Europa
- British Royal Family Renounces German Titles (1917)
On June 19, 1917, during World War I, King George V of Britain ordered the royal family to renounce all German names and titles, adopting the surname Windsor instead. This significant move was made to demonstrate solidarity with the British war effort and distance the monarchy from its German heritage at a time of intense anti-German sentiment in the UK. The royal house had previously been known as Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. - World War II: German Advances in France (1940)
On June 19, 1940, during World War II, German forces captured the French ports of Lorient and Brest as they continued their rapid advance across France. Charles de Gaulle, having fled to London, broadcast a powerful appeal to the French people over the BBC, urging continued resistance against the occupying forces. De Gaulle asserted, “For them to lay down their arms, to evacuate any position of military importance, or agree to hand over any part of French territory, however small, to enemy control, would be a crime against our country”. - 936: Louis IV was crowned King of West Francia in Laon, France.
- 1179: The Battle of Kalvskinnet occurred near present-day Trondheim, Norway, affecting the region’s civil wars.
- 1269: King Louis IX of France imposed fines on Jews not wearing a yellow badge in public, marking a notable episode of medieval anti-Semitism.
America
- Juneteenth: Emancipation Day (1865)
On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced General Order No. 3, proclaiming the end of slavery in Texas. This was more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, due to the lack of Union presence in Texas during the war. The announcement freed over 250,000 enslaved people in Texas, marking the effective end of slavery in the United States. - Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Black Independence Day, became a symbol of African American freedom and resilience. The first celebrations took place in Texas the following year and quickly spread to other states.
- Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States in 2021.
- 1846: The first officially recorded, organized baseball game was played in Hoboken, New Jersey, using Alexander Cartwright’s rules. The New York Base Ball Club defeated the Knickerbockers 23–1.
- 1953: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage, becoming the first American civilians put to death for such charges.
Asia
- 1947: Birth of Salman Rushdie
The renowned British-Indian novelist Salman Rushdie was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. He is internationally known for works such as “Midnight’s Children” and “The Satanic Verses,” the latter of which sparked significant controversy and led to threats against his life. - 1949: Death of Syed Zafarul Hasan
Syed Zafarul Hasan, a prominent Muslim philosopher and the first Muslim scholar from the Indian subcontinent to earn a PhD in Philosophy from Oxford, died on this day. - 1966: Founding of Shiv Sena
The political party Shiv Sena was founded in Mumbai by Bal Thackeray. It has played a significant role in Maharashtra’s politics and has been part of the National Democratic Alliance since 1998. - 1970: Birth of Rahul Gandhi
Rahul Gandhi, a leading figure in the Indian National Congress and a member of the Nehru-Gandhi political family, was born in New Delhi. - 1981: Launch of APPLE Satellite
India launched its first experimental communication satellite, APPLE, marking a milestone in the country’s space program. - 1982: Hezbollah Kidnapping in Lebanon
The president of Beirut University was kidnapped by Hezbollah in a terrorist attack, highlighting the region’s ongoing instability at the time. - 2007: Al-Khilani Mosque Bombing in Iraq
A bombing at the al-Khilani Mosque in Baghdad resulted in 78 deaths and over 200 injuries, underlining the violence during the Iraq conflict. - 2007: Political Shakeup in Pakistan
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf removed Mohammad Ali Durrani from the post of Information Minister. That year, Pakistan was ranked 12th among the most politically unstable countries globally. - 2009: Mass Riots in Shishou, China
Over 10,000 people rioted in Shishou, China, following the suspicious death of a local chef, leading to a significant confrontation with police. - 2009: Pakistani Military Operation
The Pakistani Armed Forces launched Operation Rah-e-Nijat against Taliban and other Islamist rebels in South Waziristan, part of ongoing efforts to combat militancy in the region.
Africa
- In recent years, June 19 has begun to take on new significance in Africa and among the African diaspora through Pan-African Juneteenth celebrations. These events are organized to recognize the emancipation of enslaved Africans in the Americas, address ongoing social justice issues, and strengthen ties between Africans and African Americans.
- The first Pan-African Juneteenth Celebration was held virtually in 2021, with participation from organizations in South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, and Tanzania. The event focused on civil rights, voter suppression, policing, and gender bias, using Juneteenth as a bridge to connect shared histories and struggles for freedom and equality.
This day in history: 19 june