1848day.year
The Palermo rising takes place in Sicily against the Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
In 1848, citizens of Palermo rose against Bourbon rule in the first major uprising of the Sicilian revolution, challenging the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
Amid the wave of European revolutions in 1848, Sicilian nationalists and liberals in Palermo rebelled against the Bourbon monarchy on January 12. The uprising quickly gained momentum as locals seized key buildings and declared an independent Sicilian government. Despite initial success, Bourbon forces regrouped and besieged the city, leading to months of brutal conflict. Though ultimately suppressed, the Palermo rising inspired future Italian unification efforts and remains a symbol of resistance against absolutist rule. Participants included peasants, clergy, and urban professionals united by a desire for constitutional governance.
1848
Palermo rising
Sicily
Bourbon
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
1916day.year
Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann become the first German aviators to earn the Pour le Mérite, receive the German Empire's highest military award, for achieving eight aerial victories each over Allied aircraft.
German aces Boelcke and Immelmann earn the prestigious Pour le Mérite after each scoring eight victories in WWI.
On January 12, 1916, Leutnants Oswald Boelcke and Max Immelmann were awarded the Pour le Mérite, Germany’s highest military honor.
Each ace had achieved eight confirmed aerial victories against Allied aircraft.
The award highlighted the growing importance of air combat in World War I.
Boelcke, later famed for tactical innovations, penned the ‘Dicta Boelcke’ rules of air warfare.
Immelmann became a folk hero, celebrated for his daring flying style and the ‘Immelmann turn’ maneuver.
Their recognition boosted morale on the Eastern and Western Fronts alike.
Both pilots’ legacies shaped the future of military aviation tactics and training.
1916
Oswald Boelcke
Max Immelmann
Pour le Mérite
German Empire
Allied
1945day.year
World War II: The Red Army begins the Vistula–Oder Offensive.
The Soviet Red Army launches the Vistula–Oder Offensive against Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front.
On January 12, 1945, the Soviet Red Army commenced its Vistula–Oder Offensive from Polish bridgeheads along the Vistula River.
Under the command of Marshal Zhukov, over two million troops and thousands of tanks advanced into German-held territory.
The operation aimed to encircle the German Army Group A and liberate Warsaw and Poland.
In a rapid advance, Soviet forces covered more than 600 kilometers in three weeks.
The offensive shattered German defensive lines and paved the way for the final assault on Berlin.
Heavy fighting in bitter winter conditions tested both sides’ endurance and logistics.
The success of the Vistula–Oder Offensive marked a decisive turn in the final stages of World War II in Europe.
1945
Red Army
Vistula–Oder Offensive
1962day.year
Vietnam War: Operation Chopper, the first American combat mission and first American helicopter assault in the war, takes place.
Operation Chopper marked the first American combat mission and helicopter assault of the Vietnam War on January 12, 1962.
Operation Chopper, carried out on January 12, 1962, was the first U.S. combat mission and helicopter assault in Vietnam.
Conducted by the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile), the operation aimed to test air-mobile tactics against Viet Cong positions.
Although the mission faced minimal enemy resistance, it proved the strategic value of helicopters in troop deployment and support.
This mission set the stage for the extensive use of air mobility in subsequent U.S. operations during the Vietnam War.
Operation Chopper thus represented a significant shift in modern warfare doctrine and Vietnam conflict strategy.
1962
Vietnam War
Operation Chopper
1964day.year
Rebels in Zanzibar begin a revolt known as the Zanzibar Revolution and proclaim a republic.
Rebels in Zanzibar began a revolution on January 12, 1964, overthrowing the Sultanate and declaring a republic.
On January 12, 1964, leftist rebels launched the Zanzibar Revolution against the Arab-led Sultanate.
The uprising swiftly toppled the Sultan, ending centuries of Omani and Arab rule on the island.
Revolutionaries proclaimed the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba, signaling a new chapter in Zanzibari history.
The revolution unleashed social and political changes, including land reforms and African majority rule.
This event reshaped the political landscape of East Africa and led to the eventual union with Tanganyika to form Tanzania.
1964
Zanzibar
Zanzibar Revolution
1970day.year
Biafra capitulates, ending the Nigerian Civil War.
Biafra formally surrendered on January 12, 1970, bringing an end to the brutal Nigerian Civil War.
On January 12, 1970, Biafran forces capitulated to Nigerian federal troops, officially ending the three-year Nigerian Civil War.
The conflict, sparked by the secession of the southeastern region of Biafra, had led to widespread famine and suffering.
An estimated one to two million people died, many of them from starvation and disease.
The surrender facilitated reintegration of Biafra into Nigeria and initiated national reconciliation efforts.
The war’s humanitarian crisis influenced global discussions on ethics of intervention and post-colonial African politics.
1970
Biafra
Nigerian Civil War
1990day.year
A seven-day pogrom breaks out against the Armenian civilian population of Baku, Azerbaijan, during which Armenians were beaten, tortured, murdered, and expelled from the city.
On January 12, 1990, a seven-day pogrom began in Baku, Azerbaijan, targeting Armenian residents with violence and forced expulsion.
On January 12, 1990, ethnic violence erupted in Baku when Azerbaijani mobs attacked the Armenian community, marking the start of a seven-day pogrom.
During the unrest, Armenian civilians faced beatings, torture, killings, and property destruction as they were driven from their homes.
The violence was fueled by rising nationalistic tensions amid the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
International observers condemned the atrocities, and thousands of Armenians fled the city to seek safety elsewhere.
The Baku pogrom deepened ethnic divides in the region and foreshadowed further conflict in the South Caucasus.
1990
seven-day pogrom
the Armenian civilian population of Baku, Azerbaijan
1991day.year
Persian Gulf War: An act of the U.S. Congress authorizes the use of American military force to drive Iraq out of Kuwait.
On January 12, 1991, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution authorizing military force to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation as part of the Persian Gulf War.
Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, President George H. W. Bush built an international coalition under United Nations mandate.
On January 12, 1991, the U.S. Congress overwhelmingly passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force resolution.
This legislation granted President Bush broad authority to deploy American forces to expel occupying troops from Kuwait.
It marked a decisive step toward the commencement of Operation Desert Storm later that month.
The resolution reflected bipartisan support amid public and international calls to uphold Kuwait's sovereignty.
Congress set parameters for military engagement, emphasizing the importance of a swift and focused liberation campaign.
The resolution laid the groundwork for the subsequent air and ground assault that began on January 17, 1991.
Ultimately, the operation succeeded in liberating Kuwait by the end of February, reshaping Middle East geopolitics.
1991
Persian Gulf War
Iraq
Kuwait
2015day.year
Government raids kill 143 Boko Haram fighters in Kolofata, Cameroon.
Cameroonian forces launched raids in Kolofata, Cameroon, in January 2015, killing 143 Boko Haram fighters.
In early January 2015, Cameroon's military conducted coordinated raids on Boko Haram strongholds around Kolofata.
The operation aimed to neutralize the extremist group's cross-border threats following a series of kidnappings in the region.
Troops engaged militants in intense firefights over rugged terrain and dense bushland.
By the end of the mission, authorities reported that 143 Boko Haram fighters had been killed.
The successful assault disrupted the group's expansion into northern Cameroon.
Local communities welcomed the increased security presence but remained wary of potential retaliatory attacks.
2015
Government raids
Boko Haram
Kolofata, Cameroon
2016day.year
Ten people are killed and 15 wounded in a bombing near the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
A bombing near Istanbul's historic Blue Mosque in January 2016 killed ten people and injured fifteen.
On January 12, 2016, a bomb detonated near the entrance of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul during a busy tourist period.
The explosion killed ten people and wounded fifteen, including both locals and foreign visitors.
Emergency responders quickly arrived, securing the scene and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals.
The blast heightened security measures across the city's iconic landmarks and prompted investigations by Turkish authorities.
While the perpetrator's identity remained unclear, the attack added to concerns over rising regional tensions.
Local businesses and residents experienced increased police patrols in the aftermath of the bombing.
2016
bombing
Blue Mosque in Istanbul