November 28

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1443day.year

Skanderbeg and his forces liberate Kruja in central Albania and raise the Albanian flag.

Albanian hero Skanderbeg reclaimed the fortress of Kruja and raised the Albanian flag in a bold act of resistance.
On 11 November 1443, George Kastrioti Skanderbeg led a daring strike against the Ottoman garrison at the fortress of Kruja, liberating the key stronghold in central Albania. He hoisted the red Albanian flag atop the battlements, symbolizing national unity and defiance against Ottoman domination. This bold move sparked a protracted rebellion, rallying disparate Albanian clans to Skanderbeg’s cause. His guerrilla tactics and mastery of terrain would frustrate Ottoman forces for decades. Kruja became the epicenter of Albanian resistance and a lasting emblem of indigenous struggle for independence.
1443 Skanderbeg Kruja Albania Albanian flag
1470day.year

Champa–Đại Việt War: Emperor Lê Thánh Tông of Đại Việt formally launches his attack against Champa.

Emperor Lê Thánh Tông launched a decisive offensive against Champa, reshaping the political map of Southeast Asia.
On 11 November 1470, Emperor Lê Thánh Tông of Đại Việt ordered a full-scale invasion of the neighboring kingdom of Champa, igniting the Champa–Đại Việt War. The well-organized Đại Việt forces employed advanced military tactics and artillery to breach Cham defenses swiftly. Within months, Lê Thánh Tông’s army captured key coastal fortresses, leading to the eventual annexation of central regions. This campaign ended centuries of conflict along Vietnam’s central coast and integrated Cham territories into Đại Việt. The victory ushered in a period of cultural exchange and territorial expansion, laying foundations for a unified Vietnamese state.
1470 Champa–Đại Việt War Lê Thánh Tông Đại Việt Champa
1627day.year

The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy has its greatest and last naval victory in the Battle of Oliwa.

The Polish–Lithuanian fleet won a decisive victory at the Battle of Oliwa, its greatest naval triumph.
On 11 November 1627, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy achieved its most significant success at the Battle of Oliwa near Gdańsk Bay. Facing a superior Swedish naval force, Commonwealth sailors executed daring maneuvers and captured enemy vessels, showcasing skilled seamanship. The victory disrupted Swedish control of the Baltic Sea and boosted morale within the Commonwealth’s maritime ranks. Although this triumph did not end the conflicts of the Thirty Years’ War, it remains a celebrated highlight of Poland-Lithuania’s naval history. The engagement underscored the strategic importance of sea power in 17th-century Northern Europe.
1627 Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Navy Battle of Oliwa
1666day.year

At least 3,000 men of the Royal Scots Army led by Tam Dalyell of the Binns defeat about 900 Covenanter insurgents led by James Wallace of Auchens in the Battle of Rullion Green.

The Royal Scots Army crushed Covenanter rebels at the Battle of Rullion Green in the Pentland Hills.
On 11 November 1666, Tam Dalyell of the Binns commanded a force of around 3,000 Royal Scots soldiers against approximately 900 Covenanter insurgents at Rullion Green. Despite fierce resistance, the royal troops leveraged superior artillery and cavalry to secure a decisive victory. This clash ended the Pentland Rising, a brief but intense revolt against King Charles II’s imposition of episcopal church governance. In the aftermath, harsh reprisals included executions and transportations of captured rebels. The battle highlighted the deep religious and political tensions that would continue to shape Scottish history throughout the Stuart period.
1666 Royal Scots Army Tam Dalyell of the Binns Covenanter James Wallace of Auchens Battle of Rullion Green
1861day.year

American Civil War: The Confederate States of America accept a rival state government's pronouncement that declares Missouri to be the 12th state of the Confederacy.

During the Civil War in 1861, the Confederacy recognized a rival Missouri government’s claim, admitting it as its 12th state despite Union control.
On November 28, 1861, the Confederate States of America accepted a proclamation from a Missouri secessionist government declaring the state’s entry as the Confederacy’s twelfth member. Although Union troops maintained control over most of Missouri, pro-Confederate lawmakers in exile voted to secede alongside other Southern states. The Confederate government’s recognition underscored its efforts to legitimize regional support and expand its territorial claims. Missouri’s status would remain contested throughout the war, witnessing guerrilla violence and divided loyalties. Despite the formal admission, the lack of effective Confederate governance left the designation largely symbolic. The episode highlighted the complex nature of border state politics during America’s bloodiest conflict.
1861 American Civil War Confederate States of America pronouncement Missouri
1862day.year

American Civil War: In the Battle of Cane Hill, Union troops under General James G. Blunt defeat General John Marmaduke's Confederates.

In the Battle of Cane Hill on November 28, 1862, Union forces under General James G. Blunt overran Confederate troops led by General John S. Marmaduke in northwest Arkansas.
On November 28, 1862, during the American Civil War, Union Brigadier General James G. Blunt launched a surprise attack on Confederate forces under Brigadier General John S. Marmaduke near Cane Hill, Arkansas. Blunt’s well-coordinated flanking maneuvers exploited gaps in the Confederate line, turning the tide in favor of the Union. Marmaduke’s troops, hampered by poor reconnaissance and supply shortages, were forced to retreat toward Prairie Grove. The victory disrupted Confederate operations in the region and boosted Northern morale ahead of the Prairie Grove Campaign. It also demonstrated the effectiveness of aggressive cavalry tactics in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. Though overshadowed by larger battles, Cane Hill had strategic importance in controlling northwest Arkansas.
1862 American Civil War Battle of Cane Hill Union James G. Blunt John Marmaduke
1885day.year

Bulgarian victory in the Serbo-Bulgarian War preserves the Unification of Bulgaria.

In late 1885, Bulgarian forces defeated Serbia in the Serbo-Bulgarian War, ensuring the unification of Bulgaria remained intact.
On November 28, 1885, Bulgaria emerged victorious over Serbian invaders in the concluding engagements of the Serbo-Bulgarian War. The conflict had erupted after Bulgaria’s unification with Eastern Rumelia earlier that year, prompting King Milan I of Serbia to declare war. Bulgarian troops, benefiting from superior organization and popular support, defeated multiple Serbian assaults across the border. The decisive outcome affirmed the annexation of Eastern Rumelia and secured Bulgaria’s territorial integrity. European powers brokered a ceasefire shortly thereafter, recognizing the status quo. This triumph bolstered Bulgarian nationalism, elevating the young state’s standing among its Balkan neighbors and on the international stage.
1885 Serbo-Bulgarian War Unification of Bulgaria
1899day.year

The Second Boer War: A British column is engaged by Boer forces at the Battle of Modder River; although the Boers withdraw, the British suffer heavy casualties.

During the Second Boer War on November 28, 1899, Boer forces engaged a British column at the Battle of Modder River, inflicting heavy casualties despite ultimately withdrawing.
On November 28, 1899, amid the Second Boer War, a British relief column advancing to relieve besieged Kimberley clashed with Boer forces at the Modder River. The Boers utilized entrenched positions and modern magazine rifles to deliver devastating fire. Although the British eventually forced the Boers to withdraw, they suffered significant losses and demonstrated the deadly effectiveness of Boer tactics. The battle highlighted the challenges of conventional frontal assaults against well-prepared defensive lines. This encounter underscored the evolving nature of warfare at the turn of the century and influenced British military tactics in subsequent operations.
1899 Second Boer War Boer Battle of Modder River
1918day.year

The Soviet Forces move against Estonia when the 6th Red Rifle Division strikes the border town of Narva, marking the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence.

The Estonian War of Independence began on November 28, 1918 when Soviet forces attacked the border town of Narva.
On November 28, 1918, as World War I concluded, the 6th Red Rifle Division of Soviet Russia crossed into Estonia and attacked the strategic border town of Narva. This incursion ignited the Estonian War of Independence as locals rallied to defend their homeland. Estonian units, bolstered by volunteers and later British naval support, resisted Soviet advances along the Narva front. The conflict became a crucible for Estonia's fight to secure sovereignty amid the chaos of postwar Europe. After grueling battles and international intervention, Estonia would sign the Treaty of Tartu in 1920, gaining official recognition. The war's outbreak on this date is commemorated as the beginning of Estonia's hard-fought path to nationhood.
1918 Soviet Forces move against Estonia 6th Red Rifle Division Narva Estonian War of Independence
1920day.year

Irish War of Independence: Kilmichael Ambush: The Irish Republican Army ambush a convoy of British Auxiliaries and kill seventeen.

On November 28, 1920, the IRA ambushed a British Auxiliary convoy at Kilmichael, killing seventeen.
The Kilmichael Ambush took place on November 28, 1920, during the Irish War of Independence. Members of the IRA under Tom Barry attacked a convoy of British Auxiliary forces near Kilmichael, County Cork. In a carefully planned operation, the IRA used tactical deception and surprise to overwhelm the Auxiliaries. Seventeen Auxiliaries were killed and others wounded, marking one of the deadliest engagements of the conflict. The ambush boosted the morale of Irish republicans and intensified British reprisals in the region. It remains a notable example of guerrilla warfare and small-unit tactics.
Irish War of Independence Kilmichael Ambush Irish Republican Army Auxiliaries
1943day.year

World War II: Tehran Conference: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin meet in Tehran, Iran, to discuss war strategy.

On November 28, 1943, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin convened in Tehran to coordinate Allied strategy for World War II.
The Tehran Conference marked the first meeting of the “Big Three” Allied leaders. Over two weeks, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill, and Premier Stalin discussed plans for a Western front in Europe. They laid the groundwork for Operation Overlord, setting the stage for the 1944 Normandy landings. Conversations also addressed postwar boundaries, the fate of Germany, and Soviet entry into the war against Japan. Held in the midst of global conflict, the conference showcased Allied cooperation amid underlying tensions. Its outcomes shaped both military operations and the postwar geopolitical order.
1943 World War II Tehran Conference President Franklin D. Roosevelt Prime Minister Winston Churchill Premier Joseph Stalin Tehran, Iran
1964day.year

Vietnam War: National Security Council members agree to recommend that U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson adopt a plan for a two-stage escalation of bombing in North Vietnam.

On November 28, 1964, the U.S. National Security Council recommended a two-stage escalation of bombing operations in North Vietnam.
As the Vietnam conflict deepened, President Johnson sought options to pressure Hanoi. The National Security Council met and agreed to advise an incremental bombing strategy. The plan called for an initial limited campaign to gauge enemy response, followed by a broader offensive. This recommendation marked a shift toward direct U.S. military engagement in Vietnam. It laid the groundwork for Operation Rolling Thunder, which commenced in early 1965. The campaign became one of the longest sustained aerial bombardments in history.
Vietnam War National Security Council Lyndon B. Johnson North Vietnam