Today in News History

On June 20, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1771, Hermann von Boyen, Prussian general and politician, Prussian Minister of War (died 1848) was born. In 1800, Abraham Gotthelf Kästner, German mathematician and academic (born 1719) passed away. In 1819, Jacques Offenbach, German-French cellist and composer (died 1880) was born. In 1884, Johannes Heinrich Schultz, German psychiatrist and psychotherapist (died 1970) was born. In 1893, Wilhelm Zaisser, German soldier and politician (died 1958) was born. In 1895, The Kiel Canal, crossing the base of the Jutland peninsula and the busiest artificial waterway in the world, is officially opened. In 1942, The Holocaust: Kazimierz Piechowski and three others, dressed as members of the SS-Totenkopfverbände, steal an SS staff car and escape from the Auschwitz concentration camp. In 1948, The Deutsche Mark is introduced in Western Allied-occupied Germany. The Soviet Military Administration in Germany responded by imposing the Berlin Blockade four days later. In 1953, Willy Rampf, German engineer was born. In 1991, The German Bundestag votes to move seat of government from the former West German capital of Bonn to the present capital of Berlin. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.