May 13
1865. The Battle of Palmito Ranch is fought between Union and Confederate forces. Occurring weeks after Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomatox and Johnston's surrender to Sherman, the capture of Richmond, the death of Lincoln and the shooting of John Wilkes Booth, and the capture of Jefferson Davis, the forces fight having no idea that the war is over. Ironically, the battle results in a Confederate victory. Fortunately, casualties are relatively light (about a dozen killed and two dozen wounded between both combatants).
1880. In Menlo Park, New Jersey, Thomas Edison the first test of his electric railway.
1939. The first FM radio station is launched, in Bloomfield, Connecticut.
1940. German troops cross the Meuse River, beginning its conquest of France. Churchill issues the "blood, toil, tears and sweat" speech. The phrase was first used by Teddy Roosevelt, and Churchill likely knowingly borrowed it from him, but brought it to much greater fame.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Winston Churchill
We are in the preliminary stage of one of the greatest battles in history.... That we are in action at many points — in Norway and in Holland —, that we have to be prepared in the Mediterranean. That the air battle is continuous, and that many preparations have to be made here at home.
I would say to the House as I said to those who have joined this government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering.
You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs — Victory in spite of all terror — Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.
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1943. The Afrika Corps and Italian troop adjuncts surrender after having been bottled up and surrounded in Tunisia. A little while earlier Erwin Rommel had been recalled by Hitler, to save him from the ignominy of surrendering, and his replacement, General von Armin, had the "pleasure" instead. IIRC, approximately 250,000 troops surrender, representing a significant loss for the Wehrmacht especially when considered in light of the recently ended Battle of Stalingrad. Between the two, Germany loses over a million soldiers.
1958. The trademark
velcro is registered.
1981. Mehmet Ali Agca attempts to assassinate Pope John Paul II. PJPII survives after emergency surgery.
1994. Johnny Carson makes his last television appearance, on the Late Show with David Letterman.