1928: Stalin banishes Trotsky
Leon Trotsky, a leader of the Bolshevik Revolution and early architect of the Soviet state, is deported by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to Alma-Ata in remote Soviet Central Asia. He would live there in internal exile for a year before being banished from the USSR forever by Stalin.
Trotsky, born of Jewish-Russian parents, was first arrested by the czarist government for revolutionary activities in 1898. Two years later, he was exiled to Siberia but escaped to London, where he collaborated with Vladimir Lenin. Expelled from several countries, he lived in Switzerland, Paris, and New York City before returning to Russia at the outbreak of the Russian Revolution in 1917. Trotsky played no less a role than Lenin in the Bolsheviks' seizure of power, but lost out to Joseph Stalin in the power struggle after Lenin's death in 1924.
He criticised Stalin's regime for suppressing democracy in the Communist Party and for its economic policies. Stalin fought back, expelling him from the Politburo in 1926, from the party in 1927, from Moscow in 1928, and from the USSR in 1929. During his exile, Trotsky criticized the Soviet state for falling short of its Marxist ideals, and was found guilty of treason in absentia. In 1940, he was assassinated in Mexico City by a Spanish communist, allegedly under Stalin's orders.
1998
More than 100 people are killed in two villages in Algeria. The attacks, which took place south of the capital Algiers, are alleged to have been perpetrated by Islamic extremists.1993
British Airways is forced into an embarrassing climb-down in relation to a campaign of 'dirty tricks' it launched against rival airline Virgin Atlantic. BA is forced to pay damages to both Virgin Atlantic and its boss Richard Branson.
1989
After eight years as President of the United States, Ronald Reagan gives his farewell address to the American people. In particular, Reagan emphasises the foreign policy achievements of his administration.1973
In Britain, the first students of the Open University receive their graduation certificates.
1962
An avalanche buries a village in the Peruvian Andes, with reports on the death toll ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 people.1946
Enver Hoxha proclaims the People’s Republic of Albania.
1945
A truce is negotiated between the British-backed Democratic National Army and the communist rebel National Liberation Front during the Greek Civil War.
1942
World War II: Japanese troops seize Kuala Lumpur in Malaya.1923
French troops are sent to occupy the Rhur as Germany fails to pay its reparation payments imposed by the Treaty of Versailles.
1922
The first successful use of insulin to treat diabetes. The patient was Leonard Thompson, who was treated at Toronto General Hospital in Canada.
1916
World War I: In order to provide a safe area for the thousands of refugees fleeing the fighting in Serbia, French forces take formal military control of the Greek island of Corfu.
1864
Opening of London's Charing Cross station.1693
Mount Etna erupts in Sicily, Italy.