This day in history: 23 september

Europa

• On September 23, 1944, the Soviet Army crossed into Hungarian territory, marking a significant advance of the Eastern Front as the Red Army moved deeper into Central Europe.
• That same day, an RAF bombing raid destroyed an aqueduct on the Dortmund-Ems Canal in Germany, disrupting the shipment of prefabricated U-boat parts, which was a blow to the German war effort.
• German submarine U-859 was torpedoed and sunk in the Strait of Malacca by the British submarine Trenchant.
• The Holocaust: 23 September 1941
  The first experimental killings with gas took place at Auschwitz concentration camp on September 23, 1941. This marked a grim escalation in the methods of mass murder used during the Holocaust.

America

• 1913 – United Mine Workers Strike Begins: The United Mine Workers of America launched a major strike on September 23, 1913. This labor action eventually escalated into the Colorado Coalfield War, one of the most significant and violent labor conflicts in U.S. history.
• 1642 – First Harvard Commencement: Harvard College, the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, held its first commencement ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• 1779 – John Paul Jones’ Famous Naval Battle: On this day, John Paul Jones, commander of the American warship Bonhomme Richard, famously declared, “I have not yet begun to fight!” during a fierce battle with the British ship HMS Serapis.
• While the search results focus primarily on the United States, September 23 is also remembered in Latin America for various local events, though none as globally prominent as those listed above for the U.S.

Asia

• 1945 – Southern Resistance Day in Vietnam
  On September 23, 1945, the Vietnamese people began their resistance against the renewed French colonial invasion, just weeks after declaring independence. This marked the start of a prolonged struggle known as the Southern Resistance, a pivotal moment in Vietnam’s modern history and still commemorated as Southern Resistance Day.
• 1965 – End of the Indo-Pakistani War
  The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, fought primarily over the disputed region of Kashmir, ended on September 23 with a United Nations-mandated ceasefire. The conflict had drawn in international attention and intervention by both the USA and USSR, and the ceasefire marked a significant moment in South Asian geopolitics.
• 1947 – Earthquake in Iran
  A devastating magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck South Khorasan, Iran, on September 23, 1947, resulting in the deaths of over 500 people. This remains one of the significant natural disasters in Iranian history.
• 1932 – Founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  On this day, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially founded by Ibn Saud, unifying the regions of Hejaz and Nejd into a single nation. This event is celebrated as Saudi National Day in Saudi Arabia and marks the birth of the modern Saudi state.
• 1889 – Founding of Nintendo in Japan
  Nintendo, now a global leader in video games, was founded in Kyoto, Japan, by Fusajiro Yamauchi on September 23, 1889, originally as a playing card company. This is a notable milestone in Japan’s industrial and cultural history.
• 1803 – Battle of Assaye (India)
  The Battle of Assaye was fought between the Maratha Empire and British forces on September 23, 1803. The British victory was a turning point in the colonial conquest of India.
• 1942 – WWII: Guadalcanal Campaign (Japan)
  September 23, 1942, marked the first day of the September Matanikau action during the Guadalcanal campaign, with U.S. Marines attacking Japanese forces. This was a significant engagement in the Pacific theater of World War II.

Africa

• The celebration of the African New Year on September 23 contrasts with the globally dominant Gregorian calendar, which was imposed during colonial times and does not align with Africa’s natural cycles. Many African societies historically used indigenous calendars that were more attuned to the environment.
• Cultural experts and historians advocate for the revival and recognition of these traditional calendars as part of a broader movement to reclaim African knowledge systems and decolonize perceptions of time and history.
• 1913: Women’s Protest in South Africa
  On September 23, 1913, women in the Free State, South Africa, led by Charlotte Maxeke, launched significant protests against government policies, marking a milestone in the struggle for women’s rights and resistance to oppressive colonial laws.