Explore 6096 historical events from 1940–1949.
The Manchester Baby, also called the Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM), was the first electronic stored-program computer. It was built at the Victoria University of Mancheste…
The Manchester Baby (replica pictured), the world's first stored-program computer, ran its first program
A levee, is an elevated ridge alongside the banks of a river, often intended to protect against flooding of the area adjoining the river. Alternatively, it is called a dike, dyke, …
A dike holding the Columbia River broke, causing a flood that destroyed Vanport, Oregon, U
Shostakovich v. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp. is a landmark 1948 New York Supreme Court decision that was the first case in United States copyright law to recognize the theory o…
In Shostakovich v
Anti-Jewish riots occurred on June 7–8, 1948, in the towns of Oujda and Jerada, in the French protectorate of Morocco in response to the 1948 Arab–Israeli War ensuing the declarati…
Anti-Jewish riots broke out in the French protectorate in Morocco, during which 44 people were killed and 150 injured
John F. Kennedy International Airport is a major international airport serving the New York metropolitan area. It is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, Ne…
The first flight departed New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport, then known as New York International…
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, also known as the First Arab–Israeli War, followed the civil war in Mandatory Palestine as the second and final stage of the 1948 Palestine war. The civi…
Arab–Israeli War: Israel Defense Forces officer Yitzhak Rabin signed an order to expel Palestinians from the towns of…
Olympia, officially Archaia Olympia, is a small town in Elis on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece, famous for the nearby archaeological site of the same name. The site was a majo…
In Olympia, Greece, the Summer Olympics torch relay, nicknamed the "relay of peace", began.
The Australia men's national cricket team represents Australia in international cricket. Along with England, it is the joint oldest team in Test cricket history, playing and winnin…
Australia set a world record for the highest successful run-chase in Test cricket history during the Fourth Test of…
The history of South Korea begins with the Japanese surrender on 2 September 1945. At that time, South Korea and North Korea were divided, despite being the same people and on the …
The Republic of Korea was established with Syngman Rhee (pictured) as its first president.
The Fifth Test of the 1948 Ashes series, held at The Oval in London, was the final Test in that cricket series between Australia and England. The match took place on 14–18 August, …
Australia won the fifth Test of the 1948 Ashes series, becoming the first Test cricket team to go undefeated in…
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the military wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the primary armed forces of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It consists of fo…
The People's Liberation Army launched the Liaoshen campaign, the first of the three major military campaigns during…
Colonel Gail Seymour Halvorsen was a senior officer and command pilot in the United States Air Force. He rose to fame for dropping candy to German children during the Berlin Airlif…
Led by Gail Halvorsen, the United States Air Force began Operation "Little Vittles", delivering candy to children as…
The Australia men's national cricket team represents Australia in international cricket. Along with England, it is the joint oldest team in Test cricket history, playing and winnin…
The Australian cricket team's Invincibles tour of England concluded; they had played 34 matches, including five Tests,…
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, also known as the First Arab–Israeli War, followed the civil war in Mandatory Palestine as the second and final stage of the 1948 Palestine war. The civi…
Arab–Israeli War: The Israel Defense Forces massacred at least 52 villagers while capturing the Palestinian Arab…
A luzzu is a traditional fishing boat from the Maltese islands. This type of boat developed in the early 20th century, although it is very similar to much older traditional Maltese…
A luzzu (Maltese fishing boat) overloaded with passengers capsized and sank in the Gozo Channel off Qala, killing 23…
Bernard Mannes Baruch was an American financier and statesman.
Bernard Baruch first applies the term "Cold War" to describe the relationship between the United States and the Soviet U
Thor Heyerdahl KStJ was a Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer with a background in biology with specialization in zoology, botany and geography.
Thor Heyerdahl and five crew mates set out from Peru on the Kon-Tiki to demonstrate that Peruvian natives could have set
The Portella della Ginestra massacre refers to the killing of 11 people and wounding of 27 others during May Day celebrations in Sicily on 1 May 1947, in the municipality of Piana …
Portella della Ginestra massacre against May Day celebrations in Sicily by the bandit and separatist leader Salvatore Gi
Saab Automobile AB was a car manufacturer that was founded in Sweden in 1945 when its parent company, Saab AB, began a project to design a small automobile. The first production mo…
Saab produces its first automobile
Kenneth Albert Arnold was an American aviator, businessman, and politician.
Kenneth Arnold makes the first widely reported UFO sighting near Mount Rainier, Washington
The AK-47, officially known as the Avtomat Kalashnikova, is an assault rifle chambered for the 7.62×39mm cartridge. Developed in the Soviet Union by Russian small-arms designer Mik…
The AK-47 goes into production in the Soviet Union.
Exodus 1947 was a packet steamship that was built in the United States in 1928 as President Warfield for the Baltimore Steam Packet Company. From her completion in 1928 until 1942 …
The Exodus 1947 heads to Palestine from France.
The Texas City disaster was an industrial accident that occurred on April 16, 1947, in the port of Texas City, Texas, United States, located in Galveston Bay. It was the deadliest …
An explosion on board a freighter in port causes Texas City in the state of Texas, United States, to catch fire, killing
Operation Big Bang or British Bang was the explosive destruction of bunkers and other military installations on the island of Heligoland. The explosion used 7400 tons of surplus Wo…
The Operation Big Bang, the largest non-nuclear man-made explosion to that time, destroys bunkers and military installat