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On this day in history - March 12

What Happened On This Day – March 12

  • 1967 Suharto rises to power in Indonesia

    His presidency, which lasted 31 years, was overshadowed by crass human rights violations and the occupation of East Timor.

  • 1947 The Truman doctrine is proclaimed

    In his speech before Congress, U.S. President Harry S. Truman defined his foreign relations priorities, which included military and economic support to Turkey and Greece to prevent the spread of communism there.

  • 1938 Hitler invades Austria

    The occupation of Hitler's homeland is known as Anschluss, which is the German word for annexation.

  • 1930 Mahatma Gandhi embarks on his Salt March

    The 240-mile march was an act of civil disobedience to protest the British monopoly on salt. It was one of the most significant events during the Indian independence movement.

  • 1918 Moscow becomes Russia's capital city

    St. Petersburg lost its status as the Russian capital following the Revolution of 1917, which dismantled the Tsarist autocracy.

Illustration of stork, signifying birth

Births On This Day,
March 12

  • 1979 Pete Doherty

    English singer-songwriter, guitarist

  • 1947 Mitt Romney

    American businessman, politician, 70th Governor of Massachusetts

  • 1946 Liza Minnelli

    American actress, singer, dancer

  • 1922 Jack Kerouac

    American author, poet

  • 1864 W. H. R. Rivers

    English anthropologist, neurologist, ethnologist, psychiatrist

Illustration of tombstone, signifying death

Deaths On This Day,
March 12

  • 2015 Terry Pratchett

    English author

  • 1999 Yehudi Menuhin

    American/Swiss violinist, conductor

  • 1955 Charlie Parker

    American saxophonist, composer

  • 1925 Sun Yat-sen

    Chinese revolutionary, politician, 1st President of the Republic of China

  • 1914 George Westinghouse

    American engineer, inventor