February 12

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1429day.year

English forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orléans in the Battle of the Herrings.

In 1429, Sir John Fastolf led English troops to defend a crucial supply convoy against French forces in the Battle of the Herrings during the Hundred Years’ War.
During the protracted Hundred Years’ War, the siege of Orléans became a focal point for English and French forces. On February 12, 1429, a supply column carrying barrels of herring, vital for Lent rations, came under attack near Rouvray. Sir John Fastolf organized a defensive formation of pavises and archers, repelling multiple assaults by French cavalry and infantry. The disciplined English defense held firm until reinforcements secured the convoy’s safe passage. The battle’s nickname, the ‘Battle of the Herrings,’ highlighted the strategic importance of logistics in medieval warfare. Although a tactical success, it failed to break the siege of Orléans. The confrontation underscored the valor of common soldiers and foreshadowed future French resurgence led by Joan of Arc.
1429 John Fastolf Battle of the Herrings
1593day.year

Japanese invasion of Korea: Approximately 3,000 Joseon defenders led by general Kwŏn Yul successfully repel more than 30,000 Japanese forces in the Siege of Haengju.

In 1593, during the Japanese invasion of Korea, General Kwŏn Yul led 3,000 Joseon defenders to victory at the Siege of Haengju against 30,000 Japanese troops.
Amidst the brutal Imjin War, the fortified hill of Haengju became the stage for a David-and-Goliath confrontation on February 12, 1593. General Kwŏn Yul commanded a small force of around 3,000 Korean soldiers and civilians. Using innovative defensive tactics, including wooden palisades and hwacha rocket launchers, they withstood successive Japanese assaults led by Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s commanders. The Japanese attacked in waves but were repelled each time, suffering heavy casualties. The unexpected Korean victory at Haengju boosted national morale and stalled the Japanese advance northward. This triumph demonstrated the effectiveness of Joseon fortifications and the resilience of Korean resistance. The battle remains a celebrated episode in Korean military history.
1593 Japanese invasion of Korea Joseon Kwŏn Yul Siege of Haengju
1817day.year

An Argentine/Chilean patriotic army, after crossing the Andes, defeats Spanish troops at the Battle of Chacabuco.

In 1817, an Argentine and Chilean patriotic army mounted a daring crossing of the Andes and defeated Spanish royalists at the Battle of Chacabuco, paving the way for Chilean independence.
On February 12, 1817, patriot forces under General José de San Martín and Bernardo O'Higgins launched a surprise attack on Spanish royalists in the Andes highlands. The Battle of Chacabuco marked a turning point in the South American wars of independence. The army endured severe weather and treacherous terrain to position itself above the Spanish defenses. The decisive victory broke Spanish control in central Chile and opened the road to the capital, Santiago. The triumph boosted morale among independence movements across South America. Today, the battle is celebrated in Argentina and Chile as a symbol of courage and solidarity.
1817 Argentine Chilean crossing the Andes Battle of Chacabuco
1894day.year

Café Terminus bombing by Émile Henry during the Ère des attentats (1892-1894). Influential event for the birth of modern terrorism.

In 1894, anarchist Émile Henry detonated a bomb at the Café Terminus in Paris, an act that influenced the rise of modern terrorism.
On February 12, 1894, Émile Henry planted an explosive device at the bustling Café Terminus on the Champs-Élysées. The attack killed one person and injured numerous patrons, shocking Parisian society. Henry was motivated by anarchist ideology and his desire to target symbols of bourgeois comfort. The bombing marked a shift from traditional political violence to methods aimed at creating public terror. Authorities responded with increased security measures and a crackdown on anarchist groups. Historians consider the event a precursor to organized terrorist campaigns in the 20th century. It highlighted the challenges governments faced in balancing safety and civil liberties.
1894 Café Terminus bombing Émile Henry Ère des attentats
1919day.year

The Second Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents is held by the Makhnovshchina at Huliaipole.

In 1919, the Makhnovshchina held the Second Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers, and Insurgents in Huliaipole during the Ukrainian anarchist movement.
The Second Regional Congress met on February 12, 1919, bringing together delegates from peasant units, workers' councils, and insurgent detachments led by Nestor Makhno. Operating amid the turmoil of the Russian Civil War, the congress sought to coordinate anarchist self-governance and military defense. Delegates debated land redistribution, production cooperatives, and the struggle against both White and Red Army forces. Resolutions emphasized direct democracy, voluntary association, and opposition to centralized authority. The event demonstrated the organizational capacity and political ideals of the Makhnovist movement. Although short-lived, the congress highlighted the aspirations of peasants and workers for autonomy and justice. Its legacy endures in studies of revolutionary movements and libertarian socialism.
1919 Second Regional Congress of Peasants, Workers and Insurgents Makhnovshchina Huliaipole
1921day.year

Bolsheviks launch a revolt in Georgia as a preliminary to the Red Army invasion of Georgia.

In February 1921, Bolshevik forces launched an uprising in the Georgian Democratic Republic to pave the way for a full-scale Red Army invasion.
The revolt was initiated by Bolshevik agents aiming to undermine the Democratic Republic of Georgia's government. Acting as a precursor to the Soviet invasion, local communist cells targeted key military and administrative centers. Although initially limited in scale, the uprising destabilized Georgian defenses. This opening move allowed the Red Army to advance with less resistance, leading to the eventual incorporation of Georgia into the Soviet Union. The event marked a significant moment in the Sovietization of the Caucasus region.
1921 Bolsheviks Georgia Red Army invasion of Georgia
1946day.year

World War II: Operation Deadlight ends after scuttling 121 of 154 captured U-boats.

Operation Deadlight concluded on February 12, 1946, after the Royal Navy scuttled 121 captured German U-boats.
Following the end of World War II, the Allies agreed to dispose of surrendered Kriegsmarine submarines. Operation Deadlight involved towing 154 U-boats into the Atlantic and destroying them to prevent future military use. By its completion, 121 submarines had been deliberately sunk in deep waters off Northern Ireland and Scotland. The operation faced challenges including poor weather and mechanical failures during towing. It represented the final dismantling of Germany's submarine fleet, symbolizing the Allies’ efforts to secure lasting peace at sea. Some wrecks discovered decades later have become sites of historical and ecological interest.
1946 World War II Operation Deadlight U-boats
1968day.year

Phong Nhị and Phong Nhất massacre.

During the Vietnam War, the villages of Phong Nhị and Phong Nhất were the site of a brutal massacre that claimed numerous civilian lives.
On February 12, 1968, in the midst of the Vietnam War, elements of the United States Marine Corps allegedly carried out a massacre in the hamlets of Phong Nhị and Phong Nhất. Dozens of unarmed civilians, including women and children, were reportedly killed in the operation, shocking observers. Eyewitness accounts and later investigations raised questions about rules of engagement and command responsibility. The incident fueled anti-war sentiment both in the United States and abroad. Vietnamese villagers and journalists brought attention to the atrocity, leading to protests and calls for accountability. The massacre remains a somber reminder of the human cost of conflict.
1968 Phong Nhị and Phong Nhất massacre
1988day.year

Cold War: The 1988 Black Sea bumping incident: The U.S. missile cruiser USS Yorktown (CG-48) is intentionally rammed by the Soviet frigate Bezzavetnyy in the Soviet territorial waters, while Yorktown claims innocent passage.

In a Cold War show of force, the Soviet frigate Bezzavetnyy intentionally rammed the US cruiser USS Yorktown in the Black Sea during a navigation dispute.
On February 12, 1988, the USS Yorktown, a US Navy missile cruiser, asserted its right to innocent passage through Soviet territorial waters in the Black Sea. Soviet forces dispatched the frigate Bezzavetnyy, which deliberately collided with the Yorktown's hull, causing damage but no casualties. The incident escalated tensions between the superpowers as both sides traded accusations in diplomatic channels. The United States maintained that the cruise was legal under international law, while Moscow branded it a provocation. The bumping incident became emblematic of the competitive brinkmanship characteristic of the late Cold War period. Subsequent negotiations led to clearer guidelines to prevent similar confrontations at sea.
1988 Cold War 1988 Black Sea bumping incident USS Yorktown (CG-48) Bezzavetnyy territorial waters innocent passage