Today In World History

Today in World History, May 6

1527    
    German troops begin sacking Rome. Libraries are destroyed, the Pope is captured and thousands are killed.

1529    
    Babur defeats the Afghan Chiefs in the Battle of Ghaghra, India.

1682    
    King Louis XIV moves his court to Versailles, France.


1856    
    U.S. Army troops from Fort Tejon and Fort Miller prepare to ride out to protect Keyesville, California, from Yokut Indian attack.

1861    
    Arkansas becomes the ninth state to secede from the Union.

1862    
    Henry David Thoreau dies of tuberculosis at age 44.

1864    
    In the second day of the Battle of the Wilderness between Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Confederate Gen. James Longstreet is wounded by his own men.

1877    
    Chief Crazy Horse surrenders to U.S. troops in Nebraska. Crazy Horse brought General George Custer to his end.

1937    
    The dirigible Hindenburg explodes in flames at Lakehurst, New Jersey.

1941    
    Bob Hope gives his first USO show at California’s March Field.

1942    
    General Jonathan Wainwright surrenders Corregidor to the Japanese.

1944    
    The Red Army besieges and captures Sevastopol in the Crimea.

1945    
    Axis Sally makes her final propaganda broadcast to Allied troops.

1954    
    British runner Roger Bannister breaks the four minute mile.

1960    
    President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the Civil Rights Act of 1960.

1962    
    The first nuclear warhead is fired from a Polaris submarine.

1994    
    The Channel Tunnel linking England to France is officially opened.