June 11

In 1788, Gerasim Izmailov led an expedition from Siberia across the Bering Strait to the Alaskan shoreline. His voyage marked one of the earliest European contacts with the Alaskan coast. Izmailov's journey provided valuable geographical and ethnographic information about indigenous peoples and the landscape. The expedition was commissioned by the Russian government to expand fur trade opportunities. Izmailov's findings paved the way for future Russian settlements in Alaska. His reports helped establish trade routes and diplomatic relations with native communities.

Under the cover of darkness, Frank Morris and John and Clarence Anglin executed an elaborate escape plan from Alcatraz on June 11, 1962. Using improvised tools, they drilled through cell walls and accessed the prison’s utility corridors. The trio then paddled away on a makeshift raft fashioned from raincoats into the cold waters of San Francisco Bay. Despite an extensive search, no conclusive evidence of their fate was ever found. The mystery of their disappearance has inspired countless theories, books, and movies. Their escape remains one of the most legendary prison break stories in American history.

Walter Seifert, a former soldier of World War II, carried a homemade flamethrower and lance to a Cologne elementary school on June 11, 1964. Without warning, he unleashed flames and stab attacks on students and teachers. Eight children and two adults were killed, and many more suffered serious injuries. The brutal assault shocked Germany and sparked debates over mental health and veterans’ welfare. Seifert was captured after being neutralized by bystanders and later committed suicide in custody. The tragedy led to stricter controls on weapon-making materials and renewed discussions about social support for ex-servicemen.