This Day in History: December 5th-December 10
December 5, 1941 - The United Kingdom Declares War on Hungary, Romania, and Finland
During the 1930’s - 1940’s, Nazi Germany set about promoting fascist regimes in various Balkan nations, thus leading to the eventual rise of authoritarian leaders in places such as Hungary and Romania that were willing to join the Germans in their invasion of the Soviet Union. In response, the UK declared war on these nations, as well as on Finland for siding with the Nazis (despite being an ideal example of democracy) as the Finns had also invaded the USSR to regain territory lost during the Winter War of the year prior.
December 6, 1240 - The Mongol Empire Captures the City of Kiev
Before there was a proper Russian state, there was the Kievan Rus, comprised of multiple city-states centered around the largest and most important city of Kiev (the modern-day capital of Ukraine). During the Mongol invasion, the majority of the Kievan Rus was destroyed and pillaged, as the Mongols would sack any city that didn’t immediately surrender. As Kiev was one of these cities, it was destroyed, and the next time a Russian state emerged it would be centered around Moscow, hundreds of miles to the Northeast.
December 7, 1941 - The Japanese Empire Surprise Attacks Pearl Harbor in Hawaii
The event that decisively caused the US to enter WWII on the side of the Allies, Pearl Harbor was meant to be a show of force on the part of the Japanese. Running low on oil supplies on account of the US’s embargo following the invasion of China, Japan’s strategy was to launch an attack that would scare the US away from conflict, and towards the resumption of oil shipments. Instead, this only provoked many Americans to call for war, the declaration of which came not a week later.
December 8, 1955 - Adoption of the Flag of Europe by the Council of Europe
Following WWII, there was a large focus in much of Europe on unifying, rather than dividing again into violent conflict. One of the organizations that came out of this focus was the Council of Europe, whose goals were to uphold human rights on the continent, and who adopted a flag on this date. The flag, often more associated with the European Union (formed 1993), features twelve five-pointed stars of gold arranged on a blue field.
December 9, 1948 - Adoption of the Genocide Convention
The Genocide Convention by the UN is the current international definition of genocide, and is seen as a necessity after the atrocities of the Holocaust. As of right now, 149 nations have signed and ratified it, the most recent of which was Benin. There have been three breaches since the convention has been in force; Iraq (mass killings of Kurds in 1988), Rwanda (mass killings of Tutsi in the 1990’s), and various cases following the breakup of Yugoslavia (committed by Serbians against Muslim Bosnians).
December 10, 1864 - Union General Sherman Reaches the Outer Defenses of Savannah
Part of the Union strategy of the Civil War was to cut the Confederate states in half, an effort largely carried out by William Sherman’s “March to the Sea”. In this offensive, Sherman marched through Georgia, carrying out scorched-earth tactics for the purpose of destroying anything the Confederacy could have used to carry out the war effort. The conclusion of this came when Sherman took Savannah, Georgia, capturing a major port for the Union army.
