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42 events on this timeline
  1. German revolutions of 1848–1849

    The Grand Duke was forced to leave Karlsruhe

    Sunday May 20, 1849Central Europe (Present-Day Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

    In May 1849, the Grand Duke was forced to leave Karlsruhe, Baden, and seek help from Prussia. Provisional governments were declared in both the Palatinate and Baden. In Baden conditions for the provisional government were ideal: the public and army were both strongly in support of constitutional change and democratic reform in the government.

  2. Hungarian–Romanian War

    Hungary Attacked Miskolc

    Tuesday May 20, 1919Miskolc, Hungary

    With cessation of hostilities, Kun worked to improve his battered international position. On 20 May 1919, a force under Colonel Aurél Stromfeld attacked and routed Czech troops from Miskolc.

  3. Joseph Goebbels

    The ban on the NSDAP was lifted

    Sunday May 20, 1928Berlin, Germany

    The ban on the NSDAP was lifted before the Reichstag elections on 20 May 1928.

  4. Charles de Gaulle

    De Gaulle delayed his retreat

    Monday May 20, 1940Montcornet, France

    Charles delayed his retreat until 20 May.

  5. World War II

    Battle of Crete

    Tuesday May 20, 1941Crete, Greece

    The Battle of Crete was fought on the Greek island of Crete, It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany began an airborne invasion of Crete. Greek and other Allied forces, along with Cretan civilians, defended the island.

  6. Winston Churchill

    Vyacheslav Molotov arrived in London

    Wednesday May 20, 1942London, England, United Kingdom

    On 20 May, the Soviet Foreign Affairs minister, Vyacheslav Molotov, arrived in London and stayed until the 28th before going on to Washington. The purpose of this visit was to sign a treaty of friendship but Molotov wanted it done on the basis of certain territorial concessions re Poland and the Baltic States. Churchill and Eden worked for a compromise and eventually a twenty-year treaty was formalized but with the question of frontiers placed on hold. Molotov was also seeking a Second Front in Europe but all Churchill could do was confirm that preparations were in progress and make no promises on a date.

  7. Charles de Gaulle

    French artillery and warplanes fired on demonstrators in Damascus

    Sunday May 20, 1945Damascus, Syria

    On 20 May, French artillery and warplanes fired on demonstrators in Damascus. After several days, upwards of 800 Syrians lay dead.

  8. Conflict in Myanmar

    Armed Resistance Movement

    Tuesday May 20, 1958Shan State, Myanmar

    During the Tatmadaw's (Myanmar Armed Forces') heavy militarisation of the state in the late 1940s and early 1950s, locals accused them of mistreating, torturing, robbing, raping, unlawfully arresting and massacring villagers. As a result, on 21 May 1958, an armed resistance movement, led by Sao Noi and Saw Yanna, was started in Shan State.

  9. Juan Carlos I

    Endorsement of The Monarchy From Spain's Political Left

    Friday May 20, 1977Zarzuela Palace, Carretera del Pardo, Madrid, Spain

    On 20 May 1977, the leader of the only recently legalized Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), Felipe González, accompanied by Javier Solana, visited Juan Carlos in the Zarzuela Palace. The event represented a key endorsement of the monarchy from Spain's political left, who had been historically republican. Left-wing support for the monarchy grew when the Communist Party of Spain was legalized shortly thereafter, a move Juan Carlos had pressed for, despite enormous right-wing military opposition at that time, during the Cold War.

  10. Falklands War

    New Zealand would make HMNZS Canterbury available for use where the British thought fit to release a Royal Navy vessel for the Falklands

    Thursday May 20, 1982New Zealand

    On 20 May 1982, Robert Muldoon announced that New Zealand would make HMNZS Canterbury, a Leander-class frigate, available for use where the British thought fit to release a Royal Navy vessel for the Falklands. The New Zealand government expelled the Argentinian ambassador following the invasion. The Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, was in London when the war broke out.

  11. 1989 Tiananmen Square protests

    The Chinese Government declared Martial Law

    Saturday May 20, 1989China

    The Chinese government declared martial law on 20 May and mobilized at least 30 divisions from five of the country's seven military regions. At least 14 of PLA's 24 army corps contributed troops. As many as 250,000 troops were eventually sent to the capital, some arriving by air and others by rail.

  12. Hillsborough events

    1989 FA Cup Final

    Saturday May 20, 1989Wembley Stadium, London, England, United Kingdom

    At the 1989 FA Cup Final between Liverpool and local rivals Everton, held just five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster, the players from both participating teams wore black armbands as a gesture of respect to the victims.

  13. Johan Cruyff

    1992 European Cup

    Wednesday May 20, 1992London, England

    The 1992 European Cup Final was a football match held on 20 May 1992 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Sampdoria of Italy and Barcelona of Spain. Barcelona won the game 1–0 after extra time, thanks to a Ronald Koeman free kick, to record their first triumph in the competition. It was the first to have a group stage involving the eight second-round winners split into two groups, and the winner of each one met in the final. In doing so, they became the second Spanish club to win the tournament and the 19th overall.

  14. Xanana Gusmão

    The First President of Timor-Leste

    Monday May 20, 2002Timor-Leste

    Gusmão became the first President of East Timor when it became formally independent on 20 May 2002.

  15. SARS Coronavirus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

    WHO refused to lift tourism warning!

    Tuesday May 20, 2003Geneva, Switzerland

    On May 20, the WHO refused to lift the Tourism Warning for Hong Kong and Guangdong.

  16. Financial crisis of 2007–2008

    Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009

    Wednesday May 20, 2009U.S.

    May 20, 2009, President Obama signed Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009.

  17. Tesla, Inc.

    Tesla and Toyota announced a partnership

    Thursday May 20, 2010Palo Alto, California, U.S.

    On May 20, 2010, Tesla and Toyota announced a partnership to work on electric vehicle development, which included Toyota's US$50 million future conditional investment in Tesla and Tesla's US$42 million purchase of a portion of the former NUMMI factory.

  18. International Monetary Fund

    Discussion Paper

    Monday May 20, 2013Washington D.C., U.S.

    The topic of sovereign debt restructuring was taken up by the IMF in April 2013 for the first time since 2005, in a report entitled "Sovereign Debt Restructuring: Recent Developments and Implications for the Fund's Legal and Policy Framework". The paper, which was discussed by the board on 20 May, summarised the recent experiences in Greece, St Kitts, and Nevis, Belize, and Jamaica. An explanatory interview with Deputy Director Hugh Bredenkamp was published a few days later, as was a deconstruction by Matina Stevis of the Wall Street Journal.

  19. Narendra Damodardas Modi

    Resigned as the Chief Minister

    Tuesday May 20, 2014India

    After his election as prime minister, Modi resigned as the chief minister and as an MLA from Maninagar on 21 May 2014. Anandiben Patel succeeded him as the chief minister.

  20. Covid-19 Pandemic: 2020 Coronavirus outbreak

    300K Russian infections

    Wednesday May 20, 2020Russia

    On 20 May 2020, the Russian Federation has surpassed 300K in infections.

  21. Kevin Hart

    Die Hart premiered

    Thursday May 20, 2021U.S.

    In 2021, his series Die Hart premiered on May 20 and had a great first weekend, with numerous households streaming the series.

  22. German revolutions of 1848–1849

    The Grand Duke was forced to leave Karlsruhe

    Sunday May 20, 1849Central Europe (Present-Day Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany)

    In May 1849, the Grand Duke was forced to leave Karlsruhe, Baden, and seek help from Prussia. Provisional governments were declared in both the Palatinate and Baden. In Baden conditions for the provisional government were ideal: the public and army were both strongly in support of constitutional change and democratic reform in the government.

  23. Hungarian–Romanian War

    Hungary Attacked Miskolc

    Tuesday May 20, 1919Miskolc, Hungary

    With cessation of hostilities, Kun worked to improve his battered international position. On 20 May 1919, a force under Colonel Aurél Stromfeld attacked and routed Czech troops from Miskolc.

  24. Joseph Goebbels

    The ban on the NSDAP was lifted

    Sunday May 20, 1928Berlin, Germany

    The ban on the NSDAP was lifted before the Reichstag elections on 20 May 1928.

  25. Charles de Gaulle

    De Gaulle delayed his retreat

    Monday May 20, 1940Montcornet, France

    Charles delayed his retreat until 20 May.

  26. World War II

    Battle of Crete

    Tuesday May 20, 1941Crete, Greece

    The Battle of Crete was fought on the Greek island of Crete, It began on the morning of 20 May 1941, when Nazi Germany began an airborne invasion of Crete. Greek and other Allied forces, along with Cretan civilians, defended the island.

  27. Winston Churchill

    Vyacheslav Molotov arrived in London

    Wednesday May 20, 1942London, England, United Kingdom

    On 20 May, the Soviet Foreign Affairs minister, Vyacheslav Molotov, arrived in London and stayed until the 28th before going on to Washington. The purpose of this visit was to sign a treaty of friendship but Molotov wanted it done on the basis of certain territorial concessions re Poland and the Baltic States. Churchill and Eden worked for a compromise and eventually a twenty-year treaty was formalized but with the question of frontiers placed on hold. Molotov was also seeking a Second Front in Europe but all Churchill could do was confirm that preparations were in progress and make no promises on a date.

  28. Charles de Gaulle

    French artillery and warplanes fired on demonstrators in Damascus

    Sunday May 20, 1945Damascus, Syria

    On 20 May, French artillery and warplanes fired on demonstrators in Damascus. After several days, upwards of 800 Syrians lay dead.

  29. Conflict in Myanmar

    Armed Resistance Movement

    Tuesday May 20, 1958Shan State, Myanmar

    During the Tatmadaw's (Myanmar Armed Forces') heavy militarisation of the state in the late 1940s and early 1950s, locals accused them of mistreating, torturing, robbing, raping, unlawfully arresting and massacring villagers. As a result, on 21 May 1958, an armed resistance movement, led by Sao Noi and Saw Yanna, was started in Shan State.

  30. Juan Carlos I

    Endorsement of The Monarchy From Spain's Political Left

    Friday May 20, 1977Zarzuela Palace, Carretera del Pardo, Madrid, Spain

    On 20 May 1977, the leader of the only recently legalized Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), Felipe González, accompanied by Javier Solana, visited Juan Carlos in the Zarzuela Palace. The event represented a key endorsement of the monarchy from Spain's political left, who had been historically republican. Left-wing support for the monarchy grew when the Communist Party of Spain was legalized shortly thereafter, a move Juan Carlos had pressed for, despite enormous right-wing military opposition at that time, during the Cold War.

  31. Falklands War

    New Zealand would make HMNZS Canterbury available for use where the British thought fit to release a Royal Navy vessel for the Falklands

    Thursday May 20, 1982New Zealand

    On 20 May 1982, Robert Muldoon announced that New Zealand would make HMNZS Canterbury, a Leander-class frigate, available for use where the British thought fit to release a Royal Navy vessel for the Falklands. The New Zealand government expelled the Argentinian ambassador following the invasion. The Prime Minister, Robert Muldoon, was in London when the war broke out.

  32. 1989 Tiananmen Square protests

    The Chinese Government declared Martial Law

    Saturday May 20, 1989China

    The Chinese government declared martial law on 20 May and mobilized at least 30 divisions from five of the country's seven military regions. At least 14 of PLA's 24 army corps contributed troops. As many as 250,000 troops were eventually sent to the capital, some arriving by air and others by rail.

  33. Hillsborough events

    1989 FA Cup Final

    Saturday May 20, 1989Wembley Stadium, London, England, United Kingdom

    At the 1989 FA Cup Final between Liverpool and local rivals Everton, held just five weeks after the Hillsborough disaster, the players from both participating teams wore black armbands as a gesture of respect to the victims.

  34. Johan Cruyff

    1992 European Cup

    Wednesday May 20, 1992London, England

    The 1992 European Cup Final was a football match held on 20 May 1992 at Wembley Stadium, London, between Sampdoria of Italy and Barcelona of Spain. Barcelona won the game 1–0 after extra time, thanks to a Ronald Koeman free kick, to record their first triumph in the competition. It was the first to have a group stage involving the eight second-round winners split into two groups, and the winner of each one met in the final. In doing so, they became the second Spanish club to win the tournament and the 19th overall.

  35. Xanana Gusmão

    The First President of Timor-Leste

    Monday May 20, 2002Timor-Leste

    Gusmão became the first President of East Timor when it became formally independent on 20 May 2002.

  36. SARS Coronavirus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)

    WHO refused to lift tourism warning!

    Tuesday May 20, 2003Geneva, Switzerland

    On May 20, the WHO refused to lift the Tourism Warning for Hong Kong and Guangdong.

  37. Financial crisis of 2007–2008

    Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009

    Wednesday May 20, 2009U.S.

    May 20, 2009, President Obama signed Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009.

  38. Tesla, Inc.

    Tesla and Toyota announced a partnership

    Thursday May 20, 2010Palo Alto, California, U.S.

    On May 20, 2010, Tesla and Toyota announced a partnership to work on electric vehicle development, which included Toyota's US$50 million future conditional investment in Tesla and Tesla's US$42 million purchase of a portion of the former NUMMI factory.

  39. International Monetary Fund

    Discussion Paper

    Monday May 20, 2013Washington D.C., U.S.

    The topic of sovereign debt restructuring was taken up by the IMF in April 2013 for the first time since 2005, in a report entitled "Sovereign Debt Restructuring: Recent Developments and Implications for the Fund's Legal and Policy Framework". The paper, which was discussed by the board on 20 May, summarised the recent experiences in Greece, St Kitts, and Nevis, Belize, and Jamaica. An explanatory interview with Deputy Director Hugh Bredenkamp was published a few days later, as was a deconstruction by Matina Stevis of the Wall Street Journal.

  40. Narendra Damodardas Modi

    Resigned as the Chief Minister

    Tuesday May 20, 2014India

    After his election as prime minister, Modi resigned as the chief minister and as an MLA from Maninagar on 21 May 2014. Anandiben Patel succeeded him as the chief minister.

  41. Covid-19 Pandemic: 2020 Coronavirus outbreak

    300K Russian infections

    Wednesday May 20, 2020Russia

    On 20 May 2020, the Russian Federation has surpassed 300K in infections.

  42. Kevin Hart

    Die Hart premiered

    Thursday May 20, 2021U.S.

    In 2021, his series Die Hart premiered on May 20 and had a great first weekend, with numerous households streaming the series.