This Day In History, July 20th.
Five Historical Events That Happened on July 20th.
1969 - Apollo 11 Moon Landing: On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin and Neil Armstrong made history by becoming the first people to set foot on the Moon. It is well known that Armstrong said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Attempt on Adolf Hitler's Life in 1944: On July 20, 1944, a group of German officers made an attempt on Adolf Hitler's life at his Wolf's Lair headquarters in East Prussia. Hitler managed to escape the attack with just slight wounds.
Stirling Castle surrendered to the English under King Edward I on July 20, 1304, ending its role as a crucial strategic fortress during the First Scottish War of Independence.
Attempt on Pancho Villa's Life in 1923: On July 20, 1923, at Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico, Pancho Villa narrowly avoided an attempt on his life.
The Viking 1 spacecraft successfully landed on Mars on July 20, 1976, making history as the first spacecraft to do so and return photographs of the planet's surface.
On July 20th, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the Moon. Armstrong famously declared, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
One of the most important moments in human history and a magnificent feat of space exploration, the Apollo 11 moon landing is. Armstrong and Aldrin arrived on the moon's surface four days after the mission's launch on July 16th, 1969, with Michael Collins orbiting above them. As he descended the lunar module's ladder and stepped foot on the moon's surface, Armstrong spoke his now-famous remarks, establishing a crucial turning point in human space exploration.
On July 20th, 1944, a group of German officers attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler in his Wolf's Lair headquarters in East Prussia. The attempt failed, and Hitler survived with only minor injuries.
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg oversaw the Operation Valkyrie assassination attempt, which entailed detonating a bomb in Hitler's conference room at the Wolf's Lair. Hitler, however, escaped the explosion with just minor wounds because the bomb's suitcase had been relocated just enough to deflect the explosion. Following the unsuccessful attempt, Stauffenberg and the other conspirators were put to death by firing squad, and a subsequent purge resulted in the arrest and execution of thousands more individuals.
On July 20th, 1304, Stirling Castle, a strategically important stronghold during the First Scottish War of Independence, fell to the English under King Edward I.
During the First Scottish War of Independence, Stirling Castle was an important Scottish stronghold, and its capture by King Edward I's English forces marked a turning point in the fight. After many months of siege, the Scottish soldiers were compelled to give up after the English took control of the adjacent Stirling Bridge. Following William Wallace's arrest, one of the key players in the Scottish resistance, the fall of Stirling Castle allowed the English to firmly establish their rule over Scotland.
On July 20th, 1923, Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico.
During the Mexican Revolution (1910–1920), Pancho Villa, a well-known Mexican revolutionary, was crucial. Villa was attacked by a squad of assassins on July 20, 1923, as he was driving through Parral, Chihuahua. Villa narrowly avoided the assault, but a number of his bodyguards perished. Villa, who remained a contentious figure in Mexico in the years following the revolution, was thought to have had the murder attempt planned by either political adversaries or economic rivals.
On July 20th, 1976, the Viking 1 spacecraft successfully landed on Mars, becoming the first spacecraft to land on the planet and send back images of its surface.
The Viking 1 mission was a significant turning point in the exploration of the red planet since it was the first spacecraft to land successfully on the surface of Mars. On August 20th, 1975, the Viking 1 spacecraft was launched from Earth. On June 19th, 1976, over a year after launch, it entered orbit around Mars. The Viking 1 lander safely landed on Mars' surface on July 20th, 1976, and immediately started transmitting back pictures and information on the planet's ecology and geology. Future Mars exploration, including the most recent Mars rover missions, was made possible by the Viking 1 mission.