Europa
- Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski (1939)
On September 20, 1939, during the early weeks of World War II, Army Kraków of Poland surrendered to German forces in the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski. This marked a significant defeat for the Polish military as German advances continued across Eastern Europe. - Sinking of German Submarine U-27 (1939)
On the same day, British destroyers sank the German submarine U-27 west of Scotland. This was one of the early naval engagements between Britain and Germany during World War II. - First Cannes Film Festival (1946)
The inaugural Cannes Film Festival, now one of the world’s most prestigious film events, opened in France on September 20, 1946. The festival had been delayed for seven years due to World War II. - Holocaust Events
On September 20, 1942, mass executions of Jews occurred in Ukraine as part of the Holocaust. Nearly 3,000 Jews were killed over two days, reflecting the ongoing atrocities committed across Eastern Europe during this period. - 1920 – Irish War of Independence: British police killed two local men and burned the town of Balbriggan, Ireland, in retaliation for an IRA assassination.
- 1941 – Holocaust in Lithuania: Mass execution of nearly 400 Jews began in Nemencine, Lithuania.
America
- Abolition of the Slave Trade in Washington, D.C. (1850)
On September 20, 1850, the United States Congress abolished the slave trade in the District of Columbia as part of the Compromise of 1850. While slavery itself continued in D.C. until 1862, this marked a significant step toward abolition in the nation’s capital. - Wilbur Wright’s Aviation Milestone (1904)
Wilbur Wright achieved a major aviation first by flying in a complete circle in the Wright Flyer II, demonstrating controlled, sustained flight and advancing the development of powered flight in America. - President Chester A. Arthur Sworn In (1881)
Chester A. Arthur was sworn in as the 21st President of the United States on September 20, 1881, following the death of President James A. Garfield. - The Battle of Chickamauga Ends (1863)
The Battle of Chickamauga, one of the major battles of the American Civil War, ended on this day with a Confederate victory in northwestern Georgia. - The Panic of 1873
On September 20, 1873, panic swept the floor of the New York Stock Exchange due to railroad bond defaults and bank failures, marking the start of a major financial crisis. - Billie Jean King Wins the “Battle of the Sexes” (1973)
Tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the famous “Battle of the Sexes” match at the Houston Astrodome, a pivotal moment for gender equality in sports. - James Meredith Blocked from University of Mississippi (1962)
Civil rights activist James Meredith was temporarily barred from enrolling at the University of Mississippi, highlighting the ongoing struggle for desegregation in education. - End of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (2011)
The U.S. military officially ended its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, allowing gay men and women to serve openly for the first time. - Hurricane Maria Strikes Puerto Rico (2017)
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico as a Category 4 storm, causing catastrophic damage, an island-wide blackout, and a major humanitarian crisis. - Martin Luther King Jr. Stabbed (1958): Dr. King was seriously wounded during a book signing in New York City.
- Cal Ripken Jr. Ends Streak (1998): Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. ended his record-breaking consecutive-game streak at 2,632 games.
- First Daily Newspaper in America (1784): The Packet and Daily became the first daily publication in the United States.
Asia
- The Hindu Newspaper Published (1878, India)
On September 20, 1878, The Hindu, one of India’s most influential English-language newspapers, was published for the first time as a weekly. This marked a major development in Indian journalism and public discourse. - Gandhi’s Hunger Strike Begins (1932, India)
Mahatma Gandhi began a hunger strike on this day in 1932 to protest the treatment of “untouchables” in India, a pivotal moment in the Indian social reform and independence movement. - British Capture Delhi (1857, India)
During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, British troops captured and “liberated” the city of Delhi from rebel forces on September 20, a turning point in the uprising against colonial rule. - Vietnam Joins the United Nations (1977, Vietnam)
Vietnam became a member of the United Nations on September 20, 1977, marking its integration into the international community after decades of conflict. - Attack on US Embassy in Beirut (1984, Lebanon)
On September 20, 1984, a suicide bombing targeted the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing twenty-two people. This attack underscored the ongoing instability in the region during the Lebanese Civil War. - End of Japanese Surrender Proceedings (1945, Southeast Asia)
While not precisely on September 20, the Japanese surrender in Southeast Asia was finalized in Singapore in mid-September 1945, ending World War II in the region and reshaping the political landscape of Asia.
Africa
- FRELIMO Takes Power in Mozambique (1974)
On September 20, 1974, the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) officially took power from Portugal, marking the end of colonial rule and the beginning of Mozambique’s path to independence. - Westgate Mall Attack in Kenya (2013)
On September 21, 2013 (not exactly the 20th, but often commemorated in this period), Al-Shabaab militants launched a deadly terrorist attack on the Westgate shopping centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The siege lasted several days and resulted in significant casualties. - Arrest of Mujahid Dokubo-Asari in Nigeria (2005)
On September 20, 2005, the Nigerian government arrested Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, a prominent militia leader in the Niger Delta, on charges of treason. His arrest was a major event in Nigeria’s struggle with militancy in the oil-rich region. - African National Convention for Free Men (1830, U.S. Diaspora): On September 20, 1830, the first National Convention for Free Men of Color convened in Philadelphia, marking a significant moment in the African diaspora’s history and the movement against slavery.
- Historical Context: The broader context of September includes many independence movements and anti-colonial milestones across Africa, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s, when many countries gained sovereignty from European powers.
This day in history: 20 september