Europa
- 1649: Execution of King Charles I of England
King Charles I was executed for high treason in London, marking a pivotal moment in the English Civil War and the temporary abolition of the monarchy. - 1933: Adolf Hitler appointed Chancellor of Germany
Adolf Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor, a key event that led to the establishment of the Nazi regime and ultimately to World War II. - 1939: Hitler’s Reichstag Speech
On the sixth anniversary of the Nazis’ rise to power, Hitler delivered a speech in the Reichstag predicting the “annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe” if another world war were to occur—an ominous warning that foreshadowed the Holocaust. - 1945: Sinking of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff
A Soviet submarine torpedoed the German ship MV Wilhelm Gustloff in the Baltic Sea, resulting in the deaths of over 9,000 people, mostly war refugees—one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history. - 1972: Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland
British soldiers shot and killed 13 unarmed civil rights demonstrators in Derry, Northern Ireland, a tragic episode that intensified the conflict known as The Troubles.
America
- 1835: First Assassination Attempt on a U.S. President
Richard Lawrence attempted to shoot President Andrew Jackson as he was leaving a congressional session. Both of Lawrence’s pistols misfired, and Jackson survived, marking the first known assassination attempt on a sitting U.S. president. - 1847: Yerba Buena Renamed San Francisco
The settlement of Yerba Buena in California was officially renamed San Francisco, reflecting its growing importance during the westward expansion and Gold Rush era. - 1862: Launch of the USS Monitor
The USS Monitor, the first ironclad warship commissioned by the U.S. Navy, was launched. This innovation revolutionized naval warfare during the Civil War and signaled the decline of wooden warships. - 1882: Birth of Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt, who would become the 32nd President of the United States and lead the country through the Great Depression and World War II, was born on this day. - 1948: Death of Orville Wright
Orville Wright, aviation pioneer and co-inventor of the first successful airplane, died on this day, marking the end of an era in American aviation history. - 1964: Launch of NASA’s Ranger Spacecraft
NASA launched its Ranger spacecraft toward the Moon, advancing the U.S. space program and paving the way for future lunar exploration. - 1976: Supreme Court Ruling in Buckley v. Valeo
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of protected free speech under the First Amendment, fundamentally altering campaign finance laws.
Asia
- 1948: Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi (India)
Mahatma Gandhi, a central figure in India’s independence movement and a global symbol of non-violence, was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse. This day is now observed as Martyrs’ Day (Shaheed Diwas) across India, with nationwide tributes and a two-minute silence at 11 AM to honor Gandhi and others who sacrificed their lives for the nation. - 1968: Beginning of the Tet Offensive (Vietnam War)
The Tet Offensive began on this day, marking a major turning point in the Vietnam War as Communist forces launched widespread attacks across South Vietnam. - 2021: Syrian Civil War – Afrin Car Bombing (Syria)
A car bombing in the Turkish-occupied town of Afrin, northern Syria, killed at least five people and injured 22 others, reflecting the ongoing conflict in the region. - COVID-19 Pandemic Developments (Asia, 2021)
On January 30, 2021, Indonesia and Malaysia reported record numbers of new COVID-19 cases, highlighting the pandemic’s severe impact in Southeast Asia.
Africa
- M23 Rebels Seize Goma (Democratic Republic of the Congo):
On January 30, 2025, the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group captured the city of Goma for the first time since 2012. This marked a major escalation in the Kivu conflict, with M23 forces advancing toward Bukavu in South Kivu. The Congolese government labeled Rwanda’s support for the rebels as a “declaration of war” and called for international action. The international community widely condemned the occupation, and the situation raised fears of a broader humanitarian crisis in the region. - Somali Civil War and Regional Clashes:
On the same day, heavy fighting occurred in Somalia, particularly between Puntland and Somaliland forces, with SSC Khaatumo officials claiming victory in the Shangeed area. These ongoing conflicts continue to destabilize the Horn of Africa. - 1899: Birth of Dr. Max Theiler (South Africa):
Dr. Max Theiler, the first South African to win a Nobel Prize, was born in Pretoria on January 30, 1899. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1951 for developing a vaccine against yellow fever. - 1858: Publication of “A Leap for Freedom” by William Wells Brown:
Though not an event within Africa itself, this date marks the publication of A Leap for Freedom; or, The Escape, the first play published by an African American, William Wells Brown. The play tells the story of enslaved people seeking freedom and is significant in the context of the African diaspora and abolitionism.
This day in history: 30 january