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1980

Salvadoran Civil War: the Sumpul River massacre occurs in Chalatenango, El Salvador

Salvadoran Civil War: the Sumpul River massacre occurs in Chalatenango, El Salvador.

1955

Cold War: Eight Communist bloc countries, including the Soviet Union, sign a mutual defense treaty called the Warsaw Pac

Cold War: Eight Communist bloc countries, including the Soviet Union, sign a mutual defense treaty called the Warsaw Pact.

1943

World War II: A Japanese submarine sinks AHS Centaur off the coast of Queensland

World War II: A Japanese submarine sinks AHS Centaur off the coast of Queensland.

1940

World War II: Rotterdam, Netherlands is bombed by the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany despite a ceasefire, killing about 900 p

World War II: Rotterdam, Netherlands is bombed by the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany despite a ceasefire, killing about 900 people and destroying the historic city center.

1868

Boshin War: The Battle of Utsunomiya Castle ends as former Tokugawa shogunate forces withdraw northward

Boshin War: The Battle of Utsunomiya Castle ends as former Tokugawa shogunate forces withdraw northward.

1863

American Civil War: During the Vicksburg campaign, Union forces drive Confederates under Joseph E

American Civil War: During the Vicksburg campaign, Union forces drive Confederates under Joseph E. Johnston out of Jackson, Mississippi in the Battle of Jackson.

1887

Ants Kurvits, Estonian general and politician, 10th Estonian Minister of War (died 1943)

Ants Kurvits, Estonian general and politician, 10th Estonian Minister of War (died 1943)

1761

Samuel Dexter, American lawyer and politician, 4th United States Secretary of War, 3rd United States Secretary of the Tr

Samuel Dexter, American lawyer and politician, 4th United States Secretary of War, 3rd United States Secretary of the Treasury (died 1816)

1980

Salvadoran Civil War: Refugees trying to flee El Salvador across the Sumpul River to Honduras were attacked by both Salv

Salvadoran Civil War: Refugees trying to flee El Salvador across the Sumpul River to Honduras were attacked by both Salvadoran and Honduran forces, resulting in at least 300 deaths.

1943

Second World War: Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queens

Second World War: Australian Hospital Ship Centaur was attacked and sunk by a Japanese submarine off the coast of Queensland, killing 268 people aboard.

1940

World War II: The bulk of Dutch forces surrendered to the German Wehrmacht, ending the Battle of the Netherlands

World War II: The bulk of Dutch forces surrendered to the German Wehrmacht, ending the Battle of the Netherlands.

1868

Boshin War: Troops of the Tokugawa shogunate withdrew from the Battle of Utsunomiya Castle and retreated north towards N

Boshin War: Troops of the Tokugawa shogunate withdrew from the Battle of Utsunomiya Castle and retreated north towards Nikkō and Aizu.

1863

American Civil War: Union troops captured Jackson, the capital of Mississippi

American Civil War: Union troops captured Jackson, the capital of Mississippi.

1264

Second Barons' War: King Henry III was defeated at the Battle of Lewes and forced to sign the Mise of Lewes, making Simo

Second Barons' War: King Henry III was defeated at the Battle of Lewes and forced to sign the Mise of Lewes, making Simon de Montfort the de facto ruler of England.

1988

Soviet–Afghan War: After more than eight years of fighting, the Soviet Army begins to withdraw 115,000 troops from Afgha

Soviet–Afghan War: After more than eight years of fighting, the Soviet Army begins to withdraw 115,000 troops from Afghanistan.

1945

World War II: The Battle of Poljana, the final skirmish in Europe is fought near Prevalje, Slovenia

World War II: The Battle of Poljana, the final skirmish in Europe is fought near Prevalje, Slovenia.

1942

World War II: In the United States, a bill creating the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is signed into law

World War II: In the United States, a bill creating the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is signed into law.

1940

World War II: The Battle of the Netherlands: After fierce fighting, the poorly trained and equipped Dutch troops surrend

World War II: The Battle of the Netherlands: After fierce fighting, the poorly trained and equipped Dutch troops surrender to Germany, marking the beginning of five years of occupation.

1918

The Finnish Civil War ends when the Whites took over Fort Ino, a Russian coastal artillery base on the Karelian Isthmus,

The Finnish Civil War ends when the Whites took over Fort Ino, a Russian coastal artillery base on the Karelian Isthmus, from Russian troops.

1864

American Civil War: Battle of New Market, Virginia: Students from the Virginia Military Institute fight alongside the Co

American Civil War: Battle of New Market, Virginia: Students from the Virginia Military Institute fight alongside the Confederate army to force Union General Franz Sigel out of the Shenandoah Valley.