On this day in history...............

[Zombie Mastermind]

19th March:

1970: Heads of East and West Germany meet

For the first time in history, the leaders of the West and East German governments, Willy Brandt and Willi Stoph respectively, meet at Erfurt in East Germany. Chancellor Brandt's decision to pursue Ostpolitik, or eastern policy, was a bold reversal of the traditional West German policy that sought to isolate East Germany from the rest of the world. In 1973, the two countries granted each other full diplomatic recognition, and both were admitted into the United Nations. Brandt was awarded the 1971 Nobel Peace Prize for his work toward easing tensions between Eastern and Western Europe.



1997
South African President Nelson Mandela is granted a divorce from his wife Winnie after almost 38 years of marriage.

1988
Two British soldiers in civilian clothes blunder into an IRA funeral in Northern Ireland and are kicked and beaten to death.

1986
Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of Queen Elizabeth II's son Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson (later to become Duke and Duchess of York).

1976
In Britain, Princess Margaret - the sister of Queen Elizabeth II - announces her separation from husband Lord Snowdon.

1932
The official opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia - the world's longest single-span arch bridge.

1834
The six 'Tolpuddle Martyrs' who fought against the decline in agricultural wages, are sentenced to 7 years' transportation to Tasmania. A public outcry against their punishment gets them released after two years.

1947
Glenn Close, Hollywood actress born.

1936
Ursula Andress. The ultimate bond girl who emerged from the sea in that famous white bikini in Dr No born.

1848
Wyatt Earp, American law-man born.

1930
Arthur James Balfour, Prime Minister of Britain born (or died, you decide).

[Zombie Mastermind]

20th March:

1995: Nerve gas attack on Tokyo subway.

At the height of morning rush hour, terrorists from the Aum Shinrikyo religious cult converge at the Kasumigaseki subway station in Tokyo and release lethal sarin gas into the air.

The terrorists then took a sarin antidote and escaped while the commuters, blinded and gasping for air, rushed to the exits.

Twelve people died, and over 5,000 were treated in hospitals, many in a comatose state.

In the attack's aftermath, Japanese police raided Aum Shinrikyo headquarters and arrested hundreds of members, including the cult's leader, Master Shoko Asahara. The cult, which combined Buddhism and yoga with apocalyptic Christian philosophy, was already under investigation for a 1994 sarin attack that killed seven and for the murder of several political opponents.


Also:

2003
The US and her allies launch an invasion of Iraq in order to topple the regime of dictator Saddam Hussein.

1996
British Government admits there is a possible link between 10 human deaths and the mad cow disease, BSE.

1981
Britain re-introduces the £50 note (it had been withdrawn in 1943).

1980
Pirate radio station Radio Caroline, based on the ship 'Mi Amigo', closes down after 16 years on the air when the boat sinks.

1974
In England, Princess Anne survives a kidnap attempt when shots are fired at her car while driving along The Mall in London.

1969
Beatle John Lennon marries girlfriend Yoko Ono Cox in Gibraltar.

1964
British group 'The Beatles' release 'Can't Buy Me Love' which immediately goes to the top of the British charts.

1852
Publishing of Harriet Beecher-Stowe's anti-slavery novel 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. The book sells more than a million copies in its first year.

1819
Opening of the famous and exclusive Burlington Arcade (shopping precinct) in London.

1806
Laying of the foundation stone of Britain's high security prison on Dartmoor in Devon.

1965
Duchess of Wessex, Sophie Rhys-Jones - wife of Prince Edward born.

1930
American astronaut Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin, who followed Neil Armstrong onto the surface of the moon born.

1896
American comedian George Burns born.

1985
English actor Sir Michael Redgrave dies.

1727
Sir Isaac Newton dies.

[Mr Morningstarr*]

Buzz Aldrin? Never heard of him!

I think you'll find George Burns was born in 1796, at least.

[Zombie Mastermind]

21st of March:

1960: Massacre in Sharpeville

In the black township of Sharpeville, near Johannesburg, South Africa, Afrikaner police open fire on a group of unarmed African demonstrators, killing 69 people and wounding 180 in a hail of submachine-gun fire. The demonstrators were protesting against the South African government's restriction of non-white travel. In the aftermath of the Sharpeville massacre, protests broke out in Cape Town, and more than 10,000 people were arrested before government troops restored order. The incident convinced anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela to abandon his nonviolent stance and organize paramilitary groups to fight South Africa's system of institutionalized racial discrimination. In 1964, after some minor military action, Mandela was convicted of treason and sentenced to life in prison. He was released after 27 years and was elected the first black president of South Africa in 1994.


Also:

1997
The American Liggett Group, manufacturers of Chesterfield cigarettes, becomes the first tobacco group to admit publicly that their products are addictive and can cause severe health problems.

1993
IRA bomb attack in Warrington town centre, England.

1969
American singer Frank Sinatra releases 'My Way' in Britain.

1963
Alcatraz, America's most notorious maximum security prison in San Francisco Bay, is closed.

1958
Opening of the London Planetarium - one of the most popular tourist attractions in the English capital. (I went there when I was a nipper. It were great I tells ya!)

1946
British Labour politician Aneurin Bevan announces Government proposals for a free National Health Service paid for by the taxpayer.

1935
Persia changes its name to Iran.

1918
Last major German offensive of World War One begins on The Somme.



Born:

1936
Singer Roger Whittaker.

1935
English football manager Brian Clough.

1912
British actor Wilfred Brambell. Most famous role is in the BBC TV comedy series Steptoe & Son.

1685
Composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

Died:

1982
British actor Harry H Corbett, famous for starring in BBC TV comedy programme Steptoe & Son.

[Zombie Mastermind]

22nd March:

1945: Arab League formed

Representatives from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Yemen meet in Cairo to establish the Arab League, a regional organization of Arab states. Formed to foster economic growth in the region, resolve disputes between its members, and coordinate political aims, members of the Arab League formed a council, with each state receiving one vote. When the State of Israel was created in 1948, the league countries jointly attacked but were repulsed by the Israelis. Two years later, Arab League nations signed a mutual defense treaty. Fifteen more Arab nations eventually joined the organization, which established a common market in 1965.

Also:

1967
The film 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' previews in New York.

1933
Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany opens on the site of an old munitions factory near Munich. Its purpose: to detain Communists and other 'political undesirables'.

1926
The first directional arrows and markings are introduced onto British roads at Hyde Park Corner in London causing confusion and leading to seven accidents on the first day.

1919
Start of the first international airline service.

1895
The first celluloid film is shown on a screen to the public by Auguste and Louis Lumiere in Paris.

1888
The English Football League is formed by 12 clubs during a meeting at an hotel in Fleet Street, London.

1859
In Melbourne, Australia, Ben Douglas becomes chairman of the Political Labour League of Victoria - the first Labour Party.



Born:

1948
British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

1931
British writer Leslie Thomas.

1931
American actor William Shatner.

1923
Mime artist Marcel Marceau.

1918
American actor Karl Malden.

1910
Author Nicholas Monsarratt.



Died:

1958
Michael Todd, husband of Hollywood film star Elizabeth Taylor, dies when his light aircraft, 'Lucky Liz', crashes in New Mexico.

1896
English reformer and writer Thomas Hughes. Founder of working men's clubs and author of Tom Brown's Schooldays.

1687
Composer Jean-Baptiste Lully, credited with popularising French opera


Bored of this now.

[Alpha]

Maybe Timey can take over now.

[Mr Morningstarr*]

Quitter!

[Zombie Mastermind]

Take it away Timey!

Sorry to have stolen yer thunder.

All this cutting and pasting is too much like hard work.

[timey]

No problem ZM. It hasn't stolen my thunder, I just thought it had.

[Ernest Rants]

On this day

On this day: 24 March

•1603: Elizabeth I dies and is succeeded by James VI of Scotland, unifying the English and Scottish crowns into one big happy family.

•1944: In the 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III in Germany, 79 Allied airmen flee but 50 are caught and shot, that hairbear of a butler caused it.

•1999: Nato begins bombing Serb forces in Kosovo, where atrocities are being committed against ethnic Albanians, see we sorted that one out.