This day in history: 19 december

Europa

• On December 19, 1941, Adolf Hitler appointed himself as head of the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH), the German Army High Command, consolidating his control over the German military during World War II.
• Also in 1941, Italian divers placed limpet mines that heavily damaged the British battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth in Alexandria harbor, a notable naval event during the war.
• On December 19, 1940, Risto Ryti, then Prime Minister of Finland, was elected President of Finland in a special election held by the 1937 electoral college, reflecting the political instability in Europe during wartime.
• The BBC World Service, originally called the BBC Empire Service, began broadcasting on December 19, 1932. This marked the start of one of the world’s most influential international broadcasters.
• On December 19, 1950, General Dwight D. Eisenhower was named supreme commander of NATO forces in Europe, a pivotal moment in the formation of the Western alliance during the early Cold War.
• In 1793, French troops recaptured Toulon from the British during the French Revolutionary Wars.
• The French Wars of Religion began with the Battle of Dreux on December 19, 1562, marking a significant conflict between Huguenots and Catholics in France.
• Charles Dickens’ novella “A Christmas Carol” was first published in England on December 19, 1843, becoming a cornerstone of Western literature and Christmas tradition.

America

• Impeachment of President Bill Clinton (1998)
  On December 19, 1998, the U.S. House of Representatives impeached President Bill Clinton, charging him with perjury and obstruction of justice. He was later acquitted by the Senate, but the event marked only the second time in U.S. history that a sitting president had been impeached.
• American Revolution: Valley Forge (1777)
  General George Washington led 11,000 Continental Army soldiers into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This difficult winter became a defining moment in the American Revolution, testing the resilience and resolve of the American forces.
• Darr Mine Disaster (1907)
  A tragic coal mining accident occurred at the Darr Mine in Jacobs Creek, Pennsylvania, resulting in the deaths of 239 miners. It remains one of the deadliest mining disasters in U.S. history.
• Vietnam War Escalation (1961)
  The United States deepened its involvement in the Vietnam War by sending military advisors to assist South Vietnam, marking a significant step toward the later large-scale American military presence in the conflict.
• Apollo 17 Returns to Earth (1972)
  The Apollo 17 mission, the last crewed lunar landing by the United States, returned to Earth after spending more time on the moon than any previous mission. This marked the end of the Apollo lunar program.
• 1828: Vice President John C. Calhoun anonymously published the “South Carolina Exposition and Protest,” sparking the Nullification Crisis over federal tariffs.
• 1732: Benjamin Franklin began publishing “Poor Richard’s Almanac,” which became an influential annual publication in colonial America.

Asia

• On December 19 in Asia, one of the most significant historical events is the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984. This treaty, signed in Beijing by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, stipulated that China would resume sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom effective July 1, 1997. This agreement marked a crucial moment in the modern history of Hong Kong and Sino-British relations, setting the terms for the transfer of Hong Kong’s governance and its future as a Special Administrative Region of China.
• In 1927, three Indian revolutionaries—Ram Prasad Bismil, Roshan Singh, and Ashfaqulla Khan—were executed by the British colonial government for their involvement in the Kakori conspiracy, an important episode in India’s struggle for independence.
• The Apollo 17 mission, which returned to Earth on December 19, 1972, was the last crewed lunar mission by the United States. While this is a global space exploration milestone, it also had significance for Asian countries interested in space science and technology.
• In 2012, Park Geun-hye was elected as the first female president of South Korea, marking a historic milestone in Asian political history. She assumed office in February 2013, becoming the first female head of state in Northeast Asia.

Africa

• Death of Al-Ghazali (1111 CE)
  On December 19, 1111 CE (7/8 Jumada al-Thani, 505 AH), the renowned Muslim theologian, jurist, and philosopher Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali died in Tus, in present-day Iran. Al-Ghazali, known as “Hujjatul Islam” (the Proof of Islam), was highly influential in Islamic thought and education, and his works such as “Ihya Ulum al-Din” (“The Revival of the Religious Sciences”) and “Tahafut al-Falasifa” (“The Incoherence of the Philosophers”) remain foundational in Islamic scholarship.
• Death of South African War Hero Dan Pienaar (1942)
  On December 19, 1942, South African General Dan Pienaar, celebrated for his leadership during World War II, died when his aircraft crashed into Lake Victoria at Kisumu while he was returning to South Africa.
• Liberia: Capital Building Fire (2024)
  On December 19, 2024, a significant fire occurred at Liberia’s Capital Building, prompting an investigation by local authorities and drawing public attention to safety and governance issues in the country.
• South Africa: Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Bombing (1982)
  On December 19, 1982, four bombs exploded at South Africa’s only nuclear power station, the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station near Cape Town. The attack, attributed to anti-apartheid activists, was a high-profile act of sabotage during the struggle against apartheid.
• Uganda: Milton Obote Assumes Presidency for Second Time (1969)
  On December 19, 1969, Milton Obote became President of Uganda for the second time. Obote had previously led Uganda to independence from Britain in 1962 and was a central figure in the country’s post-colonial history.
• Ancient North Africa: Severus’ African War (202 CE)
  On December 19, 202 CE, Roman Emperor Septimius Severus conducted military campaigns in North Africa, consolidating his control and influencing the region’s Romanization.