November 19

Events - Wars & Conflicts

636day.year

The Rashidun Caliphate defeats the Sasanian Empire at the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah in Iraq.

The Rashidun Caliphate achieved a decisive victory over the Sasanian Empire at the Battle of al-Qādisiyyah in Iraq.
The Battle of al-Qādisiyyah occurred on November 19, 636, near modern-day Al-Qadisiyah in southern Iraq. In a decisive engagement, the Rashidun Caliphate's forces defeated the larger army of the Sasanian Empire. Commanded by Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqās, the Muslim troops used superior tactics and morale to overcome their opponents. This victory opened the path to Ctesiphon, the Sasanian capital, hastening the empire's collapse. The battle secured Muslim control of Mesopotamia and reshaped the political landscape of the region. Al-Qādisiyyah remains a landmark event in the history of early Islamic expansion.
636 Rashidun Caliphate Sasanian Empire Battle of al-Qādisiyyah Iraq
1808day.year

Finnish War: The Convention of Olkijoki in Raahe ends hostilities in Finland.

The Convention of Olkijoki ended hostilities in Finland during the Finnish War.
On November 19, 1808, Sweden and Russia signed the Convention of Olkijoki in Raahe, Finland. This armistice halted active combat in the Finnish War while peace terms were negotiated. It allowed Swedish troops to withdraw honorably and marked a shift toward Russian control of Finland. The agreement provided temporary relief for civilians and military alike amidst prolonged hostilities since February. Ultimately, the convention paved the way for the 1809 Treaty of Fredrikshamn, which ceded Finnish territory to Russia. The event played a crucial role in the geopolitical realignment of Northern Europe during the Napoleonic era.
1808 Finnish War Raahe Finland
1863day.year

American Civil War: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address at the dedication ceremony for the military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, a defining moment in American history.
At the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address. In just around two minutes and 272 words, Lincoln honored fallen Union soldiers and reaffirmed the ideals of liberty and equality. He redefined the Civil War as a struggle "that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." The speech's brevity, eloquence, and moral clarity elevated it to a timeless expression of American democracy. Delivered on the battlefield where thousands had died days earlier, it helped heal a divided nation. The Gettysburg Address remains one of the most influential speeches in U.S. history, shaping national identity and political rhetoric.
1863 American Civil War Abraham Lincoln Gettysburg Address military cemetery Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
1885day.year

Serbo-Bulgarian War: Bulgarian victory in the Battle of Slivnitsa solidifies the unification between the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia.

At the Battle of Slivnitsa in November 1885, Bulgarian forces defeated Serbia, cementing the unification of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia.
The Serbo-Bulgarian War erupted over the annexation of Eastern Rumelia by Bulgaria. Bulgarian troops launched a surprise attack at Slivnitsa and repelled the Serbian invasion. Their victory secured the de facto union of the Principality of Bulgaria and Eastern Rumelia. European powers subsequently recognized this unification, bolstering Bulgarian national identity. The battle remains a celebrated moment in Bulgaria’s struggle for independence and statehood.
1885 Serbo-Bulgarian War Battle of Slivnitsa Principality of Bulgaria Eastern Rumelia
1912day.year

First Balkan War: The Serbian Army captures Bitola, ending the five-century-long Ottoman rule of Macedonia.

During the First Balkan War, Serbian forces seized Bitola in 1912, ending Ottoman rule in Macedonia after 500 years.
The First Balkan War began as Balkan states sought to expel Ottoman control from the region. In November 1912, Serbian troops advanced on Bitola, a key administrative center. The capture of the city marked the collapse of Ottoman authority in Macedonia. This victory reshaped borders and intensified national rivalries in the Balkans. The fall of Bitola remains a pivotal moment in Southeast European history.
1912 First Balkan War captures Bitola Macedonia
1941day.year

World War II: Battle between HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran. The two ships sink each other off the coast of Western Australia, with the loss of 645 Australians and about 77 German seamen.

In November 1941, HMAS Sydney and the German raider Kormoran engaged off Western Australia, resulting in both ships’ sinking and heavy loss of life.
The encounter between HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran occurred on November 19, 1941. Both vessels were disguised as merchant ships when they clashed near Shark Bay. Sydney and Kormoran inflicted fatal damage on each other in close-range combat. All 645 crew members of Sydney were lost, while only 77 German sailors survived. The battle remains Australia’s greatest naval loss and a topic of enduring mystery.
1941 World War II Battle between HMAS Sydney and HSK Kormoran German
1942day.year

World War II: Battle of Stalingrad: Soviet Union forces under General Georgy Zhukov launch the Operation Uranus counterattacks at Stalingrad, turning the tide of the battle in the USSR's favor.

General Zhukov’s Operation Uranus began in November 1942, encircling Axis forces at Stalingrad and shifting WWII’s Eastern Front balance.
The Battle of Stalingrad was one of WWII’s bloodiest confrontations. On November 19, 1942, Soviet forces under General Georgy Zhukov launched Operation Uranus. The counteroffensive aimed to encircle German Sixth Army units in and around Stalingrad. Rapid Soviet advances severed Axis supply lines and trapped over 250,000 enemy soldiers. This pivotal victory marked the turning point on the Eastern Front for the Allies.
1942 Battle of Stalingrad Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov Operation Uranus counterattacks Stalingrad
1943day.year

Holocaust: Nazis liquidate Janowska concentration camp in Lemberg (Lviv), western Ukraine, murdering at least 6,000 Jews after a failed uprising and mass escape attempt.

In November 1943, Nazi forces liquidated the Janowska camp near Lviv, executing over 6,000 Jewish prisoners following an uprising.
Janowska was established by the Nazis near Lviv for forced labor and extermination. In October 1943, prisoners staged a revolt and attempted mass escape. On November 19, Nazi units crushed the uprising and systematically murdered remaining inmates. At least 6,000 Jewish men, women, and children were killed in the liquidation. The atrocity stands as a harrowing example of Holocaust brutality.
1943 Nazis Janowska concentration camp Lviv
1944day.year

World War II: Thirty members of the Luxembourgish resistance defend the town of Vianden against a larger Waffen-SS attack in the Battle of Vianden.

In November 1944, thirty Luxembourgish resistors held off a stronger Waffen-SS force at Vianden, demonstrating remarkable courage.
The Battle of Vianden occurred in the final months of WWII’s European theater. Luxembourgish resistance fighters fortified the medieval town against SS troops. Despite being outnumbered, they repelled multiple assaults over two days. The engagement boosted national morale and inspired Allied efforts. Vianden remains a symbol of Luxembourg’s wartime resilience.
Luxembourgish resistance Vianden Waffen-SS Battle of Vianden
1988day.year

Serbian communist representative and future Serbian and Yugoslav president Slobodan Milošević publicly declares that Serbia is under attack from Albanian separatists in Kosovo as well as internal treachery within Yugoslavia and a foreign conspiracy to destroy Serbia and Yugoslavia.

Slobodan Milošević accuses Albanian separatists and foreign conspirators of threatening Serbia and Yugoslavia.
On November 19, 1988, Slobodan Milošević, then a high-ranking Serbian communist representative, publicly declared that Serbia faced attacks from Albanian separatists in Kosovo, internal betrayal, and foreign conspiracies aimed at dismantling Yugoslavia. His fiery rhetoric tapped into rising nationalist sentiments, portraying Serbia as besieged from both within and without. The speech heightened ethnic tensions and contributed to the polarization that preceded the Yugoslav Wars. By framing the crisis as an existential struggle, Milošević consolidated political support and justified repressive measures. Historians consider this address a key moment in the unraveling of Yugoslav unity. The declaration set the tone for the conflicts that erupted in the Balkans in the following years.
1988 Serbian Yugoslav Slobodan Milošević Serbia Albanian Kosovo Yugoslavia
2013day.year

A double suicide bombing at the Iranian embassy in Beirut kills 23 people and injures 160 others.

A double suicide bombing at the Iranian embassy in Beirut killed 23 people and injured 160.
On November 19, 2013, two attackers wearing explosive vests detonated them at the Iranian embassy in Beirut's Verdun district in quick succession. The blasts caused widespread destruction, killing 23 people, including diplomatic staff and civilians, and wounding around 160 bystanders. The Islamic State and Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups were suspected of orchestrating the attack. The bombing heightened tensions in Lebanon's delicate political landscape and sparked international condemnation. Iran vowed to pursue justice for the victims and reinforced security around its diplomatic missions. The incident underscored the persistent threat of militant violence in the Middle East. Security protocols for embassies worldwide were tightened in its aftermath.
2013 double suicide bombing Iranian embassy Beirut