December 13

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1636day.year

The Massachusetts Bay Colony organizes three militia regiments to defend the colony against the Pequot Indians, a date now considered the founding of the National Guard of the United States.

Massachusetts Bay Colony forms militia regiments to defend against the Pequot, marking the National Guard's founding.
In December 1636, the Massachusetts Bay Colony raised three militia regiments for protection against Native American tribes. These local forces were organized to defend settlements during heightened tensions with the Pequot tribe. This initiative represents the earliest organized militia in American history. Centuries later, these units evolved into the modern National Guard of the United States. The militia concept emphasized citizen-soldiers serving part-time in defense of their communities. Today, the National Guard traces its lineage to this foundational moment in 1636.
1636 Massachusetts Bay Colony militia Pequot Indians National Guard of the United States
1643day.year

English Civil War: The Battle of Alton takes place in Hampshire.

A Royalist victory at the Battle of Alton marks an early clash in the English Civil War.
On December 13, 1643, Parliamentarian forces under Sir William Waller attacked Royalist troops at Alton, Hampshire. Despite initial successes, Waller's army was repulsed by defenders loyal to King Charles I. The battle resulted in significant Parliamentarian casualties and a strategic Royalist hold in southern England. It exemplified the ebb and flow of early Civil War engagements between Crown and Parliament. Alton's defense bolstered Royalist morale and delayed Parliamentarian advances in the region. The conflict continued until 1651, reshaping the balance of power in Britain and influencing modern governance.
1643 English Civil War Battle of Alton Hampshire
1862day.year

American Civil War: At the Battle of Fredericksburg, Confederate General Robert E. Lee repulses attacks by Union Major General Ambrose Burnside on Marye's Heights, inflicting heavy casualties.

At the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s forces repelled repeated Union assaults on Marye’s Heights, resulting in heavy Union losses.
On December 13, 1862, during the American Civil War’s Battle of Fredericksburg, Confederate troops under General Robert E. Lee held a strong defensive position atop Marye’s Heights. Union Major General Ambrose Burnside launched multiple frontal assaults against well-entrenched Confederate lines. The resulting attacks led to staggering Union casualties, with thousands of soldiers killed or wounded. Lee’s strategic deployment and the high stone wall fortifications repelled every Union advance. The battle became one of the most lopsided victories for the Confederacy, highlighting the challenges of offensive operations against fortified positions. Its outcome had a profound impact on Northern morale and Burnside’s military career.
1862 American Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg Confederate Robert E. Lee Union Ambrose Burnside
1867day.year

A Fenian bomb explodes in Clerkenwell, London, killing 12 people and injuring 50.

A Fenian bomb detonates in Clerkenwell, London on December 13, 1867, killing 12 people and injuring around 50.
On December 13, 1867, a covert bomb planted by members of the Irish Fenian movement exploded in Clerkenwell, a district of London. The blast shattered windows across the neighborhood and struck the prison wall of Clerkenwell House of Detention. Twelve residents lost their lives, and approximately fifty others suffered injuries of varying severity. The attack aimed to free imprisoned Fenians but resulted in civilian casualties and widespread outrage. Its aftermath saw a crackdown on Irish nationalist activities in Britain and intensified public discourse on security and civil liberties. The incident remains a stark example of 19th-century urban political violence.
1867 Fenian Clerkenwell
1937day.year

Second Sino-Japanese War: Battle of Nanking: The city of Nanjing, defended by the National Revolutionary Army under the command of General Tang Shengzhi, falls to the Japanese. This is followed by the Nanking Massacre, in which Japanese troops rape and slaughter hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Japanese forces capture Nanjing on December 13, 1937, leading to the notorious Nanking Massacre, where hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed.
On December 13, 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Japanese troops overwhelmed Chinese defenders under General Tang Shengzhi and entered Nanjing. The fall of China’s capital marked the beginning of one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. Over the following weeks, Japanese soldiers committed widespread rape and murder, with estimates of civilian and prisoner killings reaching hundreds of thousands. The Nanking Massacre shocked the world and became a defining example of wartime brutality. Eyewitness accounts and contemporary reports documented harrowing scenes of violence against unarmed civilians. The event left deep scars in Sino-Japanese relations and remains a subject of historical research and remembrance ceremonies.
1937 Second Sino-Japanese War Battle of Nanking Nanjing National Revolutionary Army Tang Shengzhi Japanese Nanking Massacre
1938day.year

The Holocaust: The Neuengamme concentration camp opens in the Bergedorf district of Hamburg, Germany.

The Neuengamme concentration camp opens in Hamburg, Germany on December 13, 1938, becoming one of the largest prison camps of the Nazi regime.
On December 13, 1938, the Nazi regime established Neuengamme concentration camp in the Bergedorf district of Hamburg. Initially designed as a subcamp of Sachsenhausen, it quickly expanded to hold thousands of political prisoners, Jews, and other perceived enemies of the state. Prisoners were subjected to forced labor, particularly in nearby brickworks, under brutal conditions. Over its operation, tens of thousands of inmates suffered from malnutrition, disease, and abuse, leading to high death rates. Neuengamme later became the central hub for a network of over 80 subcamps. Liberation came in May 1945 by British forces, uncovering mass graves and evidence of inhumane treatment. Today, the site serves as a memorial and museum to honor the victims and educate future generations.
1938 The Holocaust Neuengamme concentration camp Bergedorf Hamburg
1939day.year

The Battle of the River Plate is fought off the coast of Uruguay; the first naval battle of World War II. The Kriegsmarine's Deutschland-class cruiser (pocket battleship) Admiral Graf Spee engages with three Royal Navy cruisers: HMS Ajax, HMNZS Achilles and HMS Exeter.

The Battle of the River Plate, the first naval battle of World War II, takes place off Uruguay’s coast on December 13, 1939, pitting the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee against three Allied cruisers.
On December 13, 1939, the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee encountered three Allied cruisers—HMS Ajax, HMNZS Achilles, and HMS Exeter—off the coast of Uruguay. In what became the first major naval engagement of World War II, the ships exchanged heavy fire across the River Plate estuary. The Graf Spee’s firepower inflicted notable damage, but the Allied cruisers’ coordinated tactics forced her into retreat. Captain Hans Langsdorff sought refuge in neutral Montevideo to make repairs under international scrutiny. Facing diplomatic pressure and misinformation about enemy strength, he ultimately scuttled the Graf Spee days later. The engagement showcased early war maritime strategy and highlighted the importance of intelligence and morale in naval warfare.
1939 Battle of the River Plate World War II Kriegsmarine Deutschland-class cruiser Admiral Graf Spee Royal Navy HMS Ajax HMNZS Achilles HMS Exeter
1943day.year

World War II: The Massacre of Kalavryta by German occupying forces in Greece.

On December 13, 1943, German occupying forces massacre the male population of Kalavryta, Greece, in a brutal reprisal for resistance activities.
On December 13, 1943, Nazi troops executed a systematic massacre in the mountain town of Kalavryta, Greece. In retaliation for the killing of German soldiers by local resistance, soldiers separated men and boys over the age of 12 from women and children. More than 500 males were lined up and shot, and the town was set ablaze, destroying homes, schools, and churches. Women and children were forced to gather the dead in mass graves, enduring immense psychological trauma. The atrocity became one of the worst wartime crimes against civilians in occupied Greece. Post-war trials condemned the actions, but many perpetrators evaded justice. Today, memorials stand to honor the victims and educate about the dangers of collective punishment.
1943 Massacre of Kalavryta
1974day.year

In the Vietnam War, the North Vietnamese forces launch their 1975 Spring Offensive (to 30 April 1975), which results in the final capitulation of South Vietnam.

North Vietnamese forces launch their 1975 Spring Offensive, initiating the final campaign of the Vietnam War.
On December 13, 1974, the People's Army of Vietnam commenced its Spring Offensive of 1975 against South Vietnamese defenses. Coordinated attacks across multiple fronts overwhelmed Army of the Republic of Vietnam units and weakened civilian morale. Rapid territorial gains and collapsing defensive lines hastened political negotiations and U.S. withdrawal. By April 30, 1975, Saigon fell, leading to the reunification of Vietnam under communist rule. The offensive proved decisive in ending decades of conflict on the Indochinese peninsula.
Vietnam War North Vietnamese 1975 Spring Offensive South Vietnam
1989day.year

The Troubles: Attack on Derryard checkpoint: The Provisional Irish Republican Army launches an attack on a British Army temporary vehicle checkpoint near Rosslea, Northern Ireland. Two British soldiers are killed and two others are wounded.

In 1989, the Provisional IRA attacked a British Army checkpoint near Rosslea, Northern Ireland, resulting in soldier casualties.
As part of the Northern Ireland conflict known as the Troubles, the Provisional Irish Republican Army targeted a temporary British Army vehicle checkpoint near Rosslea. IRA volunteers launched a surprise assault using small-arms fire and explosives. The attack resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and left two more injured. It underscored the persistent security challenges faced by both British forces and civilians in the border region. The incident sparked outrage across the UK and led to heightened military patrols and reinforced checkpoints. It remains one of the most violent episodes of late-1980s unrest in Northern Ireland.
1989 The Troubles Attack on Derryard checkpoint Provisional Irish Republican Army British Army Rosslea, Northern Ireland
2001day.year

2001 Indian Parliament attack: Sansad Bhavan, the building housing the Indian Parliament, is attacked by 5 Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists. Twelve people are killed, including the terrorists.

In 2001, five Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists stormed the Indian Parliament building, killing twelve people including the attackers.
Militants from the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed group launched a coordinated assault on Sansad Bhavan, the historic home of India’s legislature in New Delhi. Armed with automatic weapons and explosives, the attackers engaged in a fierce firefight with security personnel. Twelve people, including the five terrorists, lost their lives and several lawmakers and staff were injured. The attack targeted the heart of India's democracy and prompted an immediate lockdown of the Parliament complex. Investigations linked the incident to cross-border terror networks, leading to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The event spurred India to strengthen its counterterrorism measures and security protocols around key government installations.
2001 2001 Indian Parliament attack Sansad Bhavan Indian Parliament Jaish-e-Mohammed
2003day.year

Iraq War: Operation Red Dawn: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit.

In 2003, during the Iraq War, U.S. forces captured former President Saddam Hussein near Tikrit in Operation Red Dawn.
Operation Red Dawn was a U.S.-led mission to locate Saddam Hussein, the deposed president of Iraq, who had gone into hiding following the U.S. invasion. Acting on precise intelligence, special operations forces surrounded a farmhouse near al-Awja, just south of Tikrit. After a brief firefight, they discovered and detained Hussein, ending one of the largest manhunts in history. His capture was broadcast worldwide as a major symbolic victory for coalition forces. The operation bolstered the interim Iraqi government and reshaped the trajectory of the occupation. Hussein was later transferred to U.S. custody and faced trial for crimes against humanity. His capture marked a turning point in the conflict and had profound implications for regional stability.
2003 Iraq War Operation Red Dawn Saddam Hussein Tikrit