June 20 in history
Events on June 20
Notable events that happened on June 20 in past years.
- 2025
The first EF5 tornado in 12 years occurs in Enderlin, North Dakota.
Wikipedia article: 2025 Enderlin tornado - 2003
The Wikimedia Foundation is founded in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Wikipedia article: Wikimedia Foundation - 1990
Asteroid Eureka is discovered.
Wikipedia article: Asteroid - 1982
The Argentine Corbeta Uruguay base on Southern Thule surrenders to Royal Marine commandos in the final action of the Falklands War.
Wikipedia article: Corbeta Uruguay base - 1973
Aeroméxico Flight 229 crashes on approach to Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, killing all 27 people on board.
Wikipedia article: Aeroméxico Flight 229 - 1960
The Mali Federation gains independence from France (it later splits into Mali and Senegal).
Wikipedia article: Mali Federation - 1945
The United States Secretary of State approves the transfer of Wernher von Braun and his team of Nazi rocket scientists to the U.S. under Operation Paperclip.
Wikipedia article: United States Secretary of State - 1943
The Detroit race riot breaks out and continues for three more days.
Wikipedia article: 1943 Detroit race riot - 1926
The 28th International Eucharistic Congress begins in Chicago, with over 250,000 spectators attending the opening procession.
Wikipedia article: 28th International Eucharistic Congress - 1895
The Kiel Canal, crossing the base of the Jutland peninsula and the busiest artificial waterway in the world, is officially opened.
Wikipedia article: Kiel Canal - 1862
Barbu Catargiu, the Prime Minister of Romania, is assassinated.
Wikipedia article: Barbu Catargiu - 1791
King Louis XVI, disguised as a valet, and the French royal family attempt to flee Paris during the French Revolution.
Wikipedia article: Louis XVI - 1756
A British garrison is imprisoned in the Black Hole of Calcutta.
Wikipedia article: British Empire - 1622
The Battle of Höchst takes place during the Thirty Years' War.
- 451
Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius battles Attila the Hun. After the battle, which was inconclusive, Attila retreats. Despite suffering catastrophic losses that led to the collapse of their alliance with the Goths and the destruction of much of the Roman army, the Romans nevertheless proclaimed victory despite the lack of any clear military success.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0