July 01

Born in 1223 in the Kipchak steppes, Baibars was sold into slavery before rising through the Mamluk military ranks. He became Sultan of Egypt in 1260 and almost immediately led his forces to victory at the Battle of Ain Jalut, halting the Mongol advance into the Middle East. Baibars then drove the remaining Crusader states from the Levant and fortified Egypt’s borders with a network of citadels. He promoted agricultural development, improved irrigation, and commissioned numerous architectural projects in Cairo and Damascus. His reign marked the golden age of Mamluk power, and he is remembered as one of medieval Egypt’s greatest rulers.

Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise, was born in 1715 into the distinguished Rohan family of Brittany. He pursued a military career and rose through the ranks to become Marshal of France in 1758. He led French forces during key campaigns of the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. Despite commanding large armies, his record was mixed, with notable victories and defeats. He held important court positions and influenced military strategy under Louis XV. He died in 1787 at the age of 72, leaving a complex legacy as one of France's senior marshals.

John F. Reynolds was a distinguished career officer in the United States Army and a respected leader of Union forces in the Civil War. Born in 1820 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, he graduated at the top of his class from West Point in 1841. He saw action in the Mexican–American War and later commanded the I Corps of the Army of the Potomac. At the Battle of Gettysburg on July 1, 1863, his prompt decisions helped secure high ground crucial for the Union defense. Tragically, he was killed early in the battle, and his loss was deeply mourned by soldiers and commanders alike. He is remembered as one of the most capable and beloved generals of the Civil War era.

Thomas Francis Meagher was born in 1823 and became a leader of the Young Ireland movement in the 1840s. After being convicted of sedition, he was transported to Tasmania, from which he later escaped to the United States. During the American Civil War, he organized and led the Irish Brigade, noted for its valor in key battles. After the war, he served as acting governor of the Montana Territory, advocating for justice on the frontier. His life combined Irish nationalism and American military service, making him a unique figure in 19th-century history.

Born in 1887, Röhm served as an officer in World War I and later joined the Freikorps paramilitary units. In 1921, he co-founded the Sturmabteilung, known as the SA or Brownshirts, and became its leader. Under his command, the SA grew into a powerful force that protected Nazi meetings and intimidated opponents. Röhm was instrumental in Hitler's rise to power but fell out of favor due to his ambitions and the SA's radicalism. During the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934, Hitler ordered a purge of SA leadership, and Röhm was arrested and executed. His death marked a turning point, consolidating Hitler's control over the Nazi movement.

Juan Domingo Perón was born in 1895 in Lobos, Argentina, and rose through the army to become a brigadier general. He first came to prominence as Secretary of Labor in the mid-1940s, where he championed workers’ rights and social welfare programs. In 1946, Perón was elected President of Argentina, forging a political movement known as Peronism grounded in social justice, economic independence, and political sovereignty. His charismatic leadership was bolstered by the support of his wife, Eva Perón, a beloved figure for the working class. Perón was deposed in a 1955 coup, lived in exile for 18 years, and returned to power in 1973 for a third term. He died in office in 1974, leaving a lasting and controversial legacy in Argentine politics.

Kurt Student was born in 1890 in Pomerania, Germany and entered the military as an aviation observer during World War I. He became a key architect of the Luftwaffe’s paratrooper (Fallschirmjäger) doctrine in the 1930s. Student commanded airborne assaults on Belgium, Crete, and other strategic locations during World War II, demonstrating the effectiveness of airborne warfare. His leadership at the Battle of Crete in 1941 resulted in heavy casualties but also underscored the potential of paratroop operations. After the war, he was captured and tried for war crimes before his release in 1953. Student’s innovations influenced airborne tactics in militaries worldwide.

Onni Palaste served as a corporal in the Finnish Army during the Winter War (1939–1940) and the Continuation War (1941–1944). Drawing on his frontline experiences, he wrote a series of popular novels and memoirs that provided vivid accounts of combat, camaraderie, and survival in harsh conditions. His books, such as 'Raja' and 'Harju,' resonated with Finnish readers and became staples of wartime literature. Palaste’s writing combined factual detail with personal reflection, offering insight into the human side of war. After the conflicts, he worked in forestry but continued to write and speak about his experiences. His work contributed to Finland’s collective memory of the wars and inspired later generations of authors. Palaste died in 2009, leaving a legacy as both a veteran and a chronicler of Finland’s wartime history.

Sidney Bryan Berry graduated from West Point in 1949 and rose through the ranks of the U.S. Army. He saw combat in the Korean and Vietnam Wars and later commanded the Third United States Army. From 1974 to 1977, Berry served as Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, overseeing academic and training programs. He emphasized leadership development and modernization of the curriculum. After retirement, he advised defense organizations and supported veterans' initiatives. Berry was respected for his strategic insight and commitment to military education until his death in 2013.

Anatoly Kornukov was a senior air force officer and commander of Soviet and then Russian air defense forces. Born in 1942 in Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Russia, he graduated from military aviation school and served in various posts across the USSR. As commander of the Russian Air Force, he oversaw key strategic operations during the post–Cold War era. He is known for his involvement in the interception of Korean Air Flight 007 in 1983, a highly controversial incident. Promoted to colonel-general, Kornukov held top positions in defense planning and military public relations. After retiring in the early 2000s, he remained an advisor on military affairs until his death in 2014.

Nicholas Winton was a British humanitarian and stockbroker who orchestrated the rescue of 669 Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia just before World War II. Born in London in 1909, he served as a lieutenant in the British Army during the war. Moved by the plight of refugees, he arranged transport and foster families for children under the program later known as the Kindertransport. His efforts went unrecognized for decades until 1988, when a BBC documentary brought his work to light. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003, he received international honors for his selfless bravery. Winton continued to speak about tolerance and humanitarianism until his passing in 2015 at age 106.