1161day.year
Battle of Caishi: A Song dynasty fleet fights a naval engagement with Jin dynasty ships on the Yangtze river during the Jin–Song Wars.
During the Jin–Song Wars in 1161, the Song naval forces repelled the Jin fleet at Caishi on the Yangtze River.
On November 26, 1161, a Song dynasty fleet clashed with the Jin dynasty navy on the Yangtze River, seeking to defend southern China.
The Song forces, led by skilled admirals, deployed innovative paddle-wheel warships and used incendiary bombs to great effect.
Jin commanders sought to secure a water route for invasion, but were caught off guard by the more maneuverable Song vessels.
Fierce close-quarters fighting in the narrow river channels allowed the Song navy to gain the upper hand.
The Jin fleet suffered heavy losses and was forced into retreat, halting their southern advance.
The Battle of Caishi remains a landmark in naval warfare and showcases the strategic and technological prowess of the Song dynasty.
1161
Battle of Caishi
Song dynasty
Jin dynasty
Yangtze
Jin–Song Wars
1476day.year
Vlad the Impaler defeats Basarab Laiota with the help of Stephen the Great and Stephen V Báthory and becomes the ruler of Wallachia for the third time.
Vlad the Impaler, aided by Stephen the Great and Stephen V Báthory, reclaims the Wallachian throne for a third time in 1476.
Facing internal rivalries and external threats, Vlad III of Wallachia sought to regain his father's legacy in the region.
In November 1476, he allied with Stephen the Great of Moldavia and Hungarian prince Stephen V Báthory to confront rival claimant Basarab Laiota.
The combined forces engaged Laiota’s supporters in a decisive campaign, culminating in Vlad’s victory and reinstatement.
His return to power marked the third time Vlad would rule Wallachia, solidifying his reputation as a fierce and determined leader.
This episode exemplifies the complex alliances and power struggles of Eastern European principalities during the 15th century.
1476
Vlad the Impaler
Basarab Laiota
Stephen the Great
Stephen V Báthory
Wallachia
1812day.year
The Battle of Berezina begins during Napoleon's retreat from Russia.
During Napoleon’s disastrous retreat from Moscow in 1812, the Grande Armée began its perilous crossing at the Berezina River.
In late November 1812, Napoleon’s retreating forces reached the frozen banks of the Berezina River in present-day Belarus.
Outnumbered and demoralized, the Grande Armée faced Russian troops under Generals Chichagov and Wittgenstein.
Rapidly constructed pontoon bridges allowed sections of the army to cross, while rear-guard units held off pursuing forces.
Harsh winter conditions, chaotic fighting, and logistical breakdowns inflicted heavy casualties on both sides.
Despite the colossal losses, Napoleon’s army managed to escape encirclement, but the battle marked a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars.
1812
Battle of Berezina
Napoleon
Russia
1865day.year
Battle of Papudo: A Spanish navy schooner is defeated by a Chilean corvette north of Valparaíso, Chile.
In 1865, the Chilean navy scored a victory over a Spanish schooner off the coast of Valparaíso during the Chincha Islands War.
On November 26, 1865, Chilean naval forces intercepted and defeated the Spanish schooner Covadonga near Valparaíso.
The engagement was part of the Chincha Islands War, where Spain sought to reassert influence in South America.
Commanded by Captain Juan Williams Rebolledo, the Chilean corvette Esmeralda used superior tactics and firepower to capture the enemy vessel.
The victory boosted Chilean morale and disrupted Spanish naval operations in the Pacific.
The Battle of Papudo remains a celebrated episode in Chile’s maritime history and symbol of national resilience.
1865
Battle of Papudo
Valparaíso
1920day.year
Ukrainian War of Independence: The Red Army launches a surprise attack against the Makhnovshchina.
On November 26, 1920, during the Ukrainian War of Independence, the Red Army launched a surprise attack against the anarchist Makhnovshchina, shaking the anarchist stronghold.
During the Ukrainian War of Independence, the anarchist forces known as the Makhnovshchina established a stronghold in southeastern Ukraine. The Red Army launched a surprise attack on the Makhnovist positions around Pologi and Huliaipole. The offensive was part of Bolshevik efforts to consolidate control over Ukraine. Fierce fighting ensued, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The action weakened the Makhnovists and led to their eventual defeat. The conflict highlighted the complex interplay between nationalist, anarchist, and Bolshevik forces during the Russian Civil War.
1920
Ukrainian War of Independence
Red Army
surprise attack
Makhnovshchina
1939day.year
Shelling of Mainila: The Soviet Army orchestrates an incident which is used to justify the start of the Winter War with Finland four days later.
On November 26, 1939, the Soviet Union staged the Shelling of Mainila to justify launching the Winter War against Finland.
Soviet forces bombarded their own village of Mainila on the Karelian Isthmus, killing several Red Army soldiers. The attack was falsely blamed on Finnish troops, providing propaganda to justify military action. Four days later, the Winter War commenced as the Red Army invaded Finland. Finnish forces, though outnumbered, mounted a fierce defense using guerrilla tactics and knowledge of the terrain. The conflict exposed weaknesses in the Soviet military and garnered international sympathy for Finland. The Shelling of Mainila remains a notorious example of a false-flag operation in modern warfare.
1939
Shelling of Mainila
Soviet Army
Winter War
1941day.year
World War II: The Hull note is given to the Japanese ambassador, demanding that Japan withdraw from China and French Indochina, in return for which the United States would lift economic sanctions. On the same day, Japan's 1st Air Fleet departs Hitokappu Bay for Hawaii.
On November 26, 1941, the United States delivered the Hull note to Japan demanding withdrawal from occupied territories, while Japan’s 1st Air Fleet set sail for Hawaii.
With tensions escalating in the Pacific, U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull presented Japan with an ultimatum demanding the withdrawal of Japanese forces from China and French Indochina. President Roosevelt agreed to lift economic sanctions in return. The note was seen in Tokyo as a final demand and pushed Japan closer to war. Unbeknownst to the United States, Japan’s 1st Air Fleet, centered around its carrier strike force, set sail from Hitokappu Bay en route to Pearl Harbor. This simultaneous diplomatic and military maneuver highlighted the impending clash. Eight days later, on December 7, 1941, Japan launched its surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, drawing the U.S. into World War II.
1941
World War II
Hull note
French Indochina
Hitokappu Bay
1942day.year
World War II: Yugoslav Partisans convene the first meeting of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia at Bihać in northwestern Bosnia.
Yugoslav Partisans hold the inaugural session of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia in Bihać to unite resistance efforts against Axis occupiers.
In November 1942, representatives of the Yugoslav Partisans gathered in Bihać, Bosnia, for the first session of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ).
The council was established to coordinate military and civilian resistance against Axis forces occupying Yugoslavia.
This meeting laid the political groundwork for a post-war federal state under Partisan leadership.
Delegates discussed political organization, social reforms, and strategies to liberate occupied territories.
AVNOJ later became the de facto wartime government, uniting various partisan groups across the region.
The decisions made at Bihać influenced the communist-led administration that emerged after World War II.
This event marked a crucial step in the Partisan movement's transition from guerrilla warfare to state-building.
1942
Yugoslav Partisans
Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia
Bihać
Bosnia
1943day.year
World War II: HMT Rohna is sunk by the Luftwaffe in an air attack in the Mediterranean north of Béjaïa, Algeria.
The British troopship HMT Rohna is sunk by a German air attack in the Mediterranean, causing significant loss of life.
On November 26, 1943, the troop transport ship HMT Rohna was struck by guided bombs dropped by the German Luftwaffe north of Béjaïa, Algeria.
Carrying American and British soldiers, the vessel sank rapidly, resulting in the deaths of over 1,000 servicemen.
Rescue efforts by escort ships and life rafts saved hundreds, but the high casualty count made it one of the deadliest maritime disasters of World War II.
Official recognition of the full extent of the tragedy was delayed for decades due to wartime secrecy and classification of records.
The sinking of Rohna highlighted the growing threat posed by guided munitions in naval warfare and influenced post-war naval defense strategies.
1943
HMT Rohna
Luftwaffe
Mediterranean
Béjaïa
Algeria
1944day.year
World War II: A German V-2 rocket hits a Woolworth's shop in New Cross, London, killing 168 people.
A German V-2 rocket strikes a Woolworth's store in New Cross, London, resulting in 168 civilian deaths.
On November 26, 1944, a V-2 rocket launched by Nazi Germany impacted the crowded Woolworth's department store in New Cross, southeast London.
The blast destroyed multiple floors of the building and claimed the lives of 168 shoppers and staff members.
This attack represented one of the largest single civilian casualties caused by the new class of long-range ballistic missiles.
The V-2 weaponry, developed by the German rocket program, brought terror to British cities with its supersonic strikes and minimal warning.
London's emergency services and community volunteers responded heroically, managing rescue operations amid continued threat from V-weapons.
1944
V-2 rocket
New Cross
1944day.year
World War II: Germany begins V-1 and V-2 attacks on Antwerp, Belgium.
Germany launches the first V-1 flying bombs and V-2 rockets against the strategic port city of Antwerp.
On November 26, 1944, Nazi Germany escalated its V-weapons campaign by targeting the crucial Allied supply hub of Antwerp, Belgium.
V-1 flying bombs and V-2 ballistic missiles were fired toward the port and surrounding urban areas in an effort to disrupt logistics and morale.
Allied anti-air defenses scrambled to intercept the incoming weapons, but some managed to strike with devastating impact.
The bombardment caused civilian casualties and damage to docks, warehouses, and transportation infrastructure.
This marked a shift in German strategy as conventional forces retreated, relying increasingly on advanced but indiscriminate weapons technology.
Despite the attacks, the port of Antwerp remained operational, playing a vital role in the final Allied push into Germany.
Germany
V-1
V-2
Antwerp
1950day.year
Korean War: Communist Chinese troops launch a massive counterattack (Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River and Battle of Chosin Reservoir) against United Nations and South Korean forces.
Chinese forces launch a large-scale counteroffensive against United Nations and South Korean troops during the Korean War.
On November 26, 1950, elements of the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army mounted a surprise counterattack along the Ch'ongch'on River in northwestern Korea.
Simultaneous actions at the Chosin Reservoir placed U.S. Marines and UN forces in perilous positions amid freezing conditions.
The Chinese offensive exploited overextended supply lines and lack of intelligence among UN commanders.
Facing encirclement, UN forces conducted strategic withdrawals that significantly shifted the momentum of the war.
The battles demonstrated the resilience of Chinese military strategy and led to a stalemate that lasted until the armistice agreement in 1953.
1950
Korean War
Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River
Battle of Chosin Reservoir