June 25

Events - Wars & Conflicts

524day.year

The Franks are defeated by the Burgundians in the Battle of Vézeronce.

In 524, the Burgundians defeat the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce, halting Frankish expansion in southeastern Gaul.
The Battle of Vézeronce was fought in 524 between the Frankish Kingdom and the Burgundian Kingdom in southeastern Gaul. The Burgundians, led by King Gondemar I, achieved a decisive victory over the Frankish forces of King Chlodomer. This defeat marked a significant setback for Frankish ambitions in the region. Contemporary chronicles highlight the fierce combat and strategic importance of the battle. The outcome reinforced Burgundian control in Gaul for decades to come. The engagement is remembered as a pivotal moment in the early medieval history of the Frankish and Burgundian realms.
524 Franks Burgundians Battle of Vézeronce
841day.year

In the Battle of Fontenay-en-Puisaye, forces led by Charles the Bald and Louis the German defeat the armies of Lothair I of Italy and Pepin II of Aquitaine.

In 841, the armies of Charles the Bald and Louis the German defeat those of Lothair I and Pepin II at the Battle of Fontenay-en-Puisaye, shaping the future of the Carolingian Empire.
The Battle of Fontenay-en-Puisaye was a key engagement in the Carolingian civil wars following the death of Emperor Louis the Pious. On June 25, 841, the forces of Charles the Bald and Louis the German clashed with the troops of their brother Lothair I and Pepin II of Aquitaine. The victory for Charles and Louis secured their position and weakened Lothair’s claim to the imperial crown. The battlefield, located in Burgundy, witnessed fierce combat and high casualties on both sides. This triumph paved the way for the Treaty of Verdun in 843, which ultimately divided the Carolingian Empire among the three brothers. Historians regard Fontenay as a decisive moment that shaped the political boundaries of medieval Europe.
841 Battle of Fontenay-en-Puisaye Charles the Bald Louis the German Lothair I Pepin II of Aquitaine
1258day.year

War of Saint Sabas: In the Battle of Acre, the Venetians defeat a larger Genoese fleet sailing to relieve Acre.

In 1258, during the War of Saint Sabas, the Venetian fleet defeats a larger Genoese force at the Battle of Acre, securing Venetian dominance in Mediterranean trade.
The Battle of Acre on June 25, 1258, was a naval clash between Venice and Genoa as part of the War of Saint Sabas for control of Levantine trade. Venice dispatched a smaller but more agile fleet to intercept Genoese ships bound to relieve the Crusader-held city of Acre. Despite being outnumbered, Venetian commanders used superior tactics and seamanship to rout the Genoese squadron. The victory reinforced Venice’s maritime supremacy in the Eastern Mediterranean and disrupted Genoese ambitions. Control of Acre’s ports and trade routes was vital for the lucrative silk and spice commerce. This engagement exemplifies the fierce commercial rivalry among Italian maritime republics during the High Middle Ages.
1258 War of Saint Sabas Battle of Acre Venetians Genoese Acre
1658day.year

Spanish forces fail to retake Jamaica at the Battle of Rio Nuevo during the Anglo-Spanish War.

In 1658, Spanish forces attempt to recapture Jamaica but are defeated by the English at the Battle of Rio Nuevo during the Anglo-Spanish War.
The Battle of Rio Nuevo on June 25–27, 1658, was a major engagement in the Caribbean theater of the Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660). Spanish troops landed on the northern coast of Jamaica aiming to oust the English settlers who had captured the island in 1655. English defenders, familiar with the terrain, fortified their positions along the Rio Nuevo stream and repelled multiple Spanish assaults. The Spanish suffered heavy casualties and failed to secure a beachhead, forcing their withdrawal by early July. This defeat ended Spain’s hopes of retaking Jamaica and solidified England’s colonial foothold in the Caribbean. The battle is remembered as one of the bloodiest encounters on the island during the 17th century.
1658 Spanish Jamaica Battle of Rio Nuevo Anglo-Spanish War
1876day.year

American Indian Wars: Battle of the Little Bighorn: 300 men of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment under Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer are wiped out by 5,000 Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho, led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.

On June 25, 1876, Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and the entire 7th Cavalry were overwhelmed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn by a coalition of Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors.
Often called Custer's Last Stand, this pivotal clash saw roughly 300 U.S. troops decisively defeated by Native American forces led by Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. News of the defeat stunned the American public and military establishment, shattering myths of invincibility on the frontier. The battle took place during the Great Sioux War, a series of conflicts over control of the northern Plains. It became a powerful symbol of Native American resistance to westward expansion. Today, the site is preserved as Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, offering visitors a place to reflect on this historic encounter.
1876 American Indian Wars Battle of the Little Bighorn U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer Lakota Cheyenne Arapaho Sitting Bull Crazy Horse
1940day.year

World War II: The French armistice with Nazi Germany comes into effect.

On June 25, 1940, the armistice between France and Nazi Germany took effect, dividing France into occupied and Vichy-controlled zones.
Signed on June 22 at the Forest of Compiègne, the armistice imposed harsh terms on France, including territorial occupation and reparations. As of June 25, German forces occupied northern and western France, including Paris and the Atlantic coast. The unoccupied 'Free Zone' in the south was governed by the Vichy regime under Marshal Pétain. The agreement ended major hostilities on the Western Front but marked the start of a difficult occupation for the French people. The Vichy government's collaboration and the rise of the French Resistance shaped the nation's wartime experience.
1940 World War II armistice
1941day.year

World War II: The Continuation War between the Soviet Union and Finland, supported by Nazi Germany, began.

The Continuation War between Finland and the Soviet Union, backed by Nazi Germany, began on June 25, 1941, as Finland sought to reclaim lost territories.
Launched shortly after Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, Finland aimed to regain lands ceded after the Winter War of 1939-1940. German support provided Finland with military aid and strategic coordination against Soviet forces. Major battles unfolded around the Karelian Isthmus and Lake Ladoga, testing Finnish resolve and tactics. The conflict lasted until September 1944, ending with the Moscow Armistice, which reaffirmed territorial losses for Finland. The war deeply affected Finnish society and influenced its post-war policy of neutrality during the Cold War.
1941 Continuation War Soviet Union Finland Nazi Germany
1943day.year

The Holocaust and World War II: Jews in the Częstochowa Ghetto in Poland stage an uprising against the Nazis.

Jewish prisoners in the Częstochowa Ghetto in Poland staged an armed revolt against Nazi forces.
On June 25, 1943, the Jewish population of the Częstochowa Ghetto rose up against the German occupiers. Inspired by other uprisings, they collected homemade weapons and ammunition. The revolt lasted several days, with desperate resistance despite overwhelming odds. German SS units and police forces responded with brutal force to crush the uprising. Although ultimately suppressed, the Częstochowa revolt symbolized defiance and courage in the face of genocide.
1943 The Holocaust Częstochowa Ghetto an uprising
1943day.year

The left-wing German Jewish exile Arthur Goldstein is murdered in Auschwitz.

Arthur Goldstein, a German Jewish exile and socialist activist, was killed in Auschwitz by the Nazis.
In 1943, German Jewish exile and socialist activist Arthur Goldstein was murdered at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Goldstein had fled Nazi persecution but was later captured and deported by the SS. At Auschwitz, he endured forced labor and brutal treatment before being executed. His death represented the broader Nazi campaign to eliminate Jewish intellectual and political leaders. Goldstein’s legacy endures as a reminder of resistance and the costs of totalitarian hatred.
Arthur Goldstein Auschwitz
1944day.year

World War II: The Battle of Tali-Ihantala, the largest battle ever fought in the Nordic countries, begins.

The Battle of Tali-Ihantala, the largest battle in Nordic history, began in Finland during World War II.
Beginning on June 25, 1944, Finnish and Soviet forces clashed in the Battle of Tali-Ihantala. It became the largest engagement ever fought in the Nordic countries, involving tens of thousands of troops. The Finns, armed with well-prepared defenses and effective artillery, held off Soviet advances. Superior tactics and terrain familiarity allowed Finland to prevent a full Soviet breakthrough. The battle’s outcome helped preserve Finnish independence and influenced post-war borders.
1944 Battle of Tali-Ihantala Nordic countries
1944day.year

World War II: United States Navy and British Royal Navy ships bombard Cherbourg to support United States Army units engaged in the Battle of Cherbourg.

Allied naval forces bombarded Cherbourg to support advancing US Army units in the Battle of Cherbourg.
On June 25, 1944, US Navy and British Royal Navy ships initiated a heavy bombardment of German defenses around Cherbourg. The operation aimed to weaken coastal fortifications and support American ground troops after the Normandy landings. Warships such as battleships and cruisers targeted bunkers, artillery positions, and supply lines. The naval firepower played a crucial role in enabling the US Army’s advance toward the strategic port. Cherbourg fell to the Allies shortly afterward, securing a vital supply hub for the push into occupied France.
bombard Cherbourg United States Army Battle of Cherbourg
1950day.year

The Korean War begins with the invasion of South Korea by North Korea.

North Korea invaded South Korea, marking the start of the Korean War.
On June 25, 1950, North Korean People’s Army crossed the 38th parallel and launched a full-scale invasion of South Korea. The assault surprised UN and US forces, triggering a rapid international response under the United Nations flag. Within days, American troops were deployed to aid South Korea, leading to a prolonged and bloody conflict. The war saw significant battles such as Pusan Perimeter, Inchon landing, and the push into North Korea. It ultimately ended in an armistice in 1953 without a formal peace treaty, leaving the peninsula divided.
1950 Korean War South Korea North Korea