Today in News History

On July 12, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1693, John Ashby, English admiral (born 1640) passed away. In 1806, At the insistence of Napoleon, Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg and thirteen minor principalities leave the Holy Roman Empire and form the Confederation of the Rhine. In 1943, World War II: Battle of Kursk: German and Soviet forces engage in the Battle of Prokhorovka, one of the largest armored engagements of all time. In 1945, Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen, German field marshal (born 1895) passed away. In 1948, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion orders the expulsion of Palestinians from the towns of Lod and Ramla. In 2001, Space Shuttle program: Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on mission STS-104, carrying the Quest Joint Airlock to the International Space Station. In 2006, The 2006 Lebanon War begins. In 2012, Syrian Civil War: Government forces target the homes of rebels and activists in Tremseh and kill anywhere between 68 and 150 people. In 2015, Cheng Siwei, Chinese engineer, economist, and politician (born 1935) passed away. In 2024, Ruth Westheimer, German-American sex therapist (born 1928) passed away. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.