1713day.year
Great Northern War: After losing the Battle of Helsinki to the Russians, the Swedish and Finnish troops burn the entire city, so that it would not remain intact in the hands of the Russians.
During the Great Northern War in 1713, Swedish and Finnish forces burned Helsinki to deny it to the Russians.
On May 11, 1713, amid the Great Northern War, Swedish and Finnish defenders set fire to Helsinki after being routed by Russian forces.
The scorched-earth tactic aimed to deprive the enemy of shelter and resources.
Nearly all wooden structures and warehouses were destroyed, leaving the city in ruin.
The devastation temporarily stalled Russian advances but inflicted heavy hardship on local civilians.
Helsinki remained under Swedish control until formally ceded to Russia in 1743.
The event is remembered for its dramatic impact on Finland’s urban history and resilience.
1713
Great Northern War
Battle of Helsinki
1857day.year
Indian Rebellion of 1857: Indian rebels seize Delhi from the British.
During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, rebels captured Delhi from British control, igniting a major uprising.
On May 11, 1857, Indian sepoys and local leaders seized Delhi, marking a pivotal moment in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
The siege quickly became a central episode in the revolt against the British East India Company.
Rebels aimed to restore the Mughal emperor as a symbol of national resistance.
The uprising exposed deep grievances over colonial policies, taxation, and cultural imposition.
British forces eventually recaptured Delhi after months of fierce combat and siege operations.
The rebellion led to the abolition of the East India Company and the establishment of direct British Crown rule.
1857
Indian Rebellion of 1857
1880day.year
Seven people are killed in the Mussel Slough Tragedy, a gun battle in California.
Seven people died in the Mussel Slough Tragedy of 1880, a deadly land dispute gunfight in California.
On May 11, 1880, the Mussel Slough Tragedy occurred when settlers and agents of the Southern Pacific Railroad clashed over land titles in California.
Tensions over disputed land grants escalated into a violent shootout.
The confrontation resulted in seven fatalities and shocked frontier communities.
It highlighted the broader conflicts in the American West over property rights and corporate power.
The tragedy spurred public debate on railroad practices and government land policies.
Today, it is remembered as a symbol of the tumultuous expansion of the Western frontier.
1880
Mussel Slough Tragedy
1987day.year
Klaus Barbie goes on trial in Lyon for war crimes committed during World War II.
On May 11, 1987, former Gestapo officer Klaus Barbie, known as the “Butcher of Lyon,” stood trial in France for World War II war crimes. The proceeding was a landmark in post-war justice efforts.
Klaus Barbie, notorious for his brutal leadership of the Gestapo in Lyon, was extradited from Bolivia and brought to France in 1983. His trial opened on May 11, 1987, amidst intense media attention and public outrage. Prosecutors detailed his involvement in the torture of resistance fighters and the deportation of Jews to Nazi concentration camps. Survivors and witnesses gave harrowing testimonies about the fear he instilled and the atrocities he ordered. After a month-long trial, Barbie was convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life imprisonment. The proceedings represented one of the first major European war crimes trials since Nuremberg and underscored the enduring pursuit of justice for Holocaust victims.
1987
Klaus Barbie
Lyon
World War II
1998day.year
India conducts three underground atomic tests in Pokhran.
India conducted three underground nuclear tests at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan, signaling its emergence as a nuclear-armed power.
On May 11, 1998, India detonated three underground nuclear devices at the Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan.
The tests, codenamed Operation Shakti, included a thermonuclear device and two fission bombs.
They formally announced India’s entry into the club of declared nuclear-armed states.
The international community responded with widespread condemnation and economic sanctions.
Neighboring Pakistan conducted its own tests weeks later, triggering a regional arms race.
India defended the tests as necessary for national security and strategic deterrence.
The event continues to influence South Asian security dynamics and global nonproliferation efforts.
1998
three underground atomic tests
2000day.year
Second Chechen War: Chechen separatists ambush Russian paramilitary forces in the Republic of Ingushetia.
Chechen separatists ambushed Russian paramilitary forces in Ingushetia during the Second Chechen War.
On May 11, 2000, Chechen rebel fighters crossed into Ingushetia and launched a surprise attack on Russian OMON troops.
The ambush resulted in significant casualties and highlighted the porous nature of the North Caucasus border.
It marked a sharp escalation in the Second Chechen War, which had begun two years earlier.
Russian authorities responded by tightening security measures and reinforcing border patrols.
The incident drew international attention to the humanitarian toll of the conflict.
It underscored the challenges faced by the Russian Federation in containing separatist violence.
The ambush remains a stark example of the war’s reach beyond Chechnya.
Second Chechen War
ambush
Republic of Ingushetia
2009day.year
An American soldier in Iraq opens fire on a counseling center at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, killing five other US soldiers and wounding three.
A US soldier at Camp Liberty in Baghdad opened fire on colleagues in a shocking fratricide incident.
On May 11, 2009, an American serviceman at the Camp Liberty counseling center in Baghdad turned his weapon on fellow soldiers.
The attack killed five US servicemen and injured three others.
Officials cited concerns over combat stress and mental health, though the motive remained unclear.
The incident led to an immediate review of counseling center security protocols in the war zone.
It sparked debate over the psychological toll of prolonged deployments on military personnel.
Commanders implemented enhanced support measures to address troop welfare.
The tragedy highlighted the hidden human costs of modern warfare.
2009
Iraq
opens fire
Camp Liberty
Baghdad
2013day.year
Fifty-two people are killed in a bombing in Reyhanlı, Turkey.
A devastating twin car bombing in Reyhanlı, Turkey, killed over fifty civilians.
On May 11, 2013, twin car bombs exploded in the busy streets of Reyhanlı, a town near the Syrian border in Hatay Province.
The coordinated attacks claimed 52 lives and injured more than 140 people.
Witnesses described horrific scenes of mangled vehicles and shattered storefronts.
The Turkish government blamed extremist groups operating across the border, though no claim of responsibility was made.
The violence strained Turkey’s relations with war-torn Syria and highlighted regional security risks.
Local hospitals and volunteers mobilized quickly to treat the wounded.
The Reyhanlı bombings underscored the far-reaching impacts of neighboring conflicts.
2013
bombing in Reyhanlı, Turkey
2016day.year
One hundred and ten people are killed in an ISIL bombing in Baghdad.
A deadly ISIL bombing in Baghdad killed over a hundred people amid rising sectarian violence.
On May 11, 2016, a suicide bomber targeted a crowded market in the Shia-majority district of Suq al-Ghazl in Baghdad.
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for the attack.
The explosion killed 110 people and injured more than 150, according to Iraqi officials.
Witnesses reported scenes of devastation, with bodies and debris strewn across the marketplace.
Emergency responders and civilians alike worked through the night to rescue the wounded.
The bombing intensified calls for improved intelligence and anti-terrorism operations.
It highlighted the persistent threat of extremist violence in post-ISIL Iraq.
2016
in an ISIL bombing in Baghdad
2022day.year
The Burmese military executes at least 37 villagers during the Mon Taing Pin massacre in Sagaing, Myanmar.
On May 11, 2022, Myanmar’s military carried out a deadly raid in Sagaing Region, executing at least 37 villagers in what became known as the Mon Taing Pin massacre.
On May 11, 2022, the Burmese military descended on Mon Taing Pin village in Sagaing Region and carried out a brutal operation. At least 37 civilians were killed during the attack, which formed part of a wider crackdown following the 2021 coup. Witnesses reported that soldiers used heavy weapons and executed villagers at close range. The massacre left families shattered and homes destroyed as survivors recounted the horror. Human rights organizations quickly condemned the atrocity and demanded international intervention. The incident deepened Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis and intensified calls for accountability. Despite global outrage, justice for the victims remains elusive.
2022
Burmese military
Mon Taing Pin massacre
Sagaing
Myanmar
2022day.year
Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh is killed while covering a raid in Jenin. Israel eventually admitted and apologized for the murder, after initial denials.
On May 11, 2022, veteran journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was fatally shot while reporting on an Israeli military raid in Jenin, sparking international outcry.
Shireen Abu Akleh, a renowned Palestinian-American reporter for Al Jazeera, was covering an Israeli Defense Forces operation in Jenin on May 11, 2022. During the raid, she was struck by a bullet despite wearing a press vest and helmet. Initial statements by Israeli authorities denied responsibility and suggested crossfire from Palestinian militants. Independent investigations by media outlets and human rights groups pointed to fire from Israeli positions. Months later, Israel formally acknowledged and apologized for her killing, admitting its forces likely caused her death. The incident reignited global debate over the safety of journalists in conflict zones. Tributes poured in from around the world, honoring her dedication to frontline reporting.
Shireen Abu Akleh
killed
Jenin