USA: How Each State Got Its Name

The link below is to an article that considers each state in the USA and how they got their names.

For more visit:
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/06/50-u-s-states-got-names/

Article: A Look Back in Time – Former Soviet Military Bases

The link below is to an article (with photos) that reports on a number of former Soviet military bases and the state they are now in.

For more visit:
http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-haunting-photographs-abandoned-soviet-military-bases-0

Today in History: 04 April 1905

20 000 People Killed by an Earthquake in the Kangra Valley, India

On this day in 1905, 20 000 people were killed in an earthquake (7.8) that struck the Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh state, India. Mosts buildings in Kangra, Mcleodganj and Dharamshala were destroyed.

For more, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1905_Kangra_earthquake

Article: World War I – The State of the World’s Navies in the Lead Up to War

The following article deals with the state of the world’s navies in the lead up to World War I. Well worth a read.

Read the article at:
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/120609

Today in History: 25 February 1947

Germany: Prussia is No More

On this day in 1947, the German state of Prussia was removed from the map. The complex story of Prussia and Germany came to an official end with Law #46 of the Allied Control Council following the German defeat in World War II. Prussia was divided up and formed parts of other states including both East and West Germany, as well as Poland and the Soviet Union.

For more, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussia

Today in History – 11 May 1867

Luxembourg Independence Maintained

Luxembourg, known as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, is a small country in western Europe bordered by Belgium, France and Germany. It has a population of about 500 000 people and is almost 1000 square miles (2 586 square kilometers) in size. It’s ‘life’ began as a small fortress in 963, from which a town developed and eventually the state of Luxembourg.

Luxembourg lost its initial independence in 1437 and from that point it was ruled by various states, but regained a form of independence following the defeat of Napoleon in 1815. From then however, it lost territory and was greatly reduced in size. Its independence was affirmed with two treaties, the first in 1839 and the second on this day in 1867, following what
is known as the Luxembourg Crisis.

For more on Luxembourg:
http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/
http://www.luxembourg.com/

 

Today in History – 18 April 1861

Robert E. Lee: Turns Down Offer to Lead Union Troops

On this day in 1861, with the Civil War in the United States in its very early stages, Colonel Robert E. Lee was offered the role of Major General in the United States Army. Knowing that Virginia was likely to secede from the Union, Lee turned the offer down and resigned from the United States Army two days later. This despite having said to his son in a letter that ‘I can anticipate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union.’ However, it was love for and loyalty to his home state of Virginia, that forced his hand to join the Confederacy. On the 23rd of April Lee took command of the armed forces of Virginia and began his role in the southern rebellion, in which he would rise to be the General-in-Chief of all Confederate forces. Almost four years later, on the 9th April 1865, his role in the war ended with his surrender to U.S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.