March 20

Historic Events

2021

La Plume noire, an anarchist bookstore in Lyon, is targeted by an attack of the far-right, provoking a shock in Lyon's far-left circles. ›

2019

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is sworn in as acting president of Kazakhstan, following the resignation of long-time president Nursultan Nazarbayev. ›

2015

A solar eclipse, equinox, and a supermoon all occur on the same day. ›

2015

Syrian civil war: The Siege of Kobanî is broken by the People's Protection Units (YPG) and Free Syrian Army (FSA), marking a turning point in the Rojava–Islamist conflict. ›

2014

Four suspected Taliban members attack the Kabul Serena Hotel, killing at least nine people. ›

2012

At least 52 people are killed and more than 250 injured in a wave of terror attacks across ten cities in Iraq. ›

2010

Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland begins eruptions that would last for three months, heavily disrupting air travel in Europe. ›

2006

Over 150 Chadian soldiers are killed in eastern Chad by members of the rebel UFDC. The rebel movement sought to overthrow Chadian president Idriss Déby. ›

2003

Iraq War: The United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland begin an invasion of Iraq. ›

2000

Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, a former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown, is captured after murdering Georgia sheriff's deputy Ricky Kinchen and critically wounding Deputy Aldranon English. ›

1999

Legoland California, the first Legoland outside of Europe, opens in Carlsbad, California, US. ›

1995

The Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo carries out a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, killing 14 and wounding over 6,200 people. ›

1993

The Troubles: A Provisional IRA bomb kills two children in Warrington, England. It leads to mass protests in both Britain and Ireland. ›

1990

Ferdinand Marcos's widow, Imelda Marcos, goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement, and racketeering. ›

1988

Eritrean War of Independence: Having defeated the Nadew Command, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front enters the town of Afabet, victoriously concluding the Battle of Afabet. ›

1987

The Food and Drug Administration approves the anti-AIDS drug, AZT. ›

1985

Libby Riddles becomes the first woman to win the 1,135-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. ›

1972

The Troubles: The first car bombing by the Provisional IRA in Belfast kills seven people and injures 148 others in Northern Ireland. ›

1969

A United Arab Airlines (now Egyptair) Ilyushin Il-18 crashes at Aswan International Airport, killing 100 people. ›

1964

The precursor of the European Space Agency, ESRO (European Space Research Organisation) is established per an agreement signed on June 14, 1962. ›

1956

Tunisia gains independence from France. ›

1952

The US Senate ratifies the Security Treaty between the United States and Japan. ›

1951

Fujiyoshida, a city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, in the center of the Japanese main island of Honshū is founded. ›

1948

With a Musicians Union ban lifted, the first telecasts of classical music in the United States, under Eugene Ormandy and Arturo Toscanini, are given on CBS and NBC. ›

1942

World War II: General Douglas MacArthur, at Terowie, South Australia, makes his famous speech regarding the fall of the Philippines, in which he says: "I came out of Bataan and I shall return". ›

1933

Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler orders the creation of Dachau concentration camp as Chief of Police of Munich and appoints Theodor Eicke as the camp commandant. ›

1926

Chiang Kai-shek initiates a purge of communist elements within the National Revolutionary Army in Guangzhou. ›

1923

The Arts Club of Chicago hosts the opening of Pablo Picasso's first United States showing, entitled Original Drawings by Pablo Picasso, becoming an early proponent of modern art in the United States. ›

1922

The USS Langley is commissioned as the first United States Navy aircraft carrier. ›

1921

The Upper Silesia plebiscite, mandated by the Versailles Treaty to determine a section of the border between Weimar Germany and Poland, is held. ›

1916

Albert Einstein submits his paper, "The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity", which establishes his general theory of relativity, to the journal Annalen der Physik. ›

1914

In the Curragh incident, over 100 British Army officers threaten to resign if ordered to march against the Ulster Volunteers. ›

1913

Sung Chiao-jen, a founder of the Chinese Nationalist Party, is wounded in an assassination attempt and dies 2 days later. ›

1903

The first of a series of auctions of sheep farming land in southern Patagonia takes place impacting established settlers. ›

1896

With the approval of Emperor Guangxu, the Qing dynasty post office is opened, marking the beginning of a postal service in China. ›

1890

Chancellor of the German Empire Otto von Bismarck is dismissed by Emperor Wilhelm II. ›

1888

The premiere of the very first Romani language operetta is staged in Moscow, Russia. ›

1883

The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is signed. ›

1861

An earthquake destroys Mendoza, Argentina. ›

1854

The Republican Party of the United States is organized in Ripon, Wisconsin, US. ›

1852

Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is published. ›

1848

German revolutions of 1848–49: King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicates. ›

1815

After escaping from Elba, Napoleon enters Paris with a regular army of 140,000 and a volunteer force of around 200,000, beginning his "Hundred Days" rule. ›

1760

The Great Boston Fire of 1760 destroys 349 buildings. ›

1616

Sir Walter Raleigh is freed from the Tower of London after 13 years of imprisonment. ›

1602

The Dutch East India Company is established. ›

1600

The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden: five Swedish noblemen are publicly beheaded in the aftermath of the War against Sigismund (1598–1599). ›

1206

Michael IV Autoreianos is appointed Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. ›