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On this day in history – February 24th, 1917
On this day, February 24th, 1917, the United Kingdom first showed an encoded telegram, written by the German Foreign Secretary, to the United States. This telegram that the British had intercepted, now infamously known as the Zimmerman Telegram, contained details proposing an alliance between Mexico and Germany, against the United States and its possible entry into the war. In the telegram, the Germans offered Mexico some territory in the United States in exchange for the alliance and support. This telegram, once released to the public, was one of the ultimate push factors in shifting public opinion in America toward entering World War I.
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On this day in history – February 10th, 1945
On this day, February 11th, 1945, the Yalta Conference between the leaders of the Allied Powers came to an end. At this conference, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin, and Winston Churchill signed the Yalta Agreement, in which they decided to demand a full and complete surrender from Germany, and began to plan their final steps to ending the Second World War and what would take place in the post-war period.
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China Invades Vietnam
On February 17th, 1979, China invaded Vietnam in response to Vietnam’s growing ties with China’s rival, the Soviet Union, as well as the invasion of Cambodia. Although the conflict only lasted for nine days, it is estimated that there were tens of thousands of casualties, and tensions between the countries remained high.
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On this day – February 3rd, 1989
On February 3rd, 1989, after more than 30 years as dictator of Paraguay, Alfredo Stroessner was overthrown in a coup d’etat led by General Andres Rodriguez. He was driven into exile in Brazil where he lived until the end of his days.
