1214day.year
During the Anglo-French War (1213–1214), an English invasion force led by John, King of England, lands at La Rochelle in France.
An English force under King John lands at La Rochelle during the Anglo-French War of 1213–1214.
On February 15, 1214, King John of England led an expeditionary force to land at La Rochelle on the French coast. This move aimed to relieve allied Poitevin barons and challenge Capetian control in Aquitaine. The landing marked the opening of a Frankish front against Philip II of France. Despite initial successes, logistical challenges and divided command hampered the English campaign. The conflict would culminate later that year in the Battle of Bouvines, shaping the balance of power in medieval Western Europe.
1214
Anglo-French War (1213–1214)
John, King of England
La Rochelle
France
1862day.year
American Civil War: Confederates commanded by Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd attack General Ulysses S. Grant's Union forces besieging Fort Donelson in Tennessee. Unable to break the fort's encirclement, the Confederates surrender the following day.
Confederate forces under Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd launched an unsuccessful attack on Union troops besieging Fort Donelson, Tennessee, during the American Civil War.
In mid-February 1862, following the fall of Fort Henry, Union forces under Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant advanced on Fort Donelson along the Cumberland River. On February 15th, Confederate troops commanded by Brig. Gen. John B. Floyd attempted a breakout attack against the encircling Union besiegers. The assault was poorly coordinated and failed to break the Union lines, leaving the Confederates trapped within the fort's defenses. Lacking reinforcements and supplies, the Confederate garrison was forced to surrender the following day, marking one of the Union's first major victories. The capture of Fort Donelson opened the Cumberland River as a vital Union supply route and boosted Grant's reputation as a rising military leader. The outcome also led President Abraham Lincoln to demand "unconditional and immediate surrender."
1862
American Civil War
John B. Floyd
Ulysses S. Grant
besieging Fort Donelson
Tennessee
1942day.year
World War II: Fall of Singapore. Following an assault by Japanese forces, the British General Arthur Percival surrenders. About 80,000 Indian, United Kingdom and Australian soldiers become prisoners of war, the largest surrender of British-led military personnel in history.
Japanese forces captured Singapore in World War II, leading to the largest surrender of British-led troops in history.
On February 15, 1942, British General Arthur Percival formally surrendered Singapore to advancing Japanese forces.
The loss marked the largest capitulation of British-led soldiers, with around 80,000 Indian, British, and Australian troops taken prisoner.
Singapore’s strategic port fell after weeks of relentless assault, signaling a pivotal shift in the Pacific theater.
The fall exposed weaknesses in Allied defenses and bolstered Japanese control over Southeast Asia.
The event had profound consequences for colonial rule and reshaped wartime strategies across the region.
1942
World War II
Fall of Singapore
Japanese
Arthur Percival
Indian
prisoners of war
1944day.year
World War II: The assault on Monte Cassino, Italy begins.
Allied forces launched the grueling Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, aiming to break the German Gustav Line.
The assault on Monte Cassino commenced on February 15, 1944, as part of the Allied Italian Campaign.
Allied troops from the United States, Britain, India, Poland, and New Zealand sought to penetrate the formidable Gustav Line.
The ancient hilltop abbey guarding Cassino became a focal point of intense bombardment and ground attacks.
Dense fog, rugged terrain, and determined German defenders made progress slow and casualties high.
The battle raged for months, demonstrating the brutal cost of mountain warfare in World War II.
1944
assault
Monte Cassino
1944day.year
World War II: The Narva Offensive begins.
The Soviet Army commenced the Narva Offensive on the Eastern Front, seeking to wrest control of Estonia from German forces.
On February 15, 1944, the Red Army launched the Narva Offensive against German Army Group North in Estonia.
The operation aimed to drive German forces west of the Narva River and secure the Baltic region.
Facing entrenched defenses, Soviet troops encountered fierce resistance and challenging winter terrain.
The battle highlighted the strategic importance of the Baltic front in cutting off German access to the sea.
Although the offensive made initial gains, the hardened German defense led to prolonged and costly engagements.
Narva Offensive
1945day.year
World War II: Third day of bombing in Dresden.
The Allied air raids on Dresden intensified with a third day of devastating bombing during World War II.
By February 15, 1945, the city of Dresden had endured three days of intense Allied bombing raids.
Hundreds of heavy bombers dropped incendiary and high-explosive bombs, reducing much of the historic city to rubble.
The campaign aimed to disrupt German communications and morale in the war’s final months.
Intense firestorms consumed entire districts, causing widespread civilian casualties and destruction.
The bombing of Dresden remains controversial for its strategic value versus the scale of civilian suffering.
1945
bombing in Dresden
1972day.year
José María Velasco Ibarra, serving as President of Ecuador for the fifth time, is overthrown by the military for the fourth time.
On February 15, 1972, President José María Velasco Ibarra of Ecuador was ousted in a military coup for the fourth time amid political and economic unrest.
On February 15, 1972, Ecuadorian President José María Velasco Ibarra, serving his fifth term, was overthrown by a military junta—the fourth time he had been removed from office. Despite his oratory prowess and popular appeal, his government faced persistent economic troubles and widespread political instability. Military leaders justified the coup by citing the need to restore order and address fiscal crises. Velasco Ibarra was detained and sent into exile, abruptly ending his tumultuous presidency. The coup underscored the fragility of democratic institutions in Ecuador during the Cold War era. Military rule would continue in the country until 1979, shaping its subsequent political evolution.
José María Velasco Ibarra
President of Ecuador
1989day.year
Soviet–Afghan War: The Soviet Union officially announces that all of its troops have left Afghanistan.
On February 15, 1989, the Soviet Union announced the completion of its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, ending nearly a decade of military intervention.
After nearly nine years of conflict, the Soviet Union officially declared on February 15, 1989, that it had completed the withdrawal of all its forces from Afghanistan. The announcement marked the end of a costly and contentious military intervention initiated in December 1979. Soviet leadership framed the pullout as a strategic repositioning rather than a defeat, while Afghan resistance forces celebrated a symbolic victory. The departure paved the way for internal Afghan rivalries to erupt into civil war, with lasting implications for regional and global politics. The withdrawal is viewed as a pivotal moment in the late Cold War, signaling the limits of superpower projection and heralding shifts in international power dynamics.
1989
Soviet–Afghan War
Soviet Union
left
Afghanistan
1996day.year
The Embassy of the United States, Athens, is attacked by an antitank rocket, launched by the Revolutionary Organization 17 November.
The U.S. Embassy in Athens is attacked with an antitank rocket by the Revolutionary Organization 17 November.
On February 15, 1996, the Greek far-left militant group Revolutionary Organization 17 November launched an antitank rocket at the United States Embassy in Athens. The assault opened a hole in the embassy’s facade but miraculously caused no fatalities or serious injuries. 17 November claimed responsibility as part of its long-running campaign against American and NATO interests. The attack underscored the persistent threat posed by urban guerrilla groups in Greece during the 1990s. Greek authorities subsequently increased security measures around diplomatic missions.
Embassy of the United States, Athens
Revolutionary Organization 17 November