1903 The Wright brothers 1st file a patent for a flying machine, which is granted 3 years later.
1918 Germany begins using long-range gun, the 'Kaiser Wilhelm Geschütz' ('Emperor William Gun'), aka 'Paris Gun' to shell Paris from Crépy-en-Laonnais, 75 miles away; over several days, 303 rounds kill 256 and wound over 600
1919 8th Congress of the Russian Communist Party re-establishes a five-member Politburo which becomes the center of political power in the Soviet Union. Original members Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, Joseph Stalin, Lev Kamenev and Nikolai Krestinsky.
1933 German Reichstag hastily passes the Enabling Act and President Paul von Hindenburg signs it the same day, granting Adolf Hitler dictatorial powers.
1945 British 7th Black Watch crosses the Rhine into Germany.
1945 British Prime Minister Churchill visits Montgomery's headquarter in Straelen.
1945 Lt. Gen. Miles Dempsey becomes the first British commander to cross the Rhine during the Allied invasion of Germany.
1983 US President Ronald Reagan introduces Strategic Defense Initiative ("Star Wars")
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