1513day.year
War of the League of Cambrai: In the Battle of Novara, Swiss troops defeat the French under Louis II de la Trémoille, forcing them to abandon Milan; Duke Massimiliano Sforza is restored.
Swiss forces defeat the French at the Battle of Novara, ending French occupation of Milan and restoring Duke Massimiliano Sforza.
As part of the War of the League of Cambrai, the Battle of Novara on June 6, 1513, marked a turning point in northern Italy's power struggle. Swiss mercenaries under their own command outmaneuvered and overwhelmed the French army led by Louis II de la Trémoille. The defeat forced the French to abandon Milan after a hard-fought campaign. In the aftermath, the Milanese reinstated Massimiliano Sforza as duke, reestablishing local rule. The Swiss reputation for disciplined infantry was enhanced by their victory. This battle shifted alliances and weakened French influence during the Italian Wars. Subsequent peace negotiations in the region reflected the altered balance of power. The engagement remains celebrated in Swiss military histories as a showcase of effective pike formations.
1513
War of the League of Cambrai
Battle of Novara
Louis II de la Trémoille
Milan
Massimiliano Sforza
1762day.year
Seven Years' War: British forces begin the Siege of Havana and temporarily capture the city.
British forces launch the Siege of Havana during the Seven Years' War, capturing the key Spanish port.
In the summer of 1762, British commanders launched a major amphibious assault on Havana, the strategic port of Spain's Caribbean territories. On June 6, British troops and naval forces encircled the city, cutting off supply lines and bombarding its defenses. The city, defended by well-fortified walls and Spanish colonial troops, held out for several weeks under siege conditions. British artillery eventually breached the city walls, forcing the Spanish governor to surrender on agreed terms. The fall of Havana dealt a severe blow to Spanish naval power in the Americas and opened discussions on territorial exchanges at the war's end. British occupation lasted until 1763, when Havana was returned to Spain in exchange for Florida under the Treaty of Paris. The siege demonstrated the growing reach of British military capabilities and reshaped colonial dynamics in the Caribbean.
1762
Seven Years' War
Siege of Havana
1813day.year
War of 1812: In the Battle of Stoney Creek, considered a critical turning point in the war, a British force of 700 under John Vincent defeats an American force twice its size under William Winder and John Chandler.
A British force under John Vincent defeats a larger American army at the Battle of Stoney Creek during the War of 1812.
On the night of June 6, 1813, during the War of 1812, a British contingent of about 700 soldiers led by Colonel John Vincent launched a surprise attack on a much larger American force near Stoney Creek, Ontario. The covert operation exploited the element of darkness and confusion among the American troops under William Winder and John Chandler. After fierce close-quarters fighting, the British secured the field and captured key officers, forcing the Americans to retreat. This victory halted the American advance towards Niagara and restored British morale in Upper Canada. The success at Stoney Creek is often cited as a pivotal moment that prevented the invasion of Canada. Both sides suffered significant casualties, but Vincent's effective leadership proved decisive. Memorials and reenactments today commemorate the battle's role in shaping Canadian history.
1813
War of 1812
Battle of Stoney Creek
John Vincent
William Winder
John Chandler
1832day.year
The June Rebellion in Paris is put down by the National Guard.
The June Rebellion in Paris is suppressed by the National Guard after a brief, barricade-lined uprising.
In June 1832, discontent over economic hardship and political repression sparked an uprising in Paris known as the June Rebellion. On June 6, insurgents erected barricades in the working-class neighborhoods and briefly seized control of sections of the city. The National Guard, loyal to the July Monarchy of King Louis-Philippe, mobilized quickly to quash the rebellion. Fierce street fighting ensued, resulting in heavy casualties among the poorly armed insurgents. By the afternoon, government forces had regained control, tearing down barricades and arresting rebel leaders. Although the revolt failed to achieve its aims, it inspired later generations and features prominently in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. The June Rebellion highlighted the social tensions of post-revolutionary France and the limits of liberal reforms. Memorials and plaques in Paris mark the sites of key engagements during the uprising.
1832
June Rebellion
1862day.year
American Civil War: The First Battle of Memphis, a naval engagement fought on the Mississippi River, results in the capture of Memphis, Tennessee by Union forces from the Confederates.
Union naval forces won the First Battle of Memphis on the Mississippi River, capturing Memphis from the Confederates during the American Civil War.
The First Battle of Memphis took place on June 6, 1862, as part of the Union's campaign to control the Mississippi River. Four Union gunboats under the command of Admiral Charles Henry Davis engaged Confederate river defenses near Memphis, Tennessee. The decisive encounter destroyed the Confederate River Defense Fleet and forced the city's surrender without significant land combat. Memphis fell to Union control, marking a strategic victory that disrupted Confederate supply lines. The capture bolstered Northern morale and opened the way for further Union advances down the Mississippi toward Vicksburg. The battle demonstrated the effectiveness of ironclad and timberclad warships in riverine operations. Control of Memphis for the remainder of the war secured a vital logistical hub for Union forces in the Western Theater.
1862
American Civil War
First Battle of Memphis
Mississippi River
Memphis, Tennessee
Union
Confederates
1882day.year
The Shewan forces of Menelik II of Ethiopia defeat the Gojjame army in the Battle of Embabo. The Shewans capture Negus Tekle Haymanot of Gojjam, and their victory leads to a Shewan hegemony over the territories south of the Abay River.
Menelik II's Shewan forces triumphed over the Gojjame army at the Battle of Embabo, securing Shewa's dominance south of the Abay River.
The Battle of Embabo occurred on June 6, 1882, between the army of Shewa led by Menelik II and the forces of the kingdom of Gojjam. Menelik II crossed the Gojjam frontier seeking to expand his authority and personally led his troops into battle. Superior tactics and modern firearms gave the Shewan forces a decisive victory, resulting in the capture of Negus Tekle Haymanot. This outcome resolved long-standing rivalries and established Shewa's hegemony over territories south of the Abay River. The victory strengthened Menelik's political and military leadership, paving the way for his later reign as Emperor of Ethiopia. Diplomacy after the battle integrated Gojjam under Shewan influence, further unifying the Ethiopian state. The engagement highlighted the impact of organizational reforms and updated weaponry in late 19th-century African warfare.
1882
Shewan
Menelik II of Ethiopia
Gojjame
Battle of Embabo
Abay River
1918day.year
World War I: U.S. Marine Corps suffers its worst single day's casualties during the Battle of Belleau Wood while attempting to recapture the wood at Château-Thierry (the losses are exceeded at the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943).
During the Battle of Belleau Wood in WWI, the U.S. Marine Corps endured its heaviest single-day losses while assaulting German positions.
The Battle of Belleau Wood took place from June 1 to June 26, 1918, as part of the German Spring Offensive. On June 6, U.S. Marines launched assaults to reclaim the woods near Château-Thierry, France. Facing entrenched German machine-gun nests and artillery, the Marines endured heavy losses in brutal woodland fighting. More than 1,800 Marines were killed or wounded in a single day, marking the Corps' deadliest in its history. Their fierce determination earned them the nickname "Devil Dogs" from German troops. The action helped halt the German advance toward Paris and boosted Allied morale. The valor displayed at Belleau Wood became a defining chapter in Marine Corps lore. This fierce engagement is remembered as a turning point that showcased American resolve on the Western Front.
1918
World War I
U.S. Marine Corps
Battle of Belleau Wood
Château-Thierry
Battle of Tarawa
1942day.year
World War II: The United States Navy's victory over the Imperial Japanese Navy at the Battle of Midway is a major turning point in the Pacific Theater. All four Japanese fleet carriers taking part—Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū and Hiryū—are sunk, as is the heavy cruiser Mikuma. The American carrier Yorktown and the destroyer Hammann are also sunk.
In June 1942, American forces achieve a decisive victory at the Battle of Midway, sinking four Japanese carriers and altering the course of the Pacific War.
In the early days of June 1942, American codebreakers uncover Japan's plan to seize Midway Atoll, enabling the U.S. Navy to set a trap. From June 4 to 7, aircraft carriers Yorktown, Enterprise, and Hornet engage the Japanese fleet in a decisive battle. U.S. dive bombers catch the carriers Akagi, Kaga, Sōryū, and Hiryū by surprise, sinking all four, along with the heavy cruiser Mikuma. Despite the loss of USS Yorktown and destroyer Hammann, the American victory halts Japan's advance across the Pacific. Midway shifts naval supremacy to the Allies and marks a turning point in World War II. The engagement highlights the strategic importance of signals intelligence and air power in naval warfare. Its legacy endures as a classic example of strategy, bravery, and sacrifice.
1942
World War II
United States Navy
Imperial Japanese Navy
Battle of Midway
Pacific Theater
fleet carriers
Akagi
Kaga
Sōryū
Hiryū
heavy cruiser
Mikuma
Yorktown
Hammann
1944day.year
World War II: Commencement of Operation Overlord: The Allied invasion of Normandy begins with the execution of Operation Neptune—commonly referred to as D-Day—the largest seaborne invasion in history. Nearly 160,000 Allied troops cross the English Channel with about 5,000 landing and assault craft, 289 escort vessels, and 277 minesweepers participating. By the end of the day, the Allies have landed on five invasion beaches and are pushing inland.
On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launch Operation Overlord, the largest seaborne invasion in history, storming Normandy to liberate Western Europe.
Operation Overlord, code-named Operation Neptune for its assault phase, begins as nearly 160,000 Allied troops cross the English Channel on June 6, 1944. Supported by 5,000 landing craft, 289 escorts, and 277 minesweepers, the force targets five designated beaches codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. Airborne divisions are dropped inland before dawn to secure key positions and disrupt German defenses. Despite fierce resistance, beachheads are secured by the end of the day, enabling further Allied advances. The successful landings mark the start of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation. Operation Overlord's complexity, involving coordination across land, air, and sea, showcases unprecedented Allied cooperation. D-Day remains a defining moment in World War II history and a testament to courage under fire.
1944
Operation Overlord
Allied
Normandy
Operation Neptune
D-Day
English Channel
1944day.year
World War II: Capture of the Caen canal and Orne river bridges by Allied paratroopers, also known as Operation Coup de Main (incorrectly referred to as Operation Deadstick.)
On D-Day in 1944, Allied paratroopers execute Operation Coup de Main to seize critical bridges over the Caen canal and Orne river, ensuring the success of the Normandy landings.
As part of the initial phase of Operation Overlord on D-Day, British airborne forces execute Operation Coup de Main to seize two vital bridges over the Caen canal and the Orne river. Led by Major John Howard and elements of the 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, the glider-borne troops achieve surprise landings near Ranville at dawn. In minutes, they overwhelm the German defenders and secure the Benouville (Pegasus) and Ranville bridges intact, preventing enemy counterattacks against the eastern flank of the landing beaches. These daring actions ensure the safe passage of Allied armor and reinforcements from the beaches, bolstering the invasion's success. Although sometimes misnamed Operation Deadstick, Coup de Main stands out for its precision planning and execution. The operation's outcome proves crucial to maintaining momentum in the battle for Normandy.
Capture of the Caen canal and Orne river bridges
1982day.year
1982 Lebanon War: The war begins as forces under Israeli Defense Minister Ariel Sharon invade southern Lebanon during Operation Peace for the Galilee, eventually reaching as far north as the capital Beirut.
On June 6, 1982, Israel launched Operation Peace for the Galilee, initiating the Lebanon War.
On June 6, 1982, the Israel Defense Forces, under Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, initiated Operation Peace for the Galilee in southern Lebanon.
The campaign aimed to push back the Palestine Liberation Organization from the Israeli border and reached as far north as Beirut.
Israeli troops swiftly advanced through the Bekaa Valley, encountering both PLO resistance and complex Lebanese political dynamics.
The operation marked a significant escalation in Israeli-Lebanese relations and drew international attention.
It set the stage for a protracted conflict involving multiple Lebanese factions and Syrian intervention.
The war had lasting effects on regional geopolitics and led to widespread civilian displacement and casualties.
1982
1982 Lebanon War
Israeli
Defense Minister
Ariel Sharon
southern Lebanon
Operation Peace for the Galilee
Beirut
2017day.year
Syrian civil war: The Battle of Raqqa begins with an offensive by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to capture the city from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The Syrian Democratic Forces launched the Battle of Raqqa against ISIL on June 6, 2017, aiming to reclaim the city.
On June 6, 2017, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) initiated a major offensive to capture Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Supported by U.S.-led coalition air power, the SDF advanced from multiple fronts into the city.
Raqqa had been under ISIL control since 2014, serving as a hub for the group’s administration and propaganda.
The offensive involved complex urban warfare and coordination among Kurdish, Arab, and international forces.
Civilians in Raqqa faced significant risks, and humanitarian groups warned of potential civilian casualties.
The battle marked a turning point in the fight against ISIL in Syria and set the stage for the city’s eventual liberation.
2017
Syrian civil war
Battle of Raqqa
Syrian Democratic Forces
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant