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Nazi Germany Passes Anti-Jewish Nuremberg Laws

On 24 July, Nazi Germany passed the Anti-Jewish Nuremberg Laws, which institutionalized many of the racial theories underpinning the Nazi ideology. These laws marginalized Jews and stripped them of their rights and citizenship, marking a significant escalation in Hitler's systematic genocide.

Operation Gomorrah Begins

On this day, Operation Gomorrah kicked off, a joint bombing campaign against Hamburg by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. The operation devastated much of the city and resulted in a large loss of life, signaling a turning point in the Allies' strategic bombing campaign against Germany.

Third German Evangelical Church Assembly

On 24 July, the third German Evangelical Church Assembly began in Frankfurt. The event was attended by hundreds of thousands of people and marked an important moment in the post-war re-establishment of religious life in Germany.

East Germany and Iraq Establish Diplomatic Relations

On this day, East Germany and Iraq established diplomatic relations. This was a significant moment during the Cold War, as Iraq was an important strategic ally in the Middle East.

Lufthansa Heist Trial Begins

The trial of those involved in the infamous Lufthansa heist, one of the largest cash thefts in history, began in Frankfurt on 24 July. The event had a significant impact on Germany's judicial system and led to major changes in security procedures in the aviation industry.

Mary, Queen of Scots, is forced to abdicate

On this day, Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate her throne to her one-year-old son, James VI. Mary was imprisoned in Loch Leven Castle at the time. James VI went on to become king of both Scotland and England (as James I of England).

The Battle of Blenheim

This was a key battle during the War of the Spanish Succession. Although the battle took place in the Holy Roman Empire, it involved British troops led by John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough, and Prince Eugene of Savoy. They triumphed over a Franco-Bavarian army, marking a turning point in the war in favour of the Grand Alliance.

Sir Ernest Shackleton rescues crew of the Endurance

After the Endurance was destroyed by ice, Sir Ernest Shackleton and five crew members undertook an 800-mile open boat journey in the James Caird lifeboat from Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands to South Georgia in the southern Atlantic Ocean. On July 24, they returned to rescue the remaining crew members left behind.

Labour MP's Son Convicted

The son of a Labour MP was convicted of trying to buy £1,000 worth of drugs. The son of Paul Flynn, the MP for Newport West in South Wales, was caught in an undercover police operation.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 investigation

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch downloaded data from the flight recorders of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which had been shot down in Ukraine a week before. The preliminary results confirmed that the plane was hit by "high-energy objects from outside the aircraft," supporting the theory that it was struck by a missile.

Brigham Young and Mormon pioneers arrive in Salt Lake Valley

After a long and arduous journey across the United States, Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in what is now Utah. This was a significant event in the history of the Latter Day Saint movement and the westward expansion of the United States.

Tennessee becomes first Confederate state readmitted to the Union

After the Civil War, Tennessee was the first state that had seceded to be readmitted to the Union. This represented a significant step forward in the Reconstruction Era, the period following the Civil War in which the Southern states were reorganized and reintegrated into the Union.

President Warren G. Harding becomes first sitting President to visit Alaska

President Warren G. Harding visited the Alaskan Territory during his voyage of understanding, becoming the first sitting President to travel to Alaska. This trip was part of a larger tour of the western United States and Alaska, and Harding became ill during this trip, dying just a week later in San Francisco.

Watergate scandal: Suprem Court rules on the release of the Watergate tapes

In a unanimous 8-0 ruling, the Supreme Court ordered President Richard Nixon to release tape recordings he had made in the Oval Office. These tapes played a crucial role in the Watergate scandal which ultimately led to President Nixon's resignation.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act signed into law

In response to corporate and accounting scandals such as Enron and WorldCom, President George W. Bush signed the Sarbanes-Oxley Act into law. This law set new or enhanced standards for all U.S. public company boards, management and public accounting firms. It represented significant changes to federal securities laws and has had a profound impact on corporate governance in the U.S.

Jacques Cartier's Discovery

French explorer Jacques Cartier landed in Canada on this day and claimed it for France. This would later open the way for the colonization of North America by Europeans.

The First Human Flight in a Balloon

On this day, the Montgolfier brothers successfully demonstrated the flight of their hot air balloon, carrying a sheep, a duck, and a rooster. The flight covered 2 miles, lasted for 8 minutes and had an estimated altitude of 1,500 feet. This paved the way for the first human flight later in the year.

Death of French composer Gustave Charpentier

Gustave Charpentier, a famous French composer best known for his opera "Louise," died on this day. His death marked the end of an era in French music.

The First Tour de France

The first Tour de France, a long-distance bicycle race and the most famous cycling race in the world, was held in Paris. The race has since become an annual event and symbol of French sportsmanship.

Concorde's Last Commercial Flight

The Concorde, a supersonic passenger airliner developed and produced by Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC), made its last commercial flight on this day. Despite technological advancements, the Concorde was retired primarily due to the downturn in the aviation industry following a crash in 2000 and the September 11 attacks in 2001.