Today In History: The Armenian genocide began in 1915

The following is a chronological list of notable events that occurred on April 24 throughout history:

1. 1915 – Armenian genocide begins

On April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested and deported hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders from Constantinople (now Istanbul), marking the beginning of the Armenian genocide. This systematic extermination resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1 to 1.5 million Armenians.

2. 1916 – Easter Rising in Dublin

The Easter Rising, an armed insurrection against British rule in Ireland, commenced on April 24, 1916. Irish republicans seized key locations in Dublin, proclaiming an independent Irish Republic. Although the rebellion was suppressed within a week, it significantly influenced Irish nationalist sentiment and paved the way for the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922.

3. 1944 – Allied bombing raids over Germany

On April 24, 1944, the Royal Air Force conducted extensive bombing raids over German cities, including Munich and Karlsruhe. These operations were part of the Allied strategic bombing campaign aimed at crippling Germany’s industrial capacity during World War II.

4. 1953 – Winston Churchill knighted

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II on April 24, 1953, recognizing his leadership during World War II and his contributions to British politics.

5. 1967 – Cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov dies during reentry

Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov became the first human to die during a space mission when the Soyuz 1 spacecraft crashed upon reentry on April 24, 1967, due to parachute failure.

6. 1974 – Carnation Revolution in Portugal

The Carnation Revolution, a nearly bloodless military coup, began on April 24, 1974, with the broadcast of the song “E Depois do Adeus,” signaling the start of the uprising. The following day, April 25, the coup successfully overthrew Portugal’s Estado Novo dictatorship, leading to the establishment of a democratic government.

7. 1980 – Failed U.S. hostage rescue mission in Iran

On April 24, 1980, Operation Eagle Claw, an attempt by U.S. forces to rescue hostages held at the American embassy in Tehran, ended in failure when a helicopter collided with a transport aircraft, resulting in the deaths of eight American servicemen.

8. 1990 – Hubble Space Telescope launched

NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery launched on April 24, 1990, carrying the Hubble Space Telescope into Earth’s orbit. The telescope has since provided unprecedented images and data, greatly enhancing our understanding of the universe.

9. 1995 – Final Unabomber attack

Theodore Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out his final bombing on April 24, 1995, killing Gilbert B. Murray, a timber industry lobbyist, in Sacramento, California. Kaczynski was later apprehended and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

10. 2013 – Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh

On April 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza building, housing several garment factories, collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing over 1,100 people and injuring thousands. The disaster highlighted poor working conditions and led to global calls for improved labor standards in the fashion industry.