This day in history: 17 january

Europa

• 1944 – The Battle of Monte Cassino Begins (Italy): Allied forces launched the first of four assaults on Monte Cassino, a key German defensive position in Italy during World War II. The goal was to break through the Winter Line and advance toward Rome. British X Corps played a major role in the initial assault, crossing the Garigliano River, but German forces held firm on the right flank.
• 1945 – Liberation of Warsaw (Poland): Soviet and Polish forces liberated Warsaw from Nazi occupation. By this point, about 85% of the city had been destroyed.
• 1649 – Second Ormonde Peace (Ireland): The Irish Royalists and Confederates formed an alliance during the War of the Three Kingdoms, but this coalition was later defeated during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.
• 1746 – Battle of Falkirk (Scotland): ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ and his Highlanders won the Battle of Falkirk, marking their last victory in the Jacobite uprising.
• 1773 – Captain James Cook Sails South of the Antarctic Circle: Cook became the first European to sail below the Antarctic Circle, an important milestone in European exploration.
• 1912 – British Expedition Reaches the South Pole: Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his team reached the South Pole, only to find the Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen had arrived first.
• 1893 – Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy: A group led by Sanford Dole deposed Queen Liliuokalani, establishing a provisional government.
• 1995 – Great Hanshin Earthquake (Japan): A devastating earthquake struck Kobe, resulting in over 6,000 deaths.
• 1946 – First UN Security Council Session: The United Nations Security Council held its inaugural meeting.

America

• 1920 – Prohibition Begins: The Volstead Act took effect, enforcing the 18th Amendment and marking the start of Prohibition in the United States. The manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages became illegal, profoundly impacting American society and fueling the rise of organized crime.
• 1893 – Overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy: A group of American businessmen and sugar planters, led by Sanford Dole, overthrew Queen Liliuokalani and established a provisional government, paving the way for Hawaii’s eventual annexation by the United States.
• 1917 – U.S. Purchases the Virgin Islands: The United States finalized the purchase of the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million, expanding American territory in the Caribbean.
• 1961 – Eisenhower’s Farewell Address: Outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his famous farewell address, warning the nation about the potential dangers of the “military-industrial complex”.
• 1994 – Northridge Earthquake: A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the Los Angeles area, causing 57 deaths, 9,000 injuries, and approximately $25 billion in damages.
• 1950 – The Great Brink’s Robbery: Seven masked men stole $1.2 million in cash and $1.5 million in checks and money orders from the Brink’s Building in Boston, one of the most famous heists in U.S. history.
• 1977 – Execution of Gary Gilmore: Gary Gilmore became the first person executed in the U.S. after the reinstatement of the death penalty, shot by firing squad in Utah.
• 1873 – Modoc War, First Battle of the Stronghold: A small group of Modoc warriors defeated a much larger U.S. Army force in northern California, a significant event in Native American resistance.

Asia

• 1995 – Great Hanshin Earthquake (Japan): A devastating magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Kobe, Japan, resulting in the deaths of approximately 6,434 people and causing severe destruction. This remains one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in modern Japanese history.
• 2023 – Political Change in Vietnam: Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigned amid corruption allegations, marking a significant shift in the country’s leadership. He was replaced in March by Vo Van Thuong.
• 2021 – Afghanistan Attacks: Two female judges were shot dead in Kabul while en route to the Supreme Court. The incident was part of ongoing violence during the Taliban insurgency, though the Taliban denied responsibility.
• 2021 – Sulawesi Earthquake (Indonesia): The aftermath of a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in Sulawesi continued to unfold, with the death toll rising to at least 78 as more bodies were recovered from the rubble.
• 2014 – Bangkok Protests (Thailand): Explosions injured more than two dozen anti-government protesters in Bangkok amid ongoing demonstrations demanding political reform and the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Africa

• 1961 – Assassination of Patrice Lumumba (Congo): Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was murdered. His death was a pivotal moment in African post-colonial history, with later investigations confirming the involvement of domestic adversaries and support from Western governments, notably Belgium and the CIA. Lumumba remains a symbol of African independence and anti-colonial struggle.
• 1852 – Sand River Convention (South Africa): The United Kingdom signed the Sand River Convention with the South African Republic (Transvaal), recognizing the independence of the Boer settlers north of the Vaal River. This agreement laid the groundwork for the later establishment of the South African Republic.
• 1885 – Battle of Abu Klea (Sudan): British forces defeated a large Mahdist (Dervish) army at the Battle of Abu Klea, part of the broader Mahdist War in Sudan.
• 2017 – Nigerian Airstrike Tragedy (Nigeria): Nigerian fighter jets mistakenly bombed a camp for people displaced by Boko Haram and aid workers, killing at least 50 people and wounding 120. This incident highlighted the ongoing humanitarian and security challenges in the region.
• 2011 – Deadly Floods in Southern Africa: Severe flooding killed 39 people in South Africa and destroyed thousands of homes in Mozambique, underscoring the vulnerability of the region to natural disasters.