorial
1982: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., honoring those who served and died in the Vietnam War. - Lowering the Draft Age
1942: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a measure lowering the minimum draft age from 21 to 18 during World War II, expanding the pool of eligible servicemen. - Supreme Court and Civil Rights
1956: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down laws requiring racial segregation on public buses, effectively ending the Montgomery Bus Boycott and marking a major victory in the Civil Rights Movement. - Space Exploration
1971: NASA’s Mariner 9 became the first spacecraft to orbit another planet (Mars), marking a milestone in American space exploration. - Vietnam War Protests
1969: Anti-war protesters staged the “March Against Death” in Washington, D.C., one of the largest demonstrations against the Vietnam War. - 1909: A fire at the Cherry Mine in Illinois killed 259 men and boys, one of the deadliest mining disasters in U.S. history.
- 1933: The first sit-down labor strike in America occurred in Austin, Minnesota.
- 1940: Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” premiered at New York’s Broadway Theater.
Asia
- Battle of Guadalcanal (1942)
On November 13, 1942, the U.S. and Japanese navies engaged in an intense, close-quarters battle during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, a pivotal conflict in the Pacific theater of World War II. This battle marked a turning point in the war, with significant losses on both sides, including the sinking of the USS Juneau and the deaths of the five Sullivan brothers from the United States. - Bhola Cyclone in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) (1970)
The Bhola cyclone struck the Ganges Delta region of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) on November 13, 1970, with winds reaching 240 km/h (150 mph). It remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, killing an estimated 500,000 people in a single night and profoundly impacting the region’s political and humanitarian landscape. - All Nippon Airways Flight 533 Crash (1966)
On November 13, 1966, All Nippon Airways Flight 533 crashed into the Seto Inland Sea near Matsuyama Airport in Japan, resulting in the deaths of 50 people. This tragedy highlighted ongoing challenges in aviation safety in postwar Japan. - Indonesian Student Massacre (1998)
On November 13, 1998, Indonesian security forces killed 17 anti-government student protesters in Jakarta. The students were part of the largest demonstrations since the fall of President Suharto earlier that year. The incident exposed the continuing dominance of the military in Indonesian politics, despite efforts to present a more democratic image. - Chinese Revolutionaries Meet in Penang (1910)
On November 13, 1910, Sun Yat-sen, a leading figure in the Chinese revolutionary movement, convened a crucial meeting with other revolutionaries in Penang, Malaya (now Malaysia). This meeting was instrumental in planning the Huanghuagang Uprising, a precursor to the 1911 Chinese Revolution that ended imperial rule in China. - 1950: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army began its invasion of Tibet, marking the start of a new era in Tibetan history and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region.
- 1887: Japan established its Hygiene Laboratory, which became the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, marking a milestone in public health and disease research in Japan.
Africa
- Battle of El Herri, Morocco (1914)
On November 13, 1914, during the Zaian War, Berber tribesmen inflicted the heaviest defeat on French colonial forces at the Battle of El Herri. This event was a major setback for French expansion in Morocco and remains a significant moment in North African resistance history. - Abolition of Eritrea’s Federal Status (1962)
On November 13, 1962, the Ethiopian parliament and Eritrean Assembly voted unanimously to abolish Eritrea’s federal status, effectively making Eritrea a province of Ethiopia. This decision would later contribute to decades of conflict and Eritrea’s eventual war for independence. - African American Inventor Patents Casket-Lowering Device (1894)
On November 13, 1894, Albert C. Richardson, an African American inventor, patented the casket-lowering device, an innovation that became standard in funeral services across the world. - Janet Collins Breaks Barriers in Ballet (1951)
On November 13, 1951, Janet Collins made history as the first Black dancer to perform with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in New York City, breaking racial barriers in the world of classical dance.
This day in history: 13 november