April 20

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1657day.year

English Admiral Robert Blake destroys a Spanish silver fleet, under heavy fire from the shore, at the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

During the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1657, Admiral Robert Blake led an audacious attack that destroyed a Spanish silver fleet under heavy shore fire.
On April 20, 1657, English Admiral Robert Blake launched a bold naval assault against a Spanish treasure fleet anchored at Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Despite facing intense artillery fire from coastal fortifications, Blake’s squadron succeeded in burning or capturing several bullion-laden galleons. The victory deprived Spain of vast metallic wealth from the Americas and bolstered England’s naval reputation. Blake’s innovative tactics in close-quarters combat became a model for future amphibious operations. The engagement is remembered as one of the most daring and strategically significant naval actions of the mid-17th century.
1657 Robert Blake Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife
1752day.year

Start of Konbaung–Hanthawaddy War, a new phase in the Burmese Civil War (1740–57).

The Konbaung–Hanthawaddy War began in 1752, intensifying a civil conflict that would shape the future of Burma under the Konbaung dynasty.
On April 20, 1752, hostilities resumed between the Konbaung forces, led by Alaungpaya, and the ruling Hanthawaddy Kingdom, marking a new phase in the prolonged Burmese Civil War. The Konbaung army advanced from Upper Burma into the Irrawaddy Delta, challenging the Mon rulers and disrupting lucrative trade routes. Fierce battles and sieges followed, leaving large swaths of farmland devastated. Alaungpaya’s victories laid the groundwork for the eventual unification of Burma under Konbaung rule by 1757. The conflict transformed the regional balance of power and set the stage for the rise of one of Southeast Asia’s most powerful dynasties.
1752 Konbaung–Hanthawaddy War
1770day.year

The Georgian king, Erekle II, abandoned by his Russian ally Count Totleben, wins a victory over Ottoman forces at Aspindza.

At the Battle of Aspindza in 1770, King Erekle II of Georgia achieved a remarkable victory over Ottoman forces despite being abandoned by his Russian ally.
On April 20, 1770, Georgian King Erekle II confronted a superior Ottoman army at Aspindza without support from Count Totleben, his Russian ally who withdrew over strategic disagreements. Employing guerrilla tactics and intimate knowledge of the hilly terrain, Erekle crushed the Ottoman forces, securing Georgian territory. The unexpected triumph bolstered national pride and demonstrated Georgia’s resilience against foreign domination. It also exposed the complexities of Russo-Georgian relations during the wider Russo-Turkish War. The battle remains a celebrated symbol of Georgian independence and martial prowess.
1770 Georgian Erekle II Russian Count Totleben Ottoman forces Aspindza
1792day.year

France declares war against the "King of Hungary and Bohemia", the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars.

France declared war on the King of Hungary and Bohemia on April 20, 1792, marking the start of the French Revolutionary Wars.
On April 20, 1792, the French Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria and Prussia, ruled by Leopold II, the King of Hungary and Bohemia. This declaration initiated the French Revolutionary Wars, a series of military campaigns driven by revolutionary fervor and fears of foreign intervention. The conflict tested the newly formed French armies and spread revolutionary ideals beyond France’s borders. Early clashes saw both victories and devastating defeats, shaping military reforms and nationalist sentiments. Over the next two decades, these wars redrew the political map of Europe and ushered in the Napoleonic era.
1792 King of Hungary and Bohemia French Revolutionary Wars
1809day.year

Two Austrian army corps in Bavaria are defeated by a First French Empire army led by Napoleon at the Battle of Abensberg on the second day of a four-day campaign that ended in a French victory.

On April 20, 1809, Napoleon's forces defeated two Austrian corps at the Battle of Abensberg during the War of the Fifth Coalition.
On the second day of his decisive four-day campaign, Napoleon Bonaparte engaged and routed two Austrian army corps near Abensberg on April 20, 1809. Employing rapid maneuvers and concentrated artillery fire, the French emperor split the Austrian forces and prevented their union. The victory opened the path to Munich and significantly weakened Austrian resistance in Bavaria. This engagement showcased Napoleon’s mastery of operational warfare and solidified his reputation as one of history’s greatest commanders. It was a key moment in the War of the Fifth Coalition, leading to Austria’s eventual defeat and the Treaty of Schönbrunn.
1809 First French Empire Napoleon Battle of Abensberg
1861day.year

American Civil War: Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army in order to command the forces of the state of Virginia.

Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the U.S. Army to lead Virginia’s forces in the looming Civil War.
Amid the secession crisis of 1861, General Robert E. Lee made the momentous decision to resign from the United States Army on April 20. Although approached by President Abraham Lincoln to command federal forces, Lee chose loyalty to his home state of Virginia. His resignation commission officially transferred his allegiance to the Confederate cause and shaped the leadership of the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee’s military prowess would soon become legendary, but this act underscored the personal and regional loyalties that defined the Civil War. The transfer of command marked a turning point in American history, setting Lee on a path to become the Confederacy’s most celebrated general.
1861 American Civil War Robert E. Lee United States Army Virginia
1876day.year

The April Uprising begins. Its suppression shocks European opinion, and Bulgarian independence becomes a condition for ending the Russo-Turkish War.

The April Uprising erupts against Ottoman rule in Bulgaria, igniting international outcry and shaping the Russo-Turkish War’s outcome.
On April 20, 1876, Bulgarian revolutionaries launched the April Uprising against the Ottoman Empire, seeking national independence. Though initially successful in several villages, the revolt was brutally suppressed by Ottoman forces. News of widespread atrocities galvanized European public opinion and spurred diplomatic pressure on the Sultan. The outrage became a catalyst for Russia’s declaration of war on the Ottoman Empire in 1877. Ultimately, the conflict led to the Treaty of San Stefano and the establishment of an autonomous Bulgarian state.
1876 April Uprising Russo-Turkish War
1898day.year

U.S. President William McKinley signs a joint resolution to Congress for declaration of war against Spain, beginning the Spanish–American War.

President McKinley signs a declaration of war against Spain, marking the start of the Spanish–American War.
Faced with mounting public pressure after the USS Maine explosion in Havana Harbor, President William McKinley signed a joint resolution on April 20, 1898. The resolution authorized military action against Spain, officially launching the Spanish–American War. Major battles unfolded in Cuba and the Philippines, including the decisive naval victory at Manila Bay. The conflict lasted just months but shifted global power, as the United States emerged with overseas territories. Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines came under American control, signaling the nation’s arrival as a world power.
1898 William McKinley Spanish–American War
1914day.year

Nineteen men, women, and children participating in a strike are killed in the Ludlow Massacre during the Colorado Coalfield War.

The Ludlow Massacre occurs when Colorado militia fire on striking coal miners and their families, killing nineteen participants and escalating the Colorado Coalfield War.
In April 1914, striking coal miners and their families established a tent colony at Ludlow, Colorado, demanding better wages and safer working conditions. Tensions rose when Colorado National Guard and company guards surrounded the camp, leading to a deadly attack on April 20. Twenty individuals—men, women, and children—lost their lives in the massacre, including infants killed by the ensuing fire. News of the atrocity shocked the nation and drew public attention to labor rights and corporate practices. The Ludlow Massacre galvanized support for unionization and contributed to subsequent labor reforms in the United States.
1914 Ludlow Massacre Colorado Coalfield War
1918day.year

Manfred von Richthofen, a.k.a. The Red Baron, shoots down his 79th and 80th victims, his final victories before his death the following day.

Aerial ace Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, claims his final two victories over the Western Front before his death the next day.
On April 20, 1918, German fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen, known as the Red Baron, shot down his 79th and 80th Allied aircraft. This feat marked the culmination of his storied career as World War I's top-scoring ace. Richthofen's mastery of aerial combat tactics and his signature red Fokker Triplane made him a legendary figure on both sides of the conflict. His last victories would come hours before he was fatally wounded in action on April 21. The Red Baron's legacy endures as a symbol of early air warfare and pilot bravado.
1918 Manfred von Richthofen
1945day.year

World War II: U.S. troops capture Leipzig, Germany, only to later cede the city to the Soviet Union.

U.S. forces capture Leipzig near the end of World War II but later hand control of the city to the advancing Soviet forces under post-war agreements.
In late April 1945, American troops advanced into central Germany and seized the city of Leipzig from retreating Nazi forces. Despite the tactical victory, Leipzig lay within the agreementally designated Soviet occupation zone. The United States honored Allied accords and withdrew, transferring authority to the Red Army. This handover underscored the emerging post-war divisions that would shape the Iron Curtain in Europe. Leipzig's capture and cession exemplified the complex military and political negotiations marking the end of World War II.
1945 World War II Leipzig Soviet Union
1945day.year

World War II: Führerbunker: On his 56th birthday Adolf Hitler makes his last trip to the surface to award Iron Crosses to boy soldiers of the Hitler Youth.

On his 56th birthday inside the Führerbunker, Adolf Hitler emerges to award Iron Crosses to Hitler Youth cadets—his final venture above ground before the fall of Berlin.
As Allied forces closed in on Berlin in April 1945, Adolf Hitler spent most of his time in the Führerbunker beneath the Reich Chancellery. On April 20, his 56th birthday, he made his last journey to the surface to decorate young Hitler Youth boys with Iron Cross medals. This grim ceremony reflected the desperate mobilization of teenage soldiers as Germany faced imminent defeat. The event was one of the final acts of the Nazi regime before Hitler's suicide ten days later. Today, it stands as a chilling symbol of total war and the exploitation of youth.
Führerbunker Adolf Hitler Iron Crosses Hitler Youth