Europa
- 1912: Battle of Lule Burgas
Bulgaria defeated the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Lule Burgas during the First Balkan War, marking the bloodiest battle of that conflict and opening the way for Bulgarian forces to advance toward Constantinople. - 1914: World War I Escalation
The Russian Empire declared war on the Ottoman Empire, leading to the closure of the strategic Dardanelles strait, a significant development in the early stages of World War I. - 1917: Balfour Declaration
The British government issued the Balfour Declaration, expressing support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine, while also emphasizing that nothing should prejudice the rights of existing non-Jewish communities. This declaration had far-reaching consequences for the Middle East and European diplomacy. - 1917: Russian Revolution
The Military Revolutionary Committee of the Petrograd Soviet held its first meeting, a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the October Revolution that would soon transform Russia and the European political landscape. - 1936: BBC Television Service Begins
The BBC Television Service launched in the United Kingdom, becoming the world’s first regular “high-definition” television service (then defined as at least 200 lines). This innovation marked a milestone in European broadcasting history. - 1940: Battle of Elaia–Kalamas
The first day of the Battle of Elaia–Kalamas saw Greek and Italian forces clash during World War II, highlighting the conflict’s impact on southeastern Europe. - 1945: Dachau Trials
On November 2, 1945, 42 staff members of the Dachau concentration camp were indicted at the Nuremberg Trials, a significant step in postwar European justice and the prosecution of Nazi war crimes. - 1993: Maastricht Treaty and the European Union
The Maastricht Treaty, a foundational document for the European Union, officially came into effect. This marked the formal beginning of the EU, significantly shaping the political and economic integration of Europe. - 1721: Peter I was proclaimed Emperor of all the Russias, consolidating Russia’s status as a major European power.
- 1815: Marie Antoinette was laid to rest in the Basilica of St. Denis, Paris, symbolizing the end of an era in French and European royalty.
America
- 1948: President Harry S. Truman won a surprise victory over Republican challenger Thomas E. Dewey, defying widespread predictions and securing a full term as U.S. president.
- 1976: Jimmy Carter was elected as the 39th president of the United States, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald R. Ford.
- 1880: James A. Garfield was elected the 20th president of the United States.
- 2008: Barack Obama was elected as the first African American president of the United States (noted as occurring on November 2 in some references, though the official election date was November 4, 2008).
- 1889: North Dakota and South Dakota were officially admitted as the 39th and 40th states of the United States.
- 1920: KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, became the first commercial radio station in the U.S. to begin regular broadcasting, marking the start of a new era in mass communication.
- 1783: General George Washington issued his Farewell Address to the Continental Army near Princeton, New Jersey, marking the end of the American Revolutionary War.
- 1947: Howard Hughes piloted the “Spruce Goose” (H-4 Hercules), the world’s largest airplane, on its first and only flight over Long Beach Harbor, California.
- 1983: U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday, commemorating the civil rights leader.
- 1984: Velma Barfield became the first woman executed in the United States since 1962.
- 2000: The first resident crew arrived at the International Space Station, marking the beginning of continuous human presence in space.
Asia
- 1949: End of the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference
On November 2, 1949, the Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference concluded with the Netherlands agreeing to transfer sovereignty of the Dutch East Indies to the United States of Indonesia. This marked a pivotal moment in Southeast Asian decolonization and the birth of modern Indonesia. - 1964: King Faisal Becomes Ruler of Saudi Arabia
On this day in 1964, King Saud of Saudi Arabia was deposed and King Faisal was proclaimed the new monarch. This transition solidified Faisal’s modernization and reform agenda in the kingdom. - 1997: Tropical Storm Linda Strikes Vietnam
Tropical Storm Linda made landfall in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta on November 2, 1997, resulting in over 3,000 deaths. It remains one of the deadliest storms in the region’s recent history. - 2014: Wagah Border Suicide Bombing, Pakistan
A suicide bomber attacked civilians watching the daily border closing ceremony at the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, killing 60 and injuring over 100. The attack highlighted ongoing security challenges in South Asia.
Africa
- 1930: Haile Selassie Crowned Emperor of Ethiopia
On November 2, 1930, Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia, taking the name Haile Selassie I. His reign marked a transformative era for Ethiopia, and he became a key figure in both African and global history, notably inspiring the Rastafari movement and leading Ethiopia through modernization and resistance to Italian invasion. - Angola: All Souls’ Day
November 2 is observed as All Souls’ Day in Angola, a day dedicated to honoring the more than three million lives lost during the country’s protracted war for independence and subsequent civil conflict. - Mauritius: Arrival of Indentured Labourers
On this day, Mauritius commemorates the arrival of indentured laborers in 1834. These laborers, brought from India to work on sugarcane plantations, played a foundational role in the island’s history. The site where they first set foot is now a national heritage site.
This day in history: 2 november