May 9

1945 - Victory Day:  WWII in Europe ended between the Soviet Union and Germany.
 
It's almost impossible to explain how much the people of the Soviet Union suffered in WWII.  It's almost impossible to explain how close the Nazi's were to defeating the Soviets in 1942.  It's almost impossible to explain what the Nazis had in store for these people had they conquered them.

The war in Eastern Europe was truly a war of extermination.

USSR: Over 23 million dead
Germany: Over 7 million dead
Poland: Over 5 million dead
Yugoslavia: Over 1 million dead
Romania: Over 830,000 dead
Hungary: Over 580,000 dead
Lithuania: Over 350,000 dead
Czechoslovakia: Over 340,000 dead
Latvia: Over 220,000 dead

Compare those numbers to the Western Allies

France: Over 560,000 dead
Italy: Over 450,000 dead
United Kingdom: Over 450,000 dead
United States: Over 410,000 dead
The Netherlands: Over 200,000 dead

If it seems as though I am impressed by the people of the Soviet Union, I am...They not only survived the insane leadership of Stalin, but they found a way to overcome his poor war-leadership and crushed (not defeated, but crushed) the Nazi war machine.

The Western Theatre in Europe was amazing, but for those interested in the most awesome battles in history - Moscow, Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Kursk in particular - I recommend learning more about the Eastern Theatre in WWII.

Sadly for the people of Eastern Europe and the USSR, Victory Day ended one war, and began another - as Stalin started a one-sided war against the people of the lands he 'liberated' - including his own.

1754 - The first American newspaper cartoon was published. The illustration in Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette showed a snake cut into sections, each part representing an American colony - the caption read, "Join or die."

Interesting. I always wondered why the "Don't Tread on Me" slogan has a rattlesnake.

1936 - Fascist Italy annexed Ethiopia.

WOW!!! The ‘Romans’ were really awakened with this fantastic conquest.
 
1962 - The Beatles signed their first recording contract and hired George Martin to be their producer.

The greatest band and assortment of individual music genius ever, and it's not even close.