February 17

Events - Wars & Conflicts

1370day.year

Northern Crusades: Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Teutonic Knights meet in the Battle of Rudau.

In 1370, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania clashed with the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Rudau, a key confrontation in the Northern Crusades.
In 1370, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania faced off against the Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Rudau. Fought near present-day Kaliningrad, this clash was a pivotal moment in the Northern Crusades. Lithuanian forces, led by Grand Duke Algirdas, repelled the crusading knights. The victory bolstered Lithuanian defenses and checked the Teutonic Order's eastward expansion. The battle had a lasting impact on the balance of power in the Baltic region.
1370 Northern Crusades Grand Duchy of Lithuania Teutonic Knights Battle of Rudau
1500day.year

Duke Friedrich and Duke Johann attempt to subdue the peasantry of Dithmarschen, Denmark, in the Battle of Hemmingstedt.

In 1500, Dukes Friedrich and Johann of Saxe-Lauenburg attacked the peasant republic of Dithmarschen at the Battle of Hemmingstedt.
The autonomous peasant farmers of Dithmarschen resisted the feudal ambitions of local nobles. In February 1500, Dukes Friedrich and Johann led a militia against the peasantry near Hemmingstedt. Despite being outnumbered and less equipped, the peasants fortified their position in marshy terrain. The ducal forces suffered a devastating defeat as they became trapped and overwhelmed. The victory preserved Dithmarschen's independence for centuries and became a symbol of peasant resilience.
1500 Friedrich Johann peasantry Dithmarschen Battle of Hemmingstedt
1739day.year

The Battle of Vasai commences as the Marathas move to invade Portuguese-occupied territory.

In 1739, Maratha forces launched the Battle of Vasai to wrest control of Portuguese territories near Bombay.
The Maratha Confederacy sought to expand its influence along India's western coast. On February 17, 1739, Maratha armies moved to besiege Vasai Fort, a key Portuguese stronghold. Under leaders like Chimaji Appa, they executed a coordinated assault on fortifications. The capture of Vasai marked a significant blow to Portuguese colonial power in the region. The victory consolidated Maratha hegemony along the Bombay coastline.
1739 Battle of Vasai Marathas
1814day.year

War of the Sixth Coalition: The Battle of Mormant.

During the War of the Sixth Coalition in 1814, French forces achieved a tactical victory at the Battle of Mormant against advancing allied troops.
On February 17, 1814, Napoleon’s forces engaged the Sixth Coalition near the village of Mormant in France. The French army, led by Marshals Mortier and Victor, launched a surprise attack on allied corps under Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern. The clash resulted in heavy losses for the Coalition, with hundreds of prisoners taken and equipment captured. This victory allowed Napoleon to momentarily stall the allied advance toward Paris. Although a minor engagement, the battle showcased French resilience during the campaign that would culminate in the defense of the capital.
1814 War of the Sixth Coalition Battle of Mormant
1838day.year

Weenen massacre: Hundreds of Voortrekkers along the Blaukraans River, Natal are killed by Zulus.

In 1838, hundreds of Voortrekkers were massacred by Zulu warriors along the Blaukraans River in what became known as the Weenen massacre.
On February 17, 1838, Zulu forces attacked several Voortrekker camps along the Blaukraans River in present-day South Africa. The surprise ambush resulted in the deaths of over 500 Boer settlers, including women and children. This massacre intensified hostilities between the Voortrekkers and the Zulu Kingdom during the Great Trek. The event provoked a series of retaliatory battles, most notably the Battle of Blood River later that year. The Weenen massacre remains a tragic symbol of the era’s violent frontier conflicts.
1838 Weenen massacre Voortrekkers Natal Zulus
1859day.year

Cochinchina Campaign: The French Navy captures the Citadel of Saigon, a fortress manned by 1,000 Nguyễn dynasty soldiers, en route to conquering Saigon and other regions of southern Viet Nam.

During the 1859 Cochinchina Campaign, the French Navy captured the Citadel of Saigon, advancing colonial rule in southern Vietnam.
In February 1859, French naval forces targeted the Citadel of Saigon, a key defensive stronghold of the Nguyễn dynasty. The fortress, manned by roughly 1,000 Vietnamese soldiers, fell after several days of bombardment and assault. Its capture paved the way for French domination of Cochinchina and eventual colonization of Indochina. The operation showcased France’s growing naval power and imperial ambitions in Southeast Asia. The fall of Saigon’s citadel marked the beginning of modern Vietnamese colonial history.
1859 Cochinchina Campaign French Navy Citadel of Saigon Nguyễn dynasty Saigon
1864day.year

American Civil War: The H. L. Hunley becomes the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic.

The Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley became the first submersible to sink an enemy warship during the American Civil War in 1864.
On the night of February 17, 1864, the H. L. Hunley attacked the USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor. Using a spar torpedo mounted on its bow, the Hunley detonated alongside the Union warship, causing it to sink. This groundbreaking operation marked the first successful submarine strike in naval history. The Hunley itself vanished shortly after the attack, and its crew was lost, adding to the mission’s mystery. The incident foreshadowed the strategic importance of submarine warfare in future conflicts.
1864 American Civil War H. L. Hunley engage and sink a warship USS Housatonic
1865day.year

American Civil War: Columbia, South Carolina, is burned as Confederate forces flee from advancing Union forces.

As Union forces advanced in 1865, Confederate troops burned Columbia, South Carolina, leading to widespread devastation.
In mid-February 1865, Union General Sherman’s army approached Columbia during the Carolinas Campaign. Confederate defenders evacuated the city, and fires broke out across major districts. Debate continues over whether the fires were set by retreating Confederates or errant Union artillery. By February 17, much of Columbia lay in ruins, with civilian homes and public buildings destroyed. The city’s burning symbolized the harsh realities and civilian toll of the American Civil War’s final months.
1865 Columbia, South Carolina burned Confederate Union
1919day.year

The Ukrainian People's Republic asks the Entente and the United States for help fighting the Bolsheviks.

In 1919 the Ukrainian People's Republic appealed to the Entente and the United States for military assistance against Bolshevik forces.
On February 17, 1919, the Ukrainian People's Republic formally petitioned the Allied Powers and the United States for support against the Bolsheviks. Facing the advance of the Red Army during the Russian Civil War, Ukrainian leaders sought arms, supplies, and diplomatic recognition. The mission aimed to secure Entente backing to bolster the UPR's fragile independence declared in January 1918. Despite initial hopes, the Entente Powers were reluctant to intervene, citing war-weariness and shifting post–World War I priorities. The U.S. government also declined to provide substantial aid, focusing on domestic recovery and European stabilization. The failure to receive allied support contributed to the eventual Bolshevik reconquest of Ukraine. This diplomatic appeal highlights the challenges faced by emerging nations amid the chaos of postwar Europe.
1919 Ukrainian People's Republic Entente Bolsheviks
1944day.year

World War II: The Battle of Eniwetok begins. The battle ends in an American victory on February 22.

U.S. forces landed on Eniwetok Atoll on February 17, 1944, initiating a pivotal Pacific battle that concluded in victory five days later.
On February 17, 1944, U.S. Marines and Army units launched amphibious assaults on Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Operation Klartext aimed to secure the atoll as a forward base for the Central Pacific campaign. Japanese defenders on Engebi, Parry, and other islands offered fierce resistance amid coral reefs and fortified positions. Heavy naval bombardment and air strikes preceded the landings to weaken enemy strongholds. By February 22, American forces had captured all major islands of the atoll, sustaining moderate casualties. The victory provided a strategic airfield and staging area for subsequent operations in the Pacific Theater. The Battle of Eniwetok showcased the effectiveness of combined arms tactics against fortified island defenses.
1944 World War II Battle of Eniwetok February 22
1944day.year

World War II: Operation Hailstone begins: U.S. naval air, surface, and submarine attack against Truk Lagoon, Japan's main base in the central Pacific, in support of the Eniwetok invasion.

Operation Hailstone, a large-scale U.S. naval and air strike on Truk Lagoon, commenced on February 17, 1944, to neutralize Japan's central Pacific stronghold.
Operation Hailstone began on February 17, 1944, as U.S. carrier task forces launched surprise attacks on Japanese facilities at Truk Lagoon. Truk served as the Imperial Japanese Navy's primary base in the central Pacific, hosting warships, supply depots, and airfields. Over two days, American aircraft sank or damaged dozens of ships and destroyed hundreds of aircraft on the ground. Submarines and surface vessels joined the assault, targeting remaining vessels and disrupting evacuation efforts. The operation crippled Truk's capabilities, effectively removing it as a significant threat to Allied shipping. It marked one of the most comprehensive carrier raids of WWII and demonstrated U.S. naval air power. The success at Truk directly supported the subsequent capture of Eniwetok and other Pacific objectives.
Operation Hailstone Truk Lagoon Eniwetok invasion
1978day.year

The Troubles: The Provisional IRA detonates an incendiary bomb at the La Mon restaurant, near Belfast, killing 12 and seriously injuring 30 others, all Protestants.

The Provisional IRA bombs La Mon restaurant near Belfast, killing 12 Protestant civilians and wounding dozens more.
On February 17, 1978, amid the sectarian conflict known as The Troubles, the Provisional IRA planted an incendiary device at the La Mon dining room near Belfast. The bomb ignited a raging fireball that trapped and burned patrons inside. Twelve Protestant civilians lost their lives, and over thirty individuals suffered serious injuries. The attack drew widespread condemnation and intensified security measures across Northern Ireland. It became one of the deadliest assaults on civilians during the conflict. The tragedy deepened communal divisions and sparked calls for stronger protections for non-combatants. Memorials at La Mon today honor the victims and underscore the human cost of political violence.
1978 The Troubles Provisional IRA incendiary bomb La Mon restaurant