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On this day in history - April 15

What Happened On This Day – April 15

  • 1994 The World Trade Organization is founded

    The WTO coordinates and strives to liberalize international trade. It has been criticized for ignoring and escalating the negative social and environmental side-effects of globalization.

  • 1989 A small group of students initiates pro-democracy protest on Tiananmen Square in Beijing

    The death of reformer Hu Yaobang triggered the demonstrations, which grew in size and were brutally dispersed in the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4.

  • 1986 The United States launches retaliatory air strikes against Libya

    Around 40 Libyans died in Operation El Dorado Canyon, including an infant girl. The attack was the United States' response to the bombing of a Berlin discotheque on April 5, in which 3 people had died.

  • 1945 The German concentration camp Bergen-Belsen is liberated

    British and Canadian troops found about 53,000 prisoners inside the camp. Tens of thousands died before and after the liberation.

  • 1935 The Eastman Kodak Company launches Kodachrome

    The photographic film was one of the most popular media used by professional and hobby photographers around the world. The product was discontinued in 2009 because of the advent of digital photography.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
April 15

  • 1894 Nikita Khrushchev

    Soviet politician, 7th Premier of the Soviet Union

  • 1858 Émile Durkheim

    French sociologist

  • 1843 Henry James

    American/English author

  • 1832 Wilhelm Busch

    German poet, painter, illustrator

  • 1452 Leonardo da Vinci

    Italian painter, sculptor, architect

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
April 15

  • 1998 Pol Pot

    Cambodian politician, 29th Prime Minister of Cambodia

  • 1990 Greta Garbo

    Swedish actress

  • 1980 Jean-Paul Sartre

    French philosopher, writer

  • 1889 Father Damien

    Flemish missionary, priest

  • 1865 Abraham Lincoln

    American lawyer, politician, 16th President of the United States