Liberation of Auschwitz
On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops liberated the Auschwitz concentration camp, marking the beginning of the end of the Holocaust. The United Nations later designated this date International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
World War II
The Élysée Treaty
On January 22, 1963, France and West Germany signed the Élysée Treaty, ending centuries of rivalries between the two nations. In 1988, both countries collaborated on joint-issue stamps marking the treaty’s 25th anniversary.
Death of Hollywood Icon Audrey Hepburn
Beloved actress and goodwill ambassador Audrey Hepburn died at her home in Switzerland on January 20, 1993
Birth of Richard Nixon
America’s 37th president, Richard Milhous Nixon was born into a poor Quaker family in Yorba Linda, California, on January 9, 1913. Largely remembered for the Watergate scandal and his resignation, he was considered an effective leader by many prior to his fall from grace.
New Mexico Admitted as 47th State
On January 6, 1912, New Mexico became the 47th state admitted to the Union.
Marshall Plan Comes to an End
On December 31, 1951, the Marshall Plan expired after providing aid to millions of people in Western Europe. The Plan was seen as a way to contain the spread of communism and increase US exports.
Birth of John von Neumann
Mathematician and scientist John von Neumann was born on December 28, 1903, in Budapest, Hungary.
Death of General George Patton
On December 21, 1945, General George S. Patton died from injuries he received in a car crash 12 days earlier. His death came mere months after the end of World War II, in which he’d commanded troops in some of the war’s major battles.
Birth of Edith Piaf
Singer, songwriter, and actress Édith Giovanna Gassion, better known as Édith Piaf was born on December 19, 1915, in Belleville, Paris, France. She was France’s most popular singer in the 1940s, earning worldwide acclaim for her signature song “La Vie en Rose.”