This day in history: 19 september

Europa

• The Siege of Paris Begins (1870)
  On September 19, 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, Prussian forces surrounded Paris, beginning the Siege of Paris. This event marked a pivotal moment in French and European history, leading to the collapse of the French Second Empire, a brutal winter of starvation for Parisians, and ultimately the establishment of the German Empire. The siege ended in January 1871 with Paris’s surrender and set the stage for the Paris Commune the following year.
• On September 19, 1939, several significant military developments occurred in Eastern Europe:
• The Battle of Wilno ended with the Soviet capture of the city (now Vilnius, Lithuania).
• The Battles of the Bzura and Kępa Oksywska concluded with German victories, furthering the invasion of Poland.
• The Red Army joined the Battle of Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine).
• The Battle of Wólka Węglowa was fought, resulting in a Polish tactical victory.
• Adolf Hitler entered the former Free City of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) and gave a speech denouncing the Polish government and warning Britain that Germany would not capitulate, even if the war lasted years.

America

• Battle of Saratoga Begins (1777)
  On September 19, 1777, the first major engagement of the Saratoga campaign—known as the Battle of Freeman’s Farm—was fought between British forces under General John Burgoyne and American forces led by General Horatio Gates. Although the British won the field, they suffered heavy losses. The subsequent American victory at Saratoga proved to be a turning point in the Revolutionary War, convincing France to formally support the American cause.
• George Washington’s Farewell Address (1796)
  On this day in 1796, George Washington’s Farewell Address was published, urging Americans to avoid entangling alliances and political factions, and to maintain national unity. This message had a lasting impact on U.S. foreign policy and political culture.
• Jamestown Burned in Bacon’s Rebellion (1676)
  During Bacon’s Rebellion, a revolt against the colonial government of Virginia, Jamestown was attacked and burned by Nathaniel Bacon and his followers on September 19, 1676.
• Battle of Chickamauga Begins (1863)
  The Battle of Chickamauga, one of the bloodiest conflicts of the American Civil War and the only significant Confederate victory in the Western Theater, began on September 19, 1863, in northwestern Georgia.
• Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Sealed (2010)
  After months of environmental disaster, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was officially declared sealed on September 19, 2010, ending one of the largest oil spills in U.S. history.
• 1902: A stampede at Shiloh Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, killed 115 people.
• 1995: The Washington Post and The New York Times published the Unabomber Manifesto.
• 2017: The Puebla earthquake struck Mexico, causing significant casualties and damage.

Asia

• 634: Muslim Forces Capture Damascus
  On September 19, 634, Muslim forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid captured Damascus, marking the first major city of the Eastern Roman Empire taken by the Rashidun Caliphate. This event was pivotal in the early Islamic expansion across the Middle East.
• 1803: British Capture of Puri, India
  On this day in 1803, British forces captured Puri from the Marathas without resistance, consolidating their control over eastern India during the Second Anglo-Maratha War.
• 1945: Kim Il-sung Arrives in Wonsan, Korea
  On September 19, 1945, Kim Il-sung, who would become the founding leader of North Korea, arrived in the harbor of Wonsan, Korea, following Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II. This marked a significant step in the division and subsequent political developments on the Korean Peninsula.
• 2006: Military Coup in Thailand
  Thailand experienced a significant political upheaval on September 19, 2006, when a military coup led by General Sonthi Boonyaratglin overthrew the elected government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, dissolving the parliament and constitution.
• 2012: China Bans Anti-Japan Protests in Beijing
  Amid escalating territorial tensions with Japan, the Chinese government sent text messages to Beijing residents on September 19, 2012, announcing a ban on anti-Japan protests. This move followed previous violent demonstrations and reflected the government’s increasing use of technology to control public actions.
• Batla House Encounter, India (2008): A controversial police operation targeting suspected terrorists in Delhi.
  Significant WWII Surrenders (September 1945): While not specifically on September 19, September 1945 saw the surrender of Japanese forces in Korea and China, which deeply affected the postwar landscape of Asia.

Africa

• Boko Haram Attack in Nigeria (2014)
  On September 19, 2014, Boko Haram militants killed twenty traders in Kaga, Borno State, Nigeria. This attack was part of a series of violent incidents in the region during that period, highlighting the ongoing security challenges posed by the extremist group.
• UTA Flight 772 Bombing over Niger (1989)
  On September 19, 1989, UTA Flight 772 was destroyed by a bomb over the Ténéré Desert in Niger, killing all 171 people on board. The attack was later attributed to Libyan agents and remains one of Africa’s deadliest aviation disasters.
• Africa’s Crisis of Coups (Contemporary Context)
  September 19, 2023, marked ongoing discussions about the wave of military coups across Africa, with particular focus on the recent coup in Niger. Analysts noted the role of control over oil resources and governance challenges as contributing factors to these political upheavals.
• Historical Note: France Takes Mauritius (1715)
  On September 19, 1715, France took possession of Mauritius from the Dutch and renamed it “Isle de France.” This colonial transfer would shape the island’s future demographic and cultural landscape.