Historical Events tagged with "genocide"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Crime & Law

Colonel Atilla Altıkat Assassinated in Canada

August 27th, 1982 42 years ago

Colonel Atilla Altıkat, a Turkish military diplomat, was shot and killed in Ottawa. The assassination was claimed by the Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide, who stated their act was in vengeance for the killing of 1.5 million Armenians during the 1915 Armenian genocide. This incident highlighted the ongoing tensions between Turkish and Armenian communities over historical grievances and the memory of the genocide. The assassination took place outside a Turkish diplomatic facility, marking a significant moment in the ongoing conflict.

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Education & Academia

International Conference on Holocaust and Genocide

June 20th, 1982 42 years ago

The International Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide commenced in Tel Aviv amidst controversy from the Turkish government, which sought to cancel the event due to its inclusion of presentations on the Armenian genocide. Scholars and activists gathered to discuss and analyze the implications of genocide and the Holocaust, making the conference a significant platform for dialogue on historical injustices.

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Social Movements & Civil Rights

Mass Gathering for Armenian Genocide Commemoration

May 6th, 1975 49 years ago

In Beirut, a massive crowd of approximately 100,000 Armenians gathered for the commemorations of the Armenian genocide's 60th anniversary. This significant event brought together members of the Armenian community from various regions to remember and honor the victims of the genocide committed during World War I. The gathering served as a focal point for raising awareness about the Armenian plight and fostering unity among Armenians worldwide amidst a turbulent regional backdrop.

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Politics & Government

Genocide Convention Establishes International Law

December 9th, 1948 76 years ago

The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, marking a significant milestone in international law. This convention defined genocide and mandated signatory states to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. It was adopted on December 9, 1948, in Paris, France, following the atrocities of World War II and a growing recognition of the need for legal frameworks to protect human rights. This legally binding treaty represented a commitment from the global community to prevent future genocides.

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Military & Warfare

Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet Forces

January 27th, 1945 80 years ago

The Soviet 322nd Rifle Division liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, freeing thousands of remaining inmates. As the Soviet troops advanced during World War II, they discovered the camp, which had become a site of immense suffering and death. The liberation revealed to the world the horrors inflicted during the Holocaust, as soldiers and journalists documented the grim conditions faced by the surviving prisoners.

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Military & Warfare

Nemmersdorf Massacre of German Civilians

October 21st, 1944 80 years ago

On October 21, 1944, German civilians in Nemmersdorf faced a brutal attack by Soviet troops during their advance into East Prussia. Reports indicated that numerous civilians were killed, resulting in widespread panic and suffering. The brutality of the incident was later used in German propaganda to depict the Soviets as brutal aggressors. This particular event took place against the backdrop of the ongoing Eastern Front of World War II, highlighting the severe toll of warfare on non-combatants.

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Military & Warfare

End of the Wola Massacre in Warsaw

August 12th, 1944 80 years ago

During the Wola massacre, Nazi German troops indiscriminately killed an estimated 40,000 people in the Wola district of Warsaw over the course of a week. This shocking event took place amid the backdrop of the Warsaw Uprising, where Polish resistance fighters sought to liberate their city from German occupation. Executions were conducted in mass, targeting civilians and suspected partisans, significantly contributing to the devastation of the district and shaping the course of the uprising.

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Crime & Law

Liquidation of Janowska Concentration Camp

November 19th, 1943 81 years ago

The Janowska concentration camp in Lemberg (Lviv) was liquidated following a failed uprising and mass escape attempt by inmates. This brutal operation led to the execution of at least 6,000 Jews. It was part of broader Nazi efforts to exterminate Jewish populations in occupied territories. The camp had been a site of horrific living conditions and the mass murder of Jews throughout its operation.

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Crime & Law

Closure of Sobibór Extermination Camp

October 17th, 1943 81 years ago

Sobibór extermination camp was officially closed by Nazi authorities after operating for over a year, during which tens of thousands of Jews and others were murdered. The closure resulted from a combination of factors, including increasing resistance movements and changing German strategies. By this point, Sobibór had been a critical part of the Nazi's 'Final Solution', contributing to one of the darkest chapters of human history.

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