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1890

Ulm Minster, the world's tallest church building, was completed in Ulm, Germany

Ulm Minster, the world's tallest church building, was completed in Ulm, Germany.

1941

World War II: In reprisal for the participation of the local population in the Battle of Crete, the German Wehrmacht des

World War II: In reprisal for the participation of the local population in the Battle of Crete, the German Wehrmacht destroyed the village of Kandanos, Greece, and killed about 180 of its inhabitants.

1944

World War II: Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious military operation in history, began with Allied troops landing

World War II: Operation Overlord, the largest amphibious military operation in history, began with Allied troops landing on the beaches of Normandy in France.

1941

World War II: The Allies commenced the Syria–Lebanon campaign against Vichy French possessions in the Levant

World War II: The Allies commenced the Syria–Lebanon campaign against Vichy French possessions in the Levant.

1994

The Boeing 777, the world's largest twinjet, made its maiden flight

The Boeing 777, the world's largest twinjet, made its maiden flight.

1944

Second World War: At the Battle of Villers-Bocage, German tank commander Michael Wittmann destroyed around 30 Allied veh

Second World War: At the Battle of Villers-Bocage, German tank commander Michael Wittmann destroyed around 30 Allied vehicles in less than 15 minutes.

1916

World War I: The Battle of Mont Sorrel in the Ypres Salient came to an end as a Canadian assault led German forces to wi

World War I: The Battle of Mont Sorrel in the Ypres Salient came to an end as a Canadian assault led German forces to withdraw to their original lines.

1944

Second World War: The British Army abandoned its attempt to capture the German-occupied city of Caen

Second World War: The British Army abandoned its attempt to capture the German-occupied city of Caen.

1940

Second World War: Four days after the French government fled Paris, German forces occupied the French capital, a major a

Second World War: Four days after the French government fled Paris, German forces occupied the French capital, a major accomplishment in the Fall Rot operation.

1940

Second World War: RMS Lancastria was sunk by German aircraft near Saint-Nazaire, France, causing thousands of fatalities

Second World War: RMS Lancastria was sunk by German aircraft near Saint-Nazaire, France, causing thousands of fatalities in Britain's worst maritime disaster.

1940

World War II: Charles de Gaulle gave his Appeal of 18 June speech, often considered to be the origin of the French Resis

World War II: Charles de Gaulle gave his Appeal of 18 June speech, often considered to be the origin of the French Resistance.

1943

World War II: The Royal Air Force began Operation Bellicose, a four-day shuttle-bombing mission that included raids on G

World War II: The Royal Air Force began Operation Bellicose, a four-day shuttle-bombing mission that included raids on Germany and Italy and a refuelling and rearming stop in Algeria.

1940

World War II: The main offensive of the unsuccessful Italian invasion of France began

World War II: The main offensive of the unsuccessful Italian invasion of France began.

1941

World War II: German minister of foreign affairs Joachim von Ribbentrop presented a declaration of war to the Soviet amb

World War II: German minister of foreign affairs Joachim von Ribbentrop presented a declaration of war to the Soviet ambassador Vladimir Dekanozov in Berlin.

1941

World War II: As Axis troops began their invasion of the Soviet Union, the Lithuanian Activist Front started an uprising

World War II: As Axis troops began their invasion of the Soviet Union, the Lithuanian Activist Front started an uprising to liberate Lithuania from Soviet occupation.

1944

World War II: U

World War II: U.S. Navy and Royal Navy ships bombarded Cherbourg, France, to support U.S. Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg.

1940

Second World War: Operation Aerial, an evacuation of nearly 200,000 Allied soldiers from French ports, was completed

Second World War: Operation Aerial, an evacuation of nearly 200,000 Allied soldiers from French ports, was completed.

1918

World War I: The 26-day Battle of Belleau Wood near the Marne River in France ended with American forces finally clearin

World War I: The 26-day Battle of Belleau Wood near the Marne River in France ended with American forces finally clearing that forest of German troops.

1859

French acrobat Charles Blondin crossed Niagara Gorge, making him one of the world's most famous tightrope walkers

French acrobat Charles Blondin crossed Niagara Gorge, making him one of the world's most famous tightrope walkers.

1940

Second World War: The Grand Quartier Général of the French Army was disbanded, following the French surrender.

Second World War: The Grand Quartier Général of the French Army was disbanded, following the French surrender.