The People History Home

December 27th Major News Events

  1. 1994 Rwanda -- Blood Bath
  2. 1932 U.S.A. -- Radio City Music Hall
  3. 1965 England -- Drilling Platform Capsizes
  4. 1979 Afghanistan -- Soviet Union Seizes Control
  5. 2007 Pakistan -- Benazir Bhutto assassinated

Find More Details for What happened 27th December This Day in History on your birthday

1994 Rwanda -- Blood Bath

1994 : When Rwanda's president was killed in a plane crash the country was plunged into a blood bath and genocide. The Hutu majority slaughtered the Tutsis and a half a million people lay dead. A missionary exclaimed, "There are no devils left in hell. They are all in Rwanda."

1932 U.S.A. -- Radio City Music Hall

Radio City Music Hall opened in New York City opening with a spectacular stage show, featuring Ray Bolger and Martha Graham. The stage measures 66.5 feet (20 m) deep and 144 feet (44 m) wide and has the largest Wurlitzer pipe organ built for a movie theater. The Radio City Music Hall is also home to the women's precision dance team known as The Rockettes.

1907 Austria -- Emperor

Aging emperor Francis Joseph warned military man Don Miguel Braganza that he would be exiled if he did not stop plotting to overthrow the government of Portugal. In an interview with a reporter Braganza boasted about his seditious plans and as a result the emperor summoned him immediately.

1921 U.S.A. -- Tacoa Arica

Chile and Peruvian officials were meeting in Washington to try resolving their disputes. One of the main issues was over the fate of Tacoa Arica.

1936 Mexico -- Agrarian Reform law

Workers and peasants, the neglected masses, were benefited by President Lacaro Curdenas's Agrarian Reform law. Wealthy cotton areas were taken from the rich and given to the peasants. His Seventh Day Law paid workers seven days a week.

1943 Norway -- World War II

Nazi battleship, The Scharnhorst, was sunk by the British off the coast of Norway. The battleship was a 28,000 ton vessel that probably intended to strike a convoy near Murmansk.

1949 Indonesia -- Independence

Indonesia gains it's independence from the Netherlands after 400 years of Dutch Rule.

1954 France -- Germany To Join NATO

French lawmakers were saddled with the thorny problem of whether or not to allow West Germany to rearm and join NATO.

Born This Day In History December 27th

Celebrating Birthdays Today

Marlene Dietrich

Born: 27th December 1901 Berlin-Schöneberg, German Empire

Died: May 6th 1992 Paris, France

Known For : Marlene Dietrich was born Marie Magdalene Dietrich in Germany but quickly moved to Holywood in the early 1930's where she began her American acting and singing career, her movies included Morocco, Dishonored, Destry Rides Again, Touch of Evil, Judgment at Nuremberg, and Stage Fright, Shanghai Express, Blonde Venus, The Scarlet Empress, and The Devil is a Woman. Her singing voice was distinct as her well known signature song "Falling in Love Again" from the 1930 Movie "The Blue Angel" featured in our video today shows. Marlene Dietrich became an American citizen in 1939 and a vocal opponent of the German Nazi Regime and she entertained American troops on the front lines.

1960 France -- Atomic Bomb Test

France explodes it's third atomic bomb test in the Sahara desert in Africa.

1965 England -- Drilling Platform Capsizes

1965 : Britain's first off-shore drilling platform in the North Sea has capsized off the north eastern coast when two supporting legs gave way in the rough waters of the North Sea. The death toll is thought to over ten men lost.

1967 Cambodia -- Anti US

Prince Norodom of Cambodia rejected U.S. plans to close the Vietnam border to communists and accused the U.S. of interfering in Indo-Chinese affairs. U.S. and Cambodia did not have regular diplomatic channels, but usually communicated through Austria.

1975 India -- Coal Mine Explosion

A coal mine explosion followed by a flood at the Chasnala Colliery in Dhanbad, India kills over 350.

1977 England -- Star Wars

The long awaited film Star Wars which has been showing in the US since June, has had thousands of people are flocking to cinemas in the UK, many queued in London's Dominion, and Leicester Square cinemas from early in the morning waiting to get the few tickets that have not been pre booked for months.

1978 Italy -- Tullia Zacchelli

Tullia Zacchelli, aged 43, suffered from suicidal depression and had attempted to kill herself 5 times. She finally succeeded by jumping out of a 6th floor building by biting her husband's hand so he would let go of her.

1979 Afghanistan -- Soviet Union Seizes Control

The Soviet Union seizes control of Afghanistan. President Hafizullah Amin, who was overthrown and executed, has been replaced by Babrak Karmal.

1983 U.S.A. -- Recession More Jobs Lost

1983 : With the recession continuing to effect manufacturing in the United States. U.S. Steel announces that it would reduce its steel making capacity by roughly 20 percent laying off a further 4,600 bringing the total lay-offs for the year to 15,400.

1985 Rwanda -- Dian Fossey

The American Zoologist Dian Fossey, who had studied mountain gorillas in Rwanda, was found hacked to death at a research station in Rwanda.

1985 Italy / Austria -- Terrorist Attack

A twin terrorist attack at Rome and Vienna airports by gunmen on waiting passengers has left more than 100 people injured and reports of 15 fatalities.

1987 Canada -- Chrysler Motors

In Bramalea, Ontario Chrysler Motors had a new 1.8 million square foot factory where the 1988 Eagle Premier intermediate sedan would be built. The factory was L shaped and sat on 216 acres. One hundred and fifty thousand vehicles a year would be produced there providing thousands of local jobs.

2001 U.S.A. -- Guantanamo Bay

U.S. officials announced that Taliban and al-Qaida prisoners would be held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

1980s Toys Section

Barbie Bubble Bath From The 1980s Barbie Bubble Bath
Manufacturer: Mattel
Price: $9.99

There's a bubbly bath, hand shower that really works and a vanity, too. Press one pump to fill the tub, another to spray the water from the hand shower. Includes tub, faucet and "mirror", 4 oz. bubble bath, soap and soap tray, towel, vanity chair, brush, comb, and more.


Hot Wheels Spiral Speedway From The 1980s Hot Wheels Spiral Speedway
Manufacturer: Mattel
Price: $24.99

Hot Wheel Spiral Speedway has an elevated spiral track that climbs to a height of one and a half feet to provide excitement of vertical racing. Includes the Hot Ones Hot Bird and White Porsche, power wheels, booster, starting gate, access, even a working grease track.


2002 North Korea -- Nuclear Program

2002 : North Korea ordered U.N. nuclear inspectors to leave the country and said it would restart producing plutonium for nuclear weapons.

2006 Israel -- Palestinians No To Peace

Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, held out an olive branch of peace to the Palestinians promising land, release of prisoners, reduction in check points, and other concessions. However Palestinian extremists in Gaza fired 2 rockets into Israel.

2007 Pakistan -- Benazir Bhutto assassinated

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in Pakistan by suicide attack. Bhutto, who was the first woman Prime Minister of an Islamic state, was leaving an election rally in Rawalpindi when the gunman shot her in the neck and set off a bomb. At least twenty other people died in the attack, and several more were injured.

2011 Israel -- Israelis Protest Against Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Extremism

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been assassinated in Pakistan by suicide 27th December, 2011 : Thousands of Israelis gathers in Beit Shemesh to protest against ultra-Orthodox Jewish extremism. The protests came after a young girl stated she had faced harassment while on her way to school. The protests were also over concern that some ultra-Orthodox groups in the city were trying to segregate men and women. Protesters also had the support of Israel's president who said that the protests were necessary to defend the majority of Israelis against a minority trying to change the country.

2012 United States -- Man Admits Fossil Smuggling

Eric Prokopi, a Florida fossil dealer, admitted to smuggling dinosaur bones in to the country. Prokopi could face up to seventeen years in prison.

2013 China -- GM Recalls Vehicles in China

General Motors announced a recall of over 1.4 million cars in China. The recall focused on an issue with a securing an oil pump.

From our 1955 Toys

Farm Stake Tonka Truck From The 1950s Farm Stake Tonka Truck
Manufacturer: Tonka
Price: $3.98
Realistic in every detail... right down to its rear wheels with mud flaps! Small-fry farmers find it ideal to haul any load. The stake panels come out for the big jobs. Made of tough, heavy gauge metal.

From our 1960s Quiz Page

Question 19

19. What was the name of the unsuccessful Cuban invasion attempt that tried to overthrow Fidel Castro in 1961?

Question 21

21. In what year was US President John F. Kennedy assassinated?

Question 23

23. By 1966, the United States had nearly how many troops in Vietnam?

Question 24

24. When did the Voting Rights Act became law in the US?

Question 26

26. The first VCR home video recorder was introduced by what company in 1964?