Today in News History

On June 20, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1583, Jacob De la Gardie, Swedish soldier and politician, Lord High Constable of Sweden (died 1652) was born. In 1872, George Carpenter, American 5th General of The Salvation Army (died 1948) was born. In 1900, Baron Eduard Toll, leader of the Russian Polar Expedition of 1900, departs Saint Petersburg in Russia on the explorer ship Zarya, never to return. In 1909, Friedrich Martens, Estonian-Russian historian, lawyer, and diplomat (born 1845) passed away. In 1912, Geoffrey Baker, English Field Marshal and Chief of the General Staff of the British Army (died 1980) was born. In 1925, Audie Murphy, American lieutenant and actor, Medal of Honor recipient (died 1971) was born. 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 1944, World War II: During the Continuation War, the Soviet Union demands unconditional surrender from Finland during the beginning of partially successful Vyborg-Petrozavodsk Offensive. The Finnish government refuses. In 1950, Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi politician, 76th Prime Minister of Iraq was born. In 1973, Snipers fire upon left-wing Peronists in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in what is known as the Ezeiza massacre. At least 13 are killed and more than 300 are injured. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.