1805day.year
War of the Third Coalition: Battle of Austerlitz: French troops under Napoleon decisively defeat a joint Russo-Austrian force.
In 1805, Napoleon achieved a masterful victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, decisively defeating Russo-Austrian forces.
Fought on December 2 near Austerlitz (modern-day Slavkov u Brna), the battle is considered Napoleon's greatest military triumph. Employing feigned weakness in his right flank, he lured the Allied forces into a trap before launching a decisive counterattack. The French Grande Armée crushed over 36,000 Allied troops while sustaining fewer than 9,000 casualties. The victory shattered the Third Coalition and led to the Treaty of Pressburg, forcing Austria out of the war. Austerlitz's innovative tactics and use of terrain make it a classic study in military strategy and command.
1805
War of the Third Coalition
Battle of Austerlitz
Napoleon
Russo
Austrian
1859day.year
Origins of the American Civil War: Militant abolitionist leader John Brown is hanged for his October raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia).
Militant abolitionist John Brown was executed on December 2, 1859, for his raid on Harpers Ferry. His death galvanized tensions that led to the American Civil War.
John Brown, a fiery abolitionist leader who sought to end slavery by force, led an armed insurrection at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, in October 1859. Captured after a brief siege at the federal armory, he stood trial for treason, murder, and inciting slave insurrection. On December 2, 1859, Brown was hanged, becoming a martyr to the abolitionist cause in the North and a figure of fear in the South. His execution was widely covered in newspapers, inflaming public opinion on both sides of the slavery debate. For many Northerners, Brown's willingness to die for emancipation symbolized the moral imperative to abolish slavery. In the South, his actions were viewed as evidence of Northern aggression and threat to the institution of slavery. Historians consider Brown's raid and execution as key events that propelled the nation toward civil war. His complex legacy endures in American memory, inspiring later civil rights movements.
1859
Origins of the American Civil War
abolitionist
John Brown
October raid
Harpers Ferry, Virginia
1899day.year
Philippine–American War: The Battle of Tirad Pass, known as the "Filipino Thermopylae", is fought.
On December 2, 1899, Filipino and American forces clashed at the Battle of Tirad Pass during the Philippine–American War. Dubbed the 'Filipino Thermopylae', the engagement became a symbol of heroic resistance.
The Battle of Tirad Pass took place on December 2, 1899, in northern Luzon, Philippines. Filipino revolutionary General Gregorio del Pilar and a small band of soldiers held a strategic mountain pass against pursuing U.S. troops. The Filipinos' courageous stand delayed the American advance and allowed President Emilio Aguinaldo to escape capture. Despite being heavily outnumbered and eventually overwhelmed, del Pilar's forces inflicted significant casualties. Their sacrifice earned the battle the moniker "Filipino Thermopylae" in recognition of the ancient Greek stand at Thermopylae. The engagement highlighted Filipino determination and the fierce nature of resistance during the Philippine–American War. News of Tirad Pass resonated both in the Philippines and the United States, shaping perceptions of the conflict. Today, the battle is commemorated as a poignant example of bravery and tactical skill in Philippine history.
1899
Philippine–American War
Battle of Tirad Pass
1917day.year
World War I: Russia and the Central Powers sign an armistice at Brest-Litovsk, and peace talks leading to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk begin.
On December 2, 1917, Russia and the Central Powers signed an armistice at Brest-Litovsk, halting hostilities on the Eastern Front. The move paved the way for peace talks and the later Treaty of Brest-Litovsk.
Amid the turmoil of World War I and the Russian Revolution, Bolshevik leaders sought to exit the conflict. On December 2, 1917, Russian representatives signed an armistice with the Central Powers at Brest-Litovsk. This ceasefire stopped fighting in the East and allowed delegates to negotiate terms of a lasting peace. The subsequent talks led to the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918, under which Russia ceded vast territories to Germany and its allies. The agreement freed up German forces for the Western Front but sparked controversy within Russia. Many Bolsheviks viewed the concessions as necessary to consolidate power, while others decried them as humiliating. The ceasefire at Brest-Litovsk marked a dramatic shift in World War I dynamics and influenced post-war borders in Eastern Europe. Its legacy underscores the complex interplay of revolution, war, and diplomacy.
1917
World War I
Brest-Litovsk
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
1943day.year
World War II: A Luftwaffe bombing raid on the harbour of Bari, Italy, sinks numerous cargo and transport ships, including the American SS John Harvey, which is carrying a stockpile of mustard gas.
A German Luftwaffe raid on Bari harbor in Italy sinks Allied ships, including SS John Harvey, releasing mustard gas.
In the early hours of December 2, 1943, the German Luftwaffe launched a surprise bombing raid on the Allied naval base at Bari.
The attack sank over twenty cargo and transport vessels, crippling supply lines for the Italian campaign.
Among the wrecks was the American Liberty ship SS John Harvey, secretly carrying a cache of mustard gas.
When the ship exploded, the chemical agent leaked into the harbor, exposing military personnel and civilians.
Initially, the presence of mustard gas was concealed, complicating medical treatment for the exposed.
The disaster underscored the horrors of chemical warfare and prompted new safety protocols.
Allied forces eventually secured the harbor, but the incident remained shrouded in secrecy for years.
Today, the Bari raid is remembered for its tragic blend of conventional bombing and chemical danger.
1943
Luftwaffe bombing raid
Bari
SS John Harvey
mustard gas
1950day.year
Korean War: The Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River ends with a decisive Chinese victory and UN forces are completely expelled from North Korea.
In the Korean War, Chinese forces decisively defeat UN troops at the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River, expelling them from North Korea.
From November 25 to December 2, 1950, the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River saw Chinese People's Volunteer Army forces launch a massive counteroffensive against United Nations troops.
The surprise push forced UN soldiers into a chaotic retreat across the icy river and mountain passes.
American and allied units suffered heavy casualties and equipment losses amid extreme winter conditions.
The Chinese victory halted the UN advance into North Korea and shifted the war's momentum.
It prompted a strategic reassessment by UN commanders and reinforced Chinese determination.
This battle underscored the harsh realities of mountainous terrain and the human cost of war.
Casualty estimates vary, but the engagement remains one of the war's largest and most consequential clashes.
The outcome solidified the front lines near the 38th parallel and set the stage for protracted negotiations.
1950
Korean War
Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River
UN forces
North Korea
1956day.year
The Granma reaches the shores of Cuba's Oriente Province. Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and 80 other members of the 26th of July Movement disembark to initiate the Cuban Revolution.
Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries land in Cuba aboard the Granma, sparking the Cuban Revolution.
In the pre-dawn hours of December 2, 1956, the yacht Granma landed on the shores of Cuba's Oriente Province.
Among the 82 passengers were Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and members of the 26th of July Movement.
The group sought to overthrow the authoritarian regime of Fulgencio Batista.
Although ambushed shortly after landing, survivors regrouped in the Sierra Maestra mountains.
Their guerrilla campaign grew as peasants and dissidents joined the rebel forces.
Over the next two years, the movement gained momentum, capturing national attention.
The landing is celebrated as the symbolic beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
It ultimately led to Batista's fall and the establishment of a communist government in 1959.
1956
Granma
Cuba
Oriente Province
Fidel Castro
Che Guevara
26th of July Movement
Cuban Revolution
1962day.year
Vietnam War: After a trip to Vietnam at the request of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield becomes the first American official to comment adversely on the war's progress.
In 1962, Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, following a visit to Vietnam, became the first U.S. official to publicly criticize the war's progress.
After traveling to Vietnam at President Kennedy’s request, Senator Mike Mansfield returned to Washington with doubts about the conflict’s trajectory. On December 2, 1962, he became the first high-ranking U.S. official to voice concerns over the war effort. Mansfield’s remarks broke from the administration’s optimistic narrative and signaled growing apprehension within government ranks. His public criticism influenced congressional debates and fueled broader scrutiny of U.S. involvement. The shift marked an early turning point in domestic sentiment toward the Vietnam War, paving the way for future dissent among policymakers and the public.
1962
Vietnam War
Vietnam
John F. Kennedy
U.S. Senate Majority Leader
Mike Mansfield
1975day.year
Laotian Civil War: The Pathet Lao seizes the Laotian capital of Vientiane, forces the abdication of King Sisavang Vatthana, and proclaims the Lao People's Democratic Republic.
In 1975, the Pathet Lao seized Vientiane, forcing King Sisavang Vatthana’s abdication and establishing the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
On December 2, 1975, communist forces of the Pathet Lao entered Vientiane, effectively ending the Laotian Civil War. King Sisavang Vatthana was compelled to abdicate, and the monarchy was abolished. The Pathet Lao proclaimed the Lao People’s Democratic Republic under a one-party socialist government. This event marked the culmination of decades-long conflict influenced by broader Cold War dynamics in Southeast Asia. It also prompted significant social and economic restructuring as the new government implemented collectivization policies. The establishment of the republic reshaped Laos’s political landscape and aligned it more closely with its communist neighbors.
1975
Laotian Civil War
Pathet Lao
Laotian
Vientiane
Sisavang Vatthana
1980day.year
Salvadoran Civil War: Four American missionaries are raped and murdered by a death squad.
In 1980, amid the Salvadoran Civil War, four American missionaries were raped and murdered by a death squad.
On December 2, 1980, four U.S. missionary women working in El Salvador were brutally murdered by members of a right-wing death squad. The victims had been providing medical and educational aid in rural communities. Their rape and murder shocked international opinion and brought renewed attention to human rights abuses in El Salvador. The atrocity increased pressure on the Salvadoran government and its U.S. supporters to address wartime violence. It also galvanized religious and humanitarian groups, influencing future U.S. policy debates on foreign aid and intervention in Central America.
1980
Salvadoran Civil War
Four American missionaries
1989day.year
The Peace Agreement of Hat Yai is signed and ratified by the Malayan Communist Party (MCP) and the governments of Malaysia and Thailand, ending the over two-decade-long communist insurgency in Malaysia.
The Peace Agreement of Hat Yai is signed on December 2, 1989, ending over two decades of communist insurgency in Malaysia.
Representatives of the Malayan Communist Party, Malaysia, and Thailand convene in Hat Yai, Thailand, to negotiate peace.
The agreement formally ends the armed insurgency that began in the 1940s and escalated in the late 1960s.
Key terms include the surrender of weapons, rehabilitation of former fighters, and amnesty provisions.
The pact restores stability to Malaysia's jungles and border regions, improving security for civilians.
It reflects a regional commitment to resolving conflict through dialogue rather than violence.
The Peace Agreement of Hat Yai becomes a model for negotiating the end of guerrilla movements in Southeast Asia.
1989
Peace Agreement of Hat Yai
Malayan Communist Party
communist insurgency in Malaysia
2015day.year
San Bernardino attack: Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik kill 14 people and wound 22 at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California.
A married couple carries out a mass shooting at a public health event in San Bernardino, killing 14 and injuring 22.
On December 2, 2015, at a holiday gathering for county health department employees at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik opened fire, resulting in 14 deaths and 22 injuries.
The attackers, who later died in a shootout with police, targeted an event they had previously attended.
The incident shocked the nation, renewing debates over terrorism, gun control, and public safety.
Investigators described the shooting as an act of radical extremism, linking it to the ideology of the Islamic State group.
The attack prompted tightened security measures at public gatherings and intensified scrutiny of domestic terror threats.
2015
San Bernardino attack
Syed
Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik
Inland Regional Center
San Bernardino, California