On November 9, 1989, Communist East Germany opened its borders, enabling citizens to freely cross into the West for the first time in decades. This monumental decision marked the beginning of the Berlin Wall’s fall, a symbol of division and Cold War tensions that had split Germany—and much of Europe—since 1961. The Wall’s dismantling was not only a physical act but a profound turning point toward German reunification and the end of the Iron Curtain, transforming Europe and strengthening the ideals of democracy.
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In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt became the first sitting U.S. president to travel abroad, visiting Panama to inspect the construction of the Panama Canal. This journey underscored Roosevelt’s commitment to expanding American influence and modernizing the global trade landscape. The canal, completed in 1914, shortened maritime travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, revolutionizing international trade and establishing the United States as a dominant force in Western Hemisphere commerce.
In 1938, the Nazi regime initiated a coordinated attack across Germany and Austria, destroying synagogues, looting Jewish-owned stores, and burning homes in a violent anti-Semitic campaign known as *Kristallnacht*, or the “Night of Broken Glass.” This event marked an escalation in Nazi persecution and foreshadowed the horrors of the Holocaust. *Kristallnacht* shattered any remaining illusions of safety for Jewish communities in Nazi territories and exposed the world to the brutal lengths the regime would pursue to enforce its racist ideology.
In 1976, the United Nations General Assembly passed resolutions condemning apartheid in South Africa, labeling the nation’s white-minority government as “illegitimate.” This global denouncement added significant pressure on South Africa to dismantle its institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination. It marked a pivotal moment in the international struggle against apartheid, bolstering the morale of anti-apartheid activists and symbolizing the UN’s dedication to human rights.
In 2007, Pakistan’s President General Pervez Musharraf placed opposition leader Benazir Bhutto under house arrest, detaining thousands of her supporters to block a planned mass rally protesting his imposition of emergency rule. This controversial decision amplified tensions within Pakistan, drawing international condemnation and highlighting the country’s precarious struggle for democracy. Bhutto’s resistance symbolized hope for democratic reform, inspiring Pakistan’s citizens and underscoring the resilience of democratic movements amidst authoritarian control.
Today in History: December 20
A Look Back At Today, December 20
The Louisiana Purchase was completed.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” premiered at the Globe Theater.
The United States launched Operation Just Cause.
The United States Space Force was established.
Today in History: December 19
Today in History: December 19
In 1777, General George Washington led an army of more than 12,000 soldiers to Valley Forge.
In 1972, Apollo 17 splashed down in the Pacific, concluding the Apollo program.
In 2011, North Korean announced the death of Kim Jong Il and proclaimed Kim Jong Un as the leader.
In 2022, the House Jan. 6 Committee urged the Justice Department to bring criminal charges against the previous president
Today in History: December 18
Today in History: December 18
In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery, was proclaimed in effect.
In 1892, Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” publicly premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia; although now considered a classic, it received a generally negative reception from critics.
In 1957, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania, the first nuclear facility to generate electricity in the United States, went on line. (It was taken out of service in 1982.)
In 2011, the last convoy of heavily armored U.S. troops left Iraq, crossing into Kuwait in darkness in the final moments of a nearly nine-year war.
Today in History: December 17
Today in History: December 17
In 1903 The Wright brothers’ flight redefined the possibilities of travel and opened the skies to human exploration.
In 1933 The first NFL championship laid the foundation for professional football’s evolution into a national pastime.
In 1989 “The Simpsons” redefined animated television, blending humor with social commentary to leave an indelible mark on entertainment.
In 1992 NAFTA reshaped North American trade, fostering economic ties while sparking debates on globalization.
In 2014 The U.S.-Cuba rapprochement signaled a pivotal moment in the post-Cold War world, rekindling hopes for reconciliation.
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