March 27

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1809day.year

Peninsular War: A combined Franco-Polish force defeats the Spanish in the Battle of Ciudad Real.

A Franco-Polish force defeats Spanish troops at the Battle of Ciudad Real during the Peninsular War.
On March 27, 1809, amid the Peninsular War, a combined French and Polish contingent under Marshal Victor engaged Spanish forces near Ciudad Real in central Spain. The Franco-Polish troops executed a coordinated assault, breaking the Spanish defensive lines and forcing a retreat. This victory secured a strategic position south of Madrid and boosted French morale in the opening phase of the campaign. Spanish commander Conde de Cartaojal suffered heavy casualties and was captured, weakening local resistance. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of Napoleon's multinational corps system and his reliance on allied contingents. Despite this success, the Peninsular War would continue as a protracted and costly struggle for control of the Iberian Peninsula.
1809 Peninsular War Franco Polish Battle of Ciudad Real
1814day.year

War of 1812: In central Alabama, U.S. forces under General Andrew Jackson defeat the Creek at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend.

U.S. forces under General Andrew Jackson crush the Creek at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, a decisive engagement in the War of 1812.
On March 27, 1814, General Andrew Jackson led American troops and allied Native American fighters against the Red Stick faction of the Creek Nation at Horseshoe Bend in central Alabama. The entrenched Creek warriors occupied a natural bend in the Tallapoosa River, but Jackson's well-coordinated artillery bombardment and infantry assault broke their defenses. More than 800 Creek were killed and many more captured, effectively ending Creek resistance in the region. The victory allowed the United States to secure vast territories in the Southeast through the Treaty of Fort Jackson later that year. Jackson's tactical success and growing national reputation would propel him toward the presidency. However, the battle also marked a tragic chapter in the displacement and suffering of Native American communities.
1814 War of 1812 Alabama Andrew Jackson Creek Battle of Horseshoe Bend
1836day.year

Texas Revolution: On the orders of General Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Mexican Army massacres 342 Texian Army POWs at Goliad, Texas.

Mexican forces under Santa Anna execute 342 Texian prisoners at Goliad during the Texas Revolution.
On March 27, 1836, General Antonio López de Santa Anna ordered the execution of about 342 Texian prisoners of war at Goliad, Texas, in one of the most notorious atrocities of the Texas Revolution. These captured soldiers, expecting quarter under the rules of war, were marched out of Fort Defiance and shot in the plains outside Goliad. The massacre shocked Texian and American public opinion, galvanizing support for independence from Mexico. Survivors' escape and accounts of the brutality became rallying cries at the subsequent Battle of San Jacinto. The phrase 'Remember Goliad' joined 'Remember the Alamo' as a battle cry for Texian forces. Today, the Goliad Massacre stands as a solemn reminder of the war's human cost and the complexities of conflict on the American frontier.
1836 Texas Revolution Antonio López de Santa Anna Mexican Army massacres Texian Army Goliad, Texas
1886day.year

Geronimo, Apache warrior, surrenders to the U.S. Army, ending the main phase of the Apache Wars.

On March 27, 1886, Apache leader Geronimo surrendered to the U.S. Army, effectively ending the primary phase of the Apache Wars. His capitulation marked the final major resistance of the Apache against American expansion.
Geronimo had led a small band of Chiricahua Apache in a decades-long resistance against encroaching settlers and U.S. military forces. His guerrilla campaign in the rugged terrain of Arizona and northern Mexico became legendary for its daring raids and elusiveness. Despite repeated attempts to capture him, Geronimo evaded the U.S. cavalry for years, becoming a symbol of Native American resistance. Exhaustion, dwindling supplies, and the untenable position of his people eventually compelled him to negotiate terms. On March 27, 1886, he surrendered under honorable conditions, marking the collapse of organized Apache opposition. This event ushered in the final phase of the Apache Wars and began a forced transition to reservation life for many Apache communities.
1886 Geronimo Apache U.S. Army Apache Wars
1899day.year

Emilio Aguinaldo leads Filipino forces for the only time during the Philippine–American War at the Battle of Marilao River.

On March 27, 1899, Emilio Aguinaldo led Filipino forces at the Battle of Marilao River in the Philippine–American War, marking his only direct field command of the conflict. The engagement tested Filipino defensive tactics against well-equipped American units advancing from Manila.
Following the declaration of war between the United States and the First Philippine Republic, Filipino forces sought to defend key positions north of Manila. President Emilio Aguinaldo personally took command of his troops at the Marilao River on March 27, 1899, establishing defensive lines against the advancing U.S. Army. Despite fierce resistance and tactical ambushes along the riverbanks, the Filipino defenders faced shortages of ammunition and supplies. American forces eventually broke through the lines, leveraging superior firepower and coordinated artillery support. The battle resulted in casualties on both sides and forced a Filipino withdrawal to higher ground. Although Aguinaldo’s front-line leadership bolstered morale, the encounter underscored the challenges faced by the republic’s troops against a modern military machine.
1899 Emilio Aguinaldo Filipino forces Philippine–American War Battle of Marilao River
1901day.year

Philippine–American War: Emilio Aguinaldo, leader of the First Philippine Republic, is captured by the Americans.

On March 27, 1901, revolutionary leader Emilio Aguinaldo was captured by American forces, signaling a turning point in the Philippine–American War. His arrest effectively ended large-scale armed opposition to U.S. rule in the Philippines.
After leading a guerrilla campaign for Filipino independence since 1896, Emilio Aguinaldo evaded American pursuit in Luzon’s rugged terrain. On March 27, 1901, during a supposed peace conference, U.S. troops arrested him without bloodshed. The news of his capture spread rapidly, delivering a severe blow to Filipino morale and organizational structure. Aguinaldo was then brought under American custody and subsequently pledged loyalty to the United States. While isolated groups continued resistance, the fall of their symbolic leader marked the end of major hostilities. In later years, Aguinaldo took on roles within the American colonial government, illustrating the complex aftermath of the conflict.
1901 Philippine–American War Emilio Aguinaldo First Philippine Republic
1933day.year

Japanese invasion of Manchuria: Japan leaves the League of Nations after it approves the Lytton Report that ruled in favour of China.

On March 27, 1933, Japan announced its withdrawal from the League of Nations after the body endorsed the Lytton Report condemning its invasion of Manchuria. This decision undermined collective security efforts and foreshadowed further aggression in Asia.
In 1931, Japanese forces seized Manchuria, establishing the puppet state of Manchukuo and triggering international concern. The League of Nations appointed a commission led by Lord Lytton to investigate the crisis, ultimately issuing a report in early 1933 that deemed Japan’s actions illegal and recommended Chinese sovereignty over the region. Frustrated by the ruling, Tokyo formally withdrew from the League on March 27, 1933, rejecting international censure. The departure weakened the League’s authority and highlighted its inability to enforce resolutions against major powers. Japan’s exit emboldened militarist leaders and accelerated its expansionist policies in East Asia. The incident is often cited as a critical failure of interwar diplomacy and a precursor to World War II.
1933 Japanese invasion of Manchuria League of Nations Lytton Report
1938day.year

Second Sino-Japanese War: The Battle of Taierzhuang begins, resulting several weeks later in the war's first major Chinese victory over Japan.

In March 1938, Chinese forces achieved their first major victory at Taierzhuang during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The Battle of Taierzhuang began on March 27, 1938 when Chinese and Japanese forces engaged in brutal urban combat in Shandong province. Over a period of weeks, Chinese troops employed effective defensive positions and counterattacks to repel Japanese assaults. The Japanese military, expecting an easy victory, suffered heavy losses and was forced to withdraw. This landmark confrontation shattered the aura of Japanese invincibility and bolstered Chinese national morale. It also encouraged greater international sympathy and support for China’s cause.
1938 Second Sino-Japanese War Battle of Taierzhuang
1942day.year

The Holocaust: Nazi Germany and Vichy France begin the deportation of 65,000 Jews from Drancy internment camp to German extermination camps.

On March 27, 1942, Nazi and Vichy French authorities began deporting 65,000 Jews from Drancy internment camp to extermination camps.
On March 27, 1942, the first large-scale deportation convoy departed Drancy, an internment camp near Paris. Nazi Germany, with the cooperation of Vichy France, rounded up Jewish men, women, and children deemed ‘undesirable.’ They were transported in packed cattle cars to Nazi extermination camps in occupied Poland. This operation marked a horrific escalation of the Final Solution on French soil. Over the following months, thousands more were sent to camps like Auschwitz and Sobibor, where the vast majority were murdered upon arrival. The deportations from Drancy became a symbol of the collaboration and brutality of the Holocaust in France.
1942 The Holocaust Nazi Germany Vichy France Drancy internment camp German extermination camps
1943day.year

World War II: Battle of the Komandorski Islands: In the Aleutian Islands the battle begins when United States Navy forces intercept Japanese attempting to reinforce a garrison at Kiska.

The Battle of the Komandorski Islands commenced on March 27, 1943, as US Navy ships intercepted Japanese reinforcements in the Aleutian campaign.
In a rare daylight surface engagement during World War II, American warships under Rear Admiral Charles McMorris intercepted a Japanese convoy near the Komandorski Islands. Beginning on March 27, 1943, the fierce battle involved cruisers and destroyers exchanging gunfire amid freezing seas and poor visibility. Neither side gained a decisive victory, but the United States Navy successfully prevented Japan from reinforcing its Aleutian garrison. This clash demonstrated the growing strength and coordination of American naval forces in the North Pacific. Although no ships were sunk, the Japanese withdrawal marked a strategic setback. The battle underscored the strategic importance of the Aleutian Islands in controlling North Pacific sea lanes.
1943 Battle of the Komandorski Islands Aleutian Islands garrison Kiska
1945day.year

World War II: Operation Starvation, the aerial mining of Japan's ports and waterways begins. Argentina declares war on the Axis Powers.

On March 27, 1945, the US launched Operation Starvation to mine Japanese waters, while Argentina officially declared war on the Axis Powers.
Operation Starvation began on March 27, 1945, as US Army Air Forces B-29 Superfortresses dropped naval mines over Japanese shipping routes. The aerial mining campaign aimed to choke off vital supplies by targeting ports, canals, and coastal waterways. The operation severely disrupted Japan’s ability to import resources during the final months of the war. On the same day, Argentina, previously neutral, declared war on Germany and Japan in a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the Allies. Although Argentina’s military played no significant combat role, the declaration aligned the country with the postwar order. Together, these events illustrate the global reach and multifaceted nature of World War II’s final phase.
1945 Operation Starvation declares war
1999day.year

Kosovo War: An American Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk is shot down by a Yugoslav Army SAM, the first and only Nighthawk to be lost in combat.

During the Kosovo War on March 27, 1999, a U.S. F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter is shot down by a Yugoslav surface-to-air missile, marking the first combat loss of a stealth aircraft.
The assembly of NATO air strikes aimed to halt ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. On its 31st combat mission, Flight Lieutenant Colonel Dale Zelko’s F-117A was targeted by Yugoslav forces near Belgrade. The stealth jet was struck by an SA-3 Goa missile at low altitude and crashed behind enemy lines. Zelko ejected safely and was rescued after evading capture for a short period. The loss exposed vulnerabilities in stealth technology when flying predictable routes. NATO analysts revised tactics to enhance aircraft survivability in contested airspace. The incident remains a landmark case in modern aerial warfare history.
1999 Kosovo War Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk shot down Yugoslav Army