This day in history: 28 november

Europa

• Tehran Conference Begins (1943)
  On November 28, 1943, one of the most significant diplomatic meetings of World War II began: the Tehran Conference. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met in Tehran, Iran, to discuss war strategy. A key outcome was Stalin’s push for an Allied invasion of France, which would later materialize as D-Day.
• Estonian War of Independence Begins (1918)
  On this day in 1918, Soviet forces launched an attack on the Estonian border town of Narva, marking the start of the Estonian War of Independence. This conflict was pivotal for Estonia’s struggle to secure its sovereignty after World War I.
• Lady Astor Elected to UK Parliament (1919)
  Lady Nancy Astor became the first woman to sit in the British House of Commons after being elected on November 28, 1919. Although Countess Markievicz was the first woman elected, she did not take her seat.
• Sinn Féin Founded (1905)
  In Ireland, Arthur Griffith founded Sinn Féin as a political party on this date in 1905, with the initial aim of establishing a dual monarchy in Ireland.
• In 1920, the Interallied Federation of War Veterans Organisations (FIDAC), the first international organization of war veterans, was established in Paris, France.
• The Irish Republican Army carried out the Kilmichael Ambush against British forces during the Irish War of Independence in 1920.

America

• Grand Ole Opry Debuts (1925)
  On November 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry, originally known as the WSM Barn Dance, made its debut on radio station WSM in Nashville, Tennessee. It has since become the longest-running radio broadcast in U.S. history, playing a pivotal role in the development of country music.
• Cocoanut Grove Nightclub Fire (1942)
  A devastating fire broke out at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston, Massachusetts, killing 492 people. This remains the deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history and led to significant changes in fire safety regulations across the country.
• Missouri Admitted to the Confederacy (1861)
  During the American Civil War, the Confederate Congress admitted Missouri as the 12th state of the Confederacy after a disputed secession from the Union.
• First American Automobile Race (1895)
  The first automobile race in the United States took place between Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois, marking a milestone in American automotive history.
• Thanksgiving Celebrations
  November 28 sometimes falls on Thanksgiving Day in the United States, a major national holiday centered on gratitude, family gatherings, and traditional meals.
• In 1961, Ernie Davis of Syracuse University became the first Black college football player to win the Heisman Trophy, an important milestone in American sports history.
• In 1964, NASA launched Mariner 4, the first spacecraft to successfully fly by Mars and send back images of the planet.
• In 2001, Enron Corporation, once the world’s largest energy trader, collapsed after a failed takeover deal, leading to one of the largest corporate bankruptcies in U.S. history and major reforms in corporate governance.
• Exploration and Early History
  On November 28, 1520, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, sailing under the Spanish flag, reached the Pacific Ocean after navigating through the strait at the southern tip of South America, now known as the Strait of Magellan. This marked the first European entry into the Pacific from the Atlantic and was a key moment in global exploration.

Asia

• Shi Jingtang Becomes Emperor of Later Jin (936)
  On November 28, 936, Shi Jingtang was enthroned as the first emperor of the Later Jin dynasty in China by Emperor Taizong of Liao, following a revolt against Emperor Fei of Later Tang. This marked a significant shift in the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of Chinese history.
• Champa–Đại Việt War: Attack on Champa (1470)
  Emperor Lê Thánh Tông of Đại Việt (now Vietnam) formally launched a major attack against the Champa kingdom, initiating a campaign that would lead to the eventual downfall of Champa as a significant regional power.
• 2007: For the first time since World War II, Chinese warships visited Japan, reflecting improved diplomatic relations between the two countries.
• 2012: Two car bombings in Damascus, Syria, killed 54 people and injured 120, highlighting the ongoing conflict in the region.
• November 28 marks the death anniversary of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, an Indian Army officer who was killed in action during the 2008 Mumbai attacks and posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India’s highest peacetime gallantry award.
• It is also the death anniversary of social reformer Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, a key figure in the Indian social justice movement.

Africa

• Mauritania Gains Independence (1960)
  On November 28, 1960, Mauritania declared its independence from France. Moktar Ould Daddah became the country’s first head of state, marking a significant moment in the wave of African decolonization during the 20th century.
• Republic Day in Congo and Chad
  November 28 is celebrated as Republic Day in both the Republic of Congo and Chad, commemorating their declarations as republics and their steps toward self-governance.
• In South African history, November 28 has seen various political and social milestones, including anti-apartheid activism, significant court cases, and diplomatic developments, though specific major national events on this date are less prominent compared to Mauritania’s independence.
• On November 28, 2002, an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa, Kenya, was targeted by suicide bombers, an event that brought global attention to terrorism in East Africa.