This month that year
June was the month of battles and protests, we think. So how about we go down the memory lane and tell you about it!
1989: Tiananmen Square massacre
The student-led demonstration at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing was crushed by the government. The protest was set against the rising discomfort against the post-Mao government where students demanded democracy, greater accountability and freedom of speech and press in China. As the protest started to grow, Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping declared martial law and as many as 300,000 troops were sent to Beijing to crush the voices. Despite international criticism, arms and economic sanctions, the army went on to kill hundreds and thousands at the infamous public place. Despite the press censorship, several images and videos emerged which showed the plight of the students against the government.
1926: Birth of Marilyn Monroe
The sex symbol of the West, Norma Jeane Mortenson aka Marilyn Monroe was born this month.
1815: Battle of Waterloo
The battle was fought in the present day Belgium between Napolean Bonaparte’s French army and the coalition army of Allied forces and Prussia. The defeat at Waterloo ended Napolean’s rule as the emperor of France.
1876: Custer’s Last Stand
The Battle of Little Bighorn or Custer’s Last Stand was an armed engagement between US Army’s 7th Cavalry Regiment and combined forces of Lokota, Northern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe. The US Army was annihilated as 5 of the 12 companies were defeated, Custer was killed along with 268 other soldiers. The troop later became iconic and a heroic figure for the Americans.
1950: The Korean War
The Fatherland Liberation War began when North Korea invaded South Korea. US along with UN came to the aid of South as China and Russia supported the North. Massive bombing campaigns and air-to-air combats marked the procession of the war as an armistice was finally signed in 1953 to ensure complete cessation of hostilities between the two countries. Though it never worked as both the countries are still technically at war.
From the June 2017 issue of FHM India.
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