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Operation Gomorrah begins

Operation Gomorrah, a joint British and American operation to bomb Hamburg, began on July 25, 1943. The series of bombing raids lasted until November of the same year, causing significant damage and loss of life.

Opening of the 15th Summer Olympics in Helsinki

On 25th July, German athletes participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. This was the first Olympics that Germany was allowed to participate in after World War II.

Birth of Jan Troell

Jan Troell, a prominent German footballer, was born on this day. He has played for many teams in the Bundesliga, including 1. FC Köln, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and Hertha BSC.

Death of Bernd Jakubowski

Bernd Jakubowski, a renowned German footballer and goalkeeper for Dynamo Dresden and the East German national team, died on July 25, 2007.

Heatwave in Germany

On July 25, 2018, Germany, along with the rest of Europe, was hit by a major heatwave. It was one of the hottest summers on record and had significant impacts on agriculture and public health.

Marriage of Queen Mary I of England and Philip II of Spain

On July 25, 1554, Queen Mary I of England, also known as "Bloody Mary", married Philip II of Spain in Winchester Cathedral. This marriage was part of Mary's efforts to restore Catholicism in England. Philip's status was contentious, as he was not widely accepted as a king in England, and Mary was unable to produce an heir, leading to the ascension of her half-sister Elizabeth.

Coronation of King James I

On this date, James the VI of Scotland was officially crowned as James I of England, following the death of Queen Elizabeth I. This event marked the beginning of the Stuart era in England and the union of the Scottish and English crowns, paving the way for the eventual political union of the two nations.

The Electric Telegraph Patented

The electric telegraph was patented in the United Kingdom on July 25, 1837, by inventors Sir William Fothergill Cooke and Sir Charles Wheatstone. This key technological advancement enabled rapid long-distance communication, laying the groundwork for modern telecommunications.

Birth of the First Test-Tube Baby

On this day, the world's first baby conceived via in-vitro fertilization (IVF), Louise Brown, was born in Oldham, England. This revolutionary procedure was carried out by British medical pioneers Patrick Steptoe and Robert Edwards, marking a significant breakthrough in reproductive technology.

Concorde Crash

On July 25, 2000, a Concorde aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, killing all 109 people on board and 4 on the ground. The plane was heading to New York and mainly carried German tourists. This incident led to a re-evaluation of the safety of supersonic aircraft and eventually to the end of Concorde's service.

Ulysses S. Grant Named General of the Army

On this day, U.S. President Andrew Johnson signed legislation naming Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant to the newly created rank of General of the Army of the United States, the highest rank in the U.S. Army.

The Great Depression - U.S. President Approves the National Housing Act

As part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, The National Housing Act was signed into law on 25th July 1934. The Act created the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which was intended to improve housing standards and conditions, provide an adequate home financing system through insurance of mortgages, and stabilize the mortgage market.

SS Andrea Doria Collides with MS Stockholm

On July 25, 1956, the Italian ocean liner SS Andrea Doria collided with the Swedish ship MS Stockholm in heavy fog off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts. The Andrea Doria sank the following day, causing 51 deaths.

Vietnam War - Nixon Announces the Nixon Doctrine

During a press conference, President Richard Nixon announced his Vietnamization policy, which became known as the Nixon Doctrine. The doctrine asserted that each ally nation had the responsibility of defending its own freedom, signalling a reduction of direct U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War.

Louise Brown, The First "Test Tube Baby"

Although this event is not specific to the United States, it had a significant global impact, including in the U.S. On 25 July 1978, Louise Brown, the world's first baby conceived via in vitro fertilization (IVF), was born in England. This marked a milestone in reproductive technology, eventually making IVF a viable fertility treatment worldwide, including in the U.S.

Marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Louis VII

On July 25, 1137, Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the wealthiest and most powerful women in Western Europe during the High Middle Ages, married Louis VII of France. This marriage brought significant territories to the French crown.

Henry IV Converts to Catholicism

On July 25, 1593, French King Henry IV converted from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism, a major turning point in the Wars of Religion. This conversion, taking place at the Basilica of Saint Denis, was a politically astute move that helped secure his hold on the French throne. It is also associated with the statement, "Paris is well worth a Mass."

Brunswick Manifesto

On July 25, 1792, the Brunswick Manifesto was issued by Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick, who was commander of the Allied Army (principally Austrian and Prussian). The manifesto threatened that if the French royal family were harmed, then French civilians would be harmed. It was a measure intended to intimidate Paris but led to the radicalization of the French Revolution and to the First Coalition.

Vel' d'Hiv Roundup

The Vel' d'Hiv Roundup, a Nazi-directed raid and mass arrest of Jews in Paris by the French police, took place from July 16 to July 25, 1942. About 13,152 Jews were arrested, including over 4,000 children. They were held at the Vélodrome d'Hiver, in extremely poor conditions, before being deported to Auschwitz concentration camp. This remains one of the most notorious episodes of French collaboration during the Nazi occupation.

Air France Concorde Flight 4590 Crash

On July 25, 2000, a Concorde aircraft operated by Air France crashed into a hotel in Gonesse, France, shortly after takeoff from Charles de Gaulle Airport, killing all 109 people on board and 4 on the ground. This crash, and the subsequent grounding and reevaluation of the Concorde fleet, marked a significant event in aviation history and the beginning of the end for commercial supersonic travel.