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Galileo hard at work, presumably after his house arrest. (Wikimedia Commons) On this day in 1616, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei was forbidden from defending heliocentrism, or the theory that the earth rotates around the sun. After designing a relatively sophisticated telescope in 1613, Galileo had observed that the earth was not, in fact, the centre…
Soviet Secretary Nikita Khrushchev "thaws out" in a 1962 cartoon by John Frith. (John Frith/The Herald) On this day in 1956, a speech entitled On the Cult of Personality and Its Consequences - AKA the Secret Speech - was delivered to Soviet leadership by Secretary Nikita Khrushchev. The speech, which was not made available to…
A German U-Boat (submarine) and an American passenger ship. After February of 1917, U-Boats targeted vessels like this one, leading to America's entry into WWI. (Wikimedia Commons) On this day in 1917, a note was handed to Walter Hines, American Ambassador to the UK. In it was the Zimmerman Telegram, a top-secret communication between German…
A collection of Greek resistance fighters of EAM during the mid 1940s. Like many communist-adjacent militant movements of the 20th century, men and women fought alongside one another. (Pinterest) On this day in 1943, the United Panhellenic Organization of Youth (Ενιαία Πανελλαδική Οργάνωση Νέων, or EPON) was formed in Greece to combat Axis occupying forces…
Continue reading ➞ 02/23 – Respect Women or Die: The Amalgamation of the Greek Resistance
George F. Kennan, author of the "Long Telegram" and "X Article". (The Daily Beast) On this day in 1946, American diplomat George F. Kennan (AKA Mr. X) sent the "Long Telegram" to his colleagues in Washington. Wired from his office at the American Embassy in Moscow, Kennan's telegram - which was later published as the…
A scene of revolution in Germany during the 1848 "Springtime of Nations". (Public Domain) On this day in 1848, amidst a series of anti-monarchical revolutions sweeping Europe, The Communist Manifesto was published in London. Commissioned by the Communist League, the manifesto was written by Germans Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. In their work, Marx and…
The Avro Arrow during one of its many test flights. (The Aviation Geek Club) On this day in 1959, production of the CF-105 Arrow interceptor aircraft project was cancelled by the Canadian government. Manufactured by Avro Canada, the Arrow was a revolutionary warplane capable of reaching Mach 2 speeds (twice the speed of sound) and…
The Feminine Mystique, a book that was considered "unpublishable" because "no one cares about feminism". (Abebooks) On this day in 1963, The Feminine Mystique was published in the United States. Written by activist Betty Friedan, the book criticised the concept of the "happy housewife" and the idea that women find ultimate fulfillment in childbirth, cooking,…
One of the few surviving images of the Sportpalast (or, Totaler Krieg) speech of 1943. Goebbels' audience had been handpicked for their fanaticism and ability to produce noise. (Wikimedia Commons) On this day in 1943, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels delivered a speech to an attentive crowd at the Sportpalast arena in Berlin. Prior to…
One of the armory's many rooms. Over 1,300 pieces were displayed during the exhibition. (OneArtyMinute) On this day in 1913, the International Exhibition of Modern Art, or the Armory Show, opened at the 69th Regiment National Guard Armory in New York City. At the show, American audiences were introduced to experimental European and art styles…
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