This day in history: 3 october

Europa

• German Reunification (1990)
  October 3, 1990, marks one of the most significant moments in recent European history: the reunification of East and West Germany. After 45 years of division following World War II, Germany was officially unified, ending the era of the Cold War in Europe. This event is celebrated annually as German Unity Day (Tag der Deutschen Einheit), a national holiday in Germany characterized by concerts, speeches, fireworks, and public festivities across the country.
• The Lifting of the Siege of Leiden (1574): In the Netherlands, the city of Leiden was liberated from a Spanish siege, an event still commemorated with the Leiden 3 October Festival (Leidens Ontzet), featuring parades and celebrations.
• The Treaty of Niš (1739): The Ottoman Empire and Russia signed the Treaty of Niš, ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1736–1739, which had significant implications for Eastern European borders and power dynamics.
• Abdication of Ferdinand I of Bulgaria (1918): Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria abdicated in favor of his son, Boris III, during the turbulent final months of World War I, marking a major shift in Bulgarian and Balkan history.
• Formation of Yugoslavia (1929): The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes officially changed its name to Yugoslavia, setting the stage for future developments in the Balkans.

America

• On October 3, 1789, President George Washington proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day, designating November 26 as a day of gratitude for the creation of the United States.
• On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation establishing the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day, a tradition that continues in the U.S. today.
• OJ Simpson Verdict (1995)
  On October 3, 1995, former football star O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. This verdict was one of the most publicized and controversial in American legal history, captivating the nation and the world.
• 1849: Edgar Allan Poe, the famed American poet and author, was seen in public for the last time in Baltimore before his mysterious death days later.
• 1862: The Second Battle of Corinth began during the American Civil War, with Confederate forces attacking Union defenses in Mississippi.
• 1873: Chief Kintpuash (Captain Jack) and companions were hanged for their role in the Modoc War in northern California.
• 1912: U.S. forces defeated Nicaraguan rebels at the Battle of Coyotepe Hill.
• 1974: Frank Robinson became the first African American manager in Major League Baseball when hired by the Cleveland Indians.
• 1986: Vince DiMaggio, the eldest of the DiMaggio baseball brothers, died.
• 1988: Turner Network Television (TNT) launched on U.S. television.
• 1989: Art Shell became the first African American head coach in the NFL, leading the Los Angeles Raiders.
• 1960: The “Andy Griffith Show” debuted on American television.
• 1964: Buffalo wings were reportedly first served at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York.

Asia

• Iraq Gains Independence (1932)
  On October 3, 1932, Iraq officially gained independence from British rule and was admitted to the League of Nations. This marked the end of the British mandate established after World War I and the beginning of Iraq’s modern era as a sovereign nation.
• South Korea’s National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol)
  October 3 is celebrated in South Korea as National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol), commemorating the legendary founding of the Korean nation by Hwanung in 2457 BCE. It is a major public holiday in South Korea, marked by ceremonies and cultural events.
• On October 3, 1977, Indira Gandhi, India’s first and only female Prime Minister, was arrested on corruption charges related to the so-called “Jeep scam.” The arrest was later recognized as a political miscalculation by the ruling Janata Party.
• On October 3, 1978, India’s first test tube baby (and the world’s second), Kanupriya Agarwal, was born in Kolkata, marking a milestone in medical science and reproductive technology in Asia.
• In 1683, Qing dynasty naval commander Shi Lang received the surrender of the Tungning kingdom on Taiwan after the Battle of Penghu, ending the rule of the Ming loyalists on the island and bringing Taiwan firmly under Qing control.

Africa

• The Battle of Mogadishu (“Black Hawk Down”) – Somalia, 1993
  On October 3, 1993, the Battle of Mogadishu began in Somalia. U.S. forces, as part of a United Nations mission, attempted to capture Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The operation escalated into intense urban combat after Somali militiamen shot down two U.S. Black Hawk helicopters. The battle lasted into the next day, resulting in the deaths of 18 U.S. soldiers and an estimated 1,000 Somalis, making it one of the deadliest incidents involving U.S. troops in Africa and a turning point in U.S. foreign policy toward military interventions on the continent.
• Italian Invasion of Ethiopia (Second Italo-Abyssinian War) – 1935
  On October 3, 1935, Italy invaded Ethiopia (then known as Abyssinia), marking the start of the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. This act of aggression by Mussolini’s fascist regime was a pivotal moment in African and world history, exposing the weaknesses of the League of Nations and foreshadowing further imperial expansion in the lead-up to World War II.
• South African Student Protests Against Apartheid – 1985
  On October 3, 1985, tens of thousands of black South African students continued to defy apartheid policies by refusing to return to schools in townships such as Soweto. The student protests were part of a broader movement against apartheid and contributed to the eventual dismantling of the system.
• Palestinian General Strike Against Partition – 1947
  On October 3, 1947, the Arab population of Palestine (then under British mandate) staged a massive one-day general strike to protest plans for the partition of their land, an event that had significant repercussions across North Africa and the Middle East.
• South Africa’s Role in Humanitarian Aid (2005): On October 3, 2005, South Africa announced a significant donation to the United Nations World Food Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization to support food security efforts in Africa.