1364day.year
Troops of the Republic of Pisa and the Republic of Florence clash in the Battle of Cascina.
In 1364, Pisa and Florence armies met at the Battle of Cascina in Tuscany.
A significant medieval Italian conflict.
The Battle of Cascina was fought between the Republics of Pisa and Florence near the Tuscan town of Cascina.
It exemplified the intense rivalry between these medieval city-states during the 14th century.
While details of the outcome are sparse, Florentine forces claimed to repel the Pisan advance.
The event later inspired a renowned battle scene sketch by Michelangelo in the early 16th century.
Today, the battle remains a symbol of the era's shifting alliances and military strategies in Italy.
1364
Republic of Pisa
Republic of Florence
Battle of Cascina
1635day.year
In the Eighty Years' War, the Spanish capture the strategic Dutch fortress of Schenkenschans.
In 1635, Spanish forces seized the strategic Dutch fortress of Schenkenschans during the Eighty Years' War.
The loss disrupted Dutch defenses along the Rhine.
On July 28, 1635, Spanish troops captured Schenkenschans, a vital fortress at the Rhine's bend.
The stronghold had guarded the approach to the Dutch heartland, making its fall a major blow.
Its surprise assault demonstrated Spanish military prowess in the protracted struggle for Dutch independence.
Control of Schenkenschans shifted the balance of power and influenced subsequent sieges in the region.
Today, its remains symbolize the intense conflicts of the Eighty Years' War and its impact on the Netherlands.
1635
Eighty Years' War
Schenkenschans
1656day.year
Second Northern War: Battle of Warsaw begins.
The Battle of Warsaw began in 1656 as part of the Second Northern War.
Swedish and Brandenburg forces clashed with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
On July 28, 1656, the Battle of Warsaw erupted between Sweden and its Brandenburg allies against Polish-Lithuanian forces.
The multi-day engagement saw coordinated infantry and cavalry maneuvers across Warsaw's suburbs.
Despite fierce resistance, the Polish-Lithuanian army struggled against the disciplined Swedish infantry and artillery.
The battle ended with a strategic Swedish-Brandenburg victory, altering the course of the Second Northern War.
Its outcome paved the way for subsequent treaties that reshaped power dynamics in Central and Eastern Europe.
1656
Second Northern War
Battle of Warsaw
1809day.year
Peninsular War: Battle of Talavera: Sir Arthur Wellesley's British, Portuguese and Spanish army defeats a French force led by Joseph Bonaparte.
British, Portuguese, and Spanish forces under Sir Arthur Wellesley defeated Joseph Bonaparte's army at the Battle of Talavera in 1809.
It was a pivotal engagement in the Peninsular War.
On July 28, 1809, the allied British, Portuguese, and Spanish army commanded by Sir Arthur Wellesley clashed with French forces led by Joseph Bonaparte at Talavera.
The fierce battle saw Wellington's troops withstand heavy artillery and cavalry charges on the rugged Spanish terrain.
Despite high casualties, the Allied forces secured a tactical victory that bolstered British prestige in the Peninsular campaign.
The engagement highlighted Wellesley's tactical skill and helped earn him the title of Viscount Wellington.
Talavera remains celebrated for its role in weakening French control over Spain and inspiring Allied resistance.
1809
Peninsular War
Battle of Talavera
Arthur Wellesley
Joseph Bonaparte
1864day.year
American Civil War: Battle of Ezra Church: Confederate troops make a third unsuccessful attempt to drive Union forces from Atlanta, Georgia.
During the American Civil War, Confederate forces launched a third failed assault at the Battle of Ezra Church and were unable to drive Union troops from Atlanta.
On July 28, 1864, Confederate General John Bell Hood ordered his troops to attack Union forces under Major General Oliver O. Howard at Ezra Church, part of the Atlanta Campaign. The Confederates aimed to break Sherman's siege by striking the Union left flank, but well-entrenched rifle pits and artillery repelled three waves of attacks. Despite fierce combat and heavy casualties on both sides, Union lines held firm. The battle depleted Hood's forces and failed to relieve Atlanta, contributing to the city's eventual fall. This engagement highlighted the effectiveness of Union defensive tactics and underscored the strategic importance of Atlanta in the Civil War.
1864
American Civil War
Battle of Ezra Church
Confederate
Union
Atlanta, Georgia
1914day.year
In the culmination of the July Crisis, Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia, igniting World War I.
Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, setting off a chain reaction of alliances that ignited World War I.
On July 28, 1914, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary formally declared war on Serbia in response to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This declaration triggered a cascade of mobilizations and alliances, drawing Russia, Germany, France, and eventually Britain into what became World War I. The conflict quickly expanded beyond the Balkans, introducing trench warfare, machine guns, and chemical weapons to the battlefields of Europe. Over four years, the war would involve more than 30 nations and lead to unprecedented casualties and destruction. Its end redrew national borders, toppled empires, and sowed the political and social upheavals that shaped the 20th century.
1914
July Crisis
Austria-Hungary
Serbia
World War I
1915day.year
The United States begins a 19-year occupation of Haiti.
The United States began a 19-year military occupation of Haiti, profoundly influencing the nation's political and social trajectory.
On July 28, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson ordered U.S. Marines to occupy Port-au-Prince, Haiti, aiming to restore order and protect American and European interests amid political turmoil. The occupation established a military government that reorganized Haiti's finances and infrastructure, building roads, hospitals, and schools while suppressing resistance. Haitian cacos fighters engaged in guerrilla warfare, leading to harsh counterinsurgency campaigns. Although the intervention modernized certain aspects of Haitian administration, it also curtailed Haitian sovereignty and fueled long-standing resentment. U.S. forces remained until 1934, leaving a complex legacy that continues to influence Haiti's governance and U.S.-Caribbean relations.
1915
occupation of Haiti
1942day.year
World War II: Soviet leader Joseph Stalin issues Order No. 227. In response to alarming German advances, all those who retreat or otherwise leave their positions without orders to do so are to be tried in a military court, with punishment ranging from duty in a shtrafbat battalion, imprisonment in a Gulag, or execution.
Joseph Stalin issues Order No. 227, famously commanding 'Not one step back!' to stem Soviet retreats during World War II.
Issued on July 28, 1942, Order No. 227 demanded strict discipline as German forces advanced toward Stalingrad. It prohibited unauthorized retreats, sentencing violators to penal battalions ('shtrafbats'), Gulag imprisonment, or execution. The directive also established blocking detachments to shoot deserters and reinforced political commissars’ authority. Aimed at bolstering morale and preventing further losses, it reflected Stalin’s ruthless approach to leadership. The order had a profound impact on Red Army conduct, instilling fear but also reinforcing defensive resolve. Though controversial, it contributed to the eventual Soviet stand at Stalingrad and reshaped the Eastern Front’s dynamics.
1942
World War II
Joseph Stalin
Order No. 227
German
shtrafbat
Gulag
1943day.year
World War II: Operation Gomorrah: The Royal Air Force bombs Hamburg, Germany causing a firestorm that kills 42,000 German civilians.
The RAF launches Operation Gomorrah, a massive air raid on Hamburg that ignites a lethal firestorm.
Beginning on the night of July 28, 1943, the Royal Air Force conducted a series of concentrated bombing raids on Hamburg, Germany, to cripple its industrial base and morale. Using H2S radar and incendiary bombs, the attack created a ferocious firestorm that engulfed large swaths of the city. Temperatures soared, winds intensified, and buildings collapsed in flaming debris. Approximately 42,000 civilians perished, and over one million were left homeless. The devastation marked one of the deadliest aerial bombardments of World War II and sparked ethical debates over area bombing. Operation Gomorrah demonstrated the destructive power of strategic air warfare and influenced future Allied operations.
1943
Operation Gomorrah
Hamburg, Germany
firestorm
1965day.year
Vietnam War: U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson announces his order to increase the number of United States troops in South Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000.
President Lyndon B. Johnson orders a major increase of U.S. troops in South Vietnam, escalating American involvement in the Vietnam War.
On July 28, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War.
He ordered an increase of ground troops in South Vietnam from 75,000 to 125,000 soldiers.
This decision marked the largest surge of American forces since the conflict began.
Johnson argued the move was necessary to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam.
Critics warned it would deepen U.S. entanglement and risk further casualties.
The buildup fundamentally shaped the next phase of the war and domestic opposition at home.
It set the stage for years of intense combat and growing anti-war sentiment in the United States.
1965
Vietnam War
Lyndon B. Johnson
South Vietnam
2005day.year
The Provisional Irish Republican Army calls an end to its thirty-year-long armed campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland.
The Provisional Irish Republican Army officially ends its 30-year armed campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland.
On July 28, 2005, the Provisional Irish Republican Army declared an end to its thirty-year armed campaign against British rule in Northern Ireland.
The announcement marked a pivotal moment in the peace process known as The Troubles.
By formally renouncing violence, the IRA paved the way for enhanced political dialogue.
Leaders emphasized a transition toward democratic and peaceful means to achieve Irish unity.
The move was widely welcomed by governments and communities committed to lasting peace.
2005
Provisional Irish Republican Army
Northern Ireland