April 09

Tan Daoji was a prominent general and statesman during the Liu Song dynasty in southern China. He led successful campaigns against rival kingdoms and internal rebellions, establishing his reputation as a skilled commander. As a key political figure, he wielded considerable influence at court and advised Emperor Wen on military matters. Despite his loyalty, he fell victim to court intrigue and was executed in 436 following accusations of plotting rebellion. His rise and fall illustrate the complex blend of military prowess and political danger in early medieval China.

Simon Fraser, known as the "Old Fox," was the 11th Lord Lovat and a central figure in the Jacobite risings. After shifting allegiances between British and Jacobite causes, he finally backed Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. Captured following the collapse of the rebellion, Fraser was tried for treason and became the last person in Britain to be beheaded by axe in 1747. His life epitomizes the turbulent loyalties of the Scottish Highlands in the 18th century.

Yevgeniya Rudneva (1920–1944) was a Ukrainian aviator and lieutenant in the Soviet Air Force during World War II.\nShe served with the all-female 46th Guards Night Bomber Regiment, later nicknamed the 'Night Witches' by German forces.\nRudneva completed over 700 combat missions, demonstrating exceptional skill and bravery in nocturnal bombing runs.\nAs a navigator, she guided aircraft through blackout conditions and intense anti-aircraft fire.\nShe was awarded the Order of the Red Banner and the Order of the Patriotic War for her wartime achievements.\nRudneva died in aerial combat on April 9, 1944, and is remembered as one of her regiment's most courageous members.

Wilhelm Canaris (1887–1945) was a German admiral who served as head of the Abwehr, the military intelligence service of Nazi Germany.\nInitially supporting the regime, he grew disillusioned and secretly assisted resistance efforts by passing information to conspirators.\nCanaris used his position to undermine Hitler, helping to protect persecuted individuals and facilitate intelligence leaks.\nAfter the failed July 20 plot to assassinate Hitler, he was arrested in 1944 and imprisoned in Flossenbürg concentration camp.\nOn April 9, 1945, he was executed, just weeks before the end of World War II.\nHis complex legacy reflects both his role within the Nazi apparatus and his contributions to the German resistance.

Hans Oster was a high-ranking officer in the German Army and a central figure in the covert resistance to Adolf Hitler. As head of intelligence operations in the Abwehr, he used his position to undermine Nazi policies and protect persecuted individuals. Oster played a significant role in plotting against the regime, including early attempts to overthrow Hitler in 1938. Following the failed July 20 plot in 1944, he was arrested, tortured, and convicted of treason. He was executed at Flossenbürg concentration camp on April 9, 1945. Oster is remembered for his moral courage and commitment to restoring democracy in Germany.

Born in 1949, Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara rose through the ranks of the Nigerien Army and led a military coup against President Mahamane Ousmane in January 1996. After dissolving the government, he declared himself head of state and organized new elections under his control. His presidency was marked by political unrest, accusations of human rights abuses, and suppression of opposition. He founded the National Union of Independents for Democratic Renewal (UNIRD) to consolidate his power. On April 9, 1999, Maïnassara was assassinated under mysterious circumstances at an army checkpoint in Niamey. His death plunged Niger into a period of crisis and paved the way for democratic transition. Maïnassara’s rule remains a controversial chapter in Niger’s post-colonial history.

Leopold Vietoris was born in 1891 in Austria and served as an officer in the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I. After the war, he studied mathematics and earned his doctorate under mathematician Eduard Čech. Vietoris became a professor at the University of Innsbruck and published pioneering work in algebraic topology, most notably his introduction of the Vietoris sequence and homology. He also served briefly in World War II before returning to academia to teach and conduct research. Vietoris authored numerous papers and textbooks, influencing generations of mathematicians. He lived to be 110 years old, becoming one of the world’s earliest well-documented supercentenarians. His longevity and mathematical legacy made him a celebrated figure in both science and popular culture until his death in 2002.