Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
On 17, Friday January 1919, Arichi Shinanojō, Japanese admiral, died (b. 1843)
On 17, Monday January 1944, WWII: The Battle of Monte Cassino begins in Italy. British forces cross the Garigliano river. U.S. Fifth Army troops commanded by Lieutenant-General Mark W. Clark arrive at the Garigliano to begin their attack against the Gustav Line south of Rome. The French Expeditionary Corps under command of General Alphonse Juin moves into the mountains north of Monte Cassino.
On 17, Monday January 1944, The Soviet Union ceases production of the Mosin–Nagant 1891/30 sniper rifle.
On 17, Monday January 1944, Meat rationing ends in Australia.
On 17, Monday January 1944, Jan Guillou, Swedish author, born
On 17, Monday January 1944, Françoise Hardy, French singer, born
On 17, Saturday January 1959, Susanna Hoffs, American rock vocalist, born
On 17, Saturday January 1959, Rand Miller, American video game designer, born
On 17, Saturday January 1959, Momoe Yamaguchi, Japanese singer
On 17, Friday January 1969, Lukas Moodysson, Swedish film director, born
On 17, Wednesday January 1979, Sharon Chan, Hong Kong actress, born
On 17, Tuesday January 1989, Stockton schoolyard shooting: Patrick Edward Purdy kills five children, wounds thirty and then shoots himself in Stockton, California.
On 17, Tuesday January 1989, Óscar Vargas Prieto, Peruvian soldier and politician, 111th Prime Minister of Peru, died (b. 1917)
On 17, Monday January 1994, The 6.7 Mw Northridge earthquake strikes the Greater Los Angeles Area with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving 57 people dead and more than 8,700 injured.
On 17, Monday January 1994, Sajal Ali, Pakistani actress and model, born
On 17, Monday January 1994, Helen Stephens, American runner, died (b. 1918)
On 17, Monday January 1994, Chung Il-kwon, South Korean politician, died (b. 1917)
Other On This Day days in history
Neville Buch