1914: Battle of the Marne begins
On this day in
World War I, the French attack advancing Germans northeast of
Paris, and the Battle of the Marne begins. After the outbreak of hostilities in Europe in August 1914,
Germany took the offensive in the West, hoping to defeat France before the Russians made too many advances in the East. The Germans rushed across
Belgium, routing
the Allies, and by September the Schlieffen Plan--the planned outflanking of the French forces--seemed headed to a triumphant conclusion.
German forces crossed the Marne River to the northeast of Paris, and the French government was evacuated. However, on September 5, 1914, the French began attacking the Germans' exposed right flank, and by the next day the counterattack was total. On September 9, the exhausted Germans began their retreat, and Paris was saved. An estimated 500,000 men were killed or wounded in the Battle of the Marne.
1995
France faces worldwide condemnation for testing a nuclear bomb at an underground site at Mururoa Atoll in the South Pacific. It sparks two days of rioting by anti-nuclear protestors on the island of Tahiti.1990
An historic meeting in Seoul between the Prime Ministers of North and
South Korea. 1987
In London, the longest-running
theatre comedy in the world, ' No Sex please - We're British' finally closes after 16 years and 6,671 performances.
1986
Pakistani troops storm a hi-jacked Pan Am Boeing 747. 22 people are killed -including several of the hostages. The hi-jacking began 16 hours earlier when 4 Palestinian terrorists boarded the plane at Karachi.1980
In
Switzerland, the official opening of the longest road tunnel in the world, the 10 mile long St Gotthard Tunnel - linking Goschenen to Airolo. Itsconstruction has taken 11 years and cost 690 million Swiss francs.
1979
The
BBC begins broadcasting the hit American series 'Dallas' which soon becomes one of the most popular programmes on British TV.
1977
West
German terrorists kidnap German industrialist and businessman Hans Martin Schleyer. His body is found six weeks later in France.
1975
A terrorist bomb explodes at the Hilton Hotel in London killing 2 and injuring another 60.1975
In Sacramento, US President Gerald Ford survives an assassination attempt by Lynette Fromme - a follower of the jailed cult leader
Charles Manson. 1972
Arab terrorists, members of the
Black September Group, break into the Olympic Games village in Munich and seize a group of Israeli athletes ashostages. 9 Israelis, 4 terrorists and a German policeman are killed.
1969
The British commercial television channel, ITV, begins broadcasting in colour.1969
In the United States, while many Americans join the anti-war movement, Lieutenant Calley, of the US Army, is charged with the murders of 109 men, women and children masacred by troops under his command in a village in
Vietnam. 1939
At the start of World War II in Europe, American President Roosevelt declares the United States to be neutral. 1922
American pilot James Doolittle makes the first United States coast-to-coast flight in 21 hours and 19 minutes.1920
Silent movie star 'Fatty' Arbuckle is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman who later died. He is acquitted of any
crime but his career never recovers.
1914
World War I: the start of the First Battle of the Marne - a French counter offensive against the Germans along a 300 mile front.1905
US President
Theodore Roosevelt negotiates the Treaty of Portsmouth (New Hampshire,USA) to end the Russo-Japanese War. The Russians are forced to cede parts of
China and
Manchuria and recognise Japan's interestsin Korea.
1864
A combined fleet of British, French and Dutch ships attacks
Japan in the Shimonoseki Straits after the
Japanese have closed their ports to internationalshipping and expelled foreigners.
1946
British musician Freddie
Mercury - real name
Frederick Bulsara - is born in Zanizibar before becoming a naturalised British citizen. Becomes the lead vocalist in the British group 'Queen' with international success in 1970s and 1980s selling more than 100 million records including hits 'Killer Queen' (1974) and 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (1974). Dies of AIDS in 1991.
1940
American actress Raquel Welch is born Raquel Tejada in Chicago. Following her film debut in 1964 she makes her mark as a cinema sex symbol in 'One Million Years BC released in 1966.1939
Australian
actor George Lazenby. Becomes the least-successful actor to star as 'James Bond' in the film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.
1937
English comedy writer Dick Clement. 1937
American actor William Devine. Becomes a successful supporting actor on TV and in films such as 'Marathon Man' with Dustin Hoffman and
Laurence Olivier. 1935
'Coronation Street' actor Johnny Briggs.1929
American comedian Bob Newhart. Best known for his 'imaginary' conversations such as a telephone call to 16th century explorer to Sir
Walter Raleigh or as a driving instructor with a learner driver.
1905
Hungarian-born English journalist and writer
Arthur Koestler. A Communist in the 1930s he leaves the party over the Stalin purge trials. Reports on the
Spanish Civil War in 1936 and imprisoned by General Franco. He is in France during the
German occupation of World War II before escaping to England. Most famous work: 'Darkness At Noon' (1940). He and his wife, both active members of the Voluntary Euthanasa Society, jointly commit suicide when he is diagnosed terminally ill in 1983.
1902
Film producer Darryl Zanuck born in Nebraska, United States. Co-founder of Twentieth Century Pictures (1933) which merges with
Fox Films (1935). Produces some of the best-known films of the next 40 years including 'The Grapes of Wrath' (1940); 'The Robe' (1953); 'The Longest Day' (1962) and ' The Sound of Music' (1965).
1847
Jesse James, American outlaw , is born near Kansas City. With his
elder brother Frank he leads the first gang in the United States to carry out train robberies.
1826
John Wisden , who compiles the Wisden's Cricketers' Almanac of cricket statistics, is born in Brighton, England..1817
Russian writer, poet and novelist Alexsei Tolstoy born in St Petersburg a distant relative of Leo Tolstoy. 1735
German composer Johann
Christian Bach - 'the English' Bach' - born in Leipzig. Son of Johann
Sebastian Bach. Becomes Music Master to Queen Charlotte of Britain and composes more than 40 symphonies and operas.Dies in 1782.
1638
King
Louis XIV of
France, the 'Sun King'. Reigns France for 72 years - the longest reign in European history. Comes to the throne in 1643 - aged 5. Marries
Maria Theresa of
Spain - daughter of King Phillip IV of Spain in 1660. His reign is notable for promoting French artistic and architectural achievement and European expansionism after modernising and increasing the size and power of the French Navy and French Army.
