Berlin, Germany. A series of notable political, economic and cultural events have taken place on April 1 across different years and countries.
1924: Adolf Hitler sentenced
A German court sentenced Adolf Hitler to five years in jail for high treason after his abortive 1923 putsch; he was released on Dec. 20.
1976: Death of Max Ernst
Max Ernst, German painter and sculptor and one of the founders of Dadaism, died.
1996: Japan bank merger
The world’s largest bank was created in Japan with the merger of Mitsubishi Bank and the Bank of Tokyo.
1999: Creation of Nunavut
In the first redrawing of Canada’s provincial borders in 50 years, a vast new Arctic territory called Nunavut was created.
1999: BP Amoco takeover agreement
BP Amoco Plc agreed a $26.8 billion takeover of Atlantic Richfield Co of the United States to create the world’s biggest non-OPEC oil producer.
2001: Arrest of Slobodan Milosevic
Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic was arrested in Belgrade after a stand-off. He pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of power and criminal conspiracy.
2001: U.S. Navy plane emergency landing in China
A U.S. Navy surveillance plane with 24 crew made an emergency landing on the Chinese island of Hainan after a mid-air collision with a Chinese F-8 fighter, sparking a diplomatic stand-off that was to last several weeks.
2005: Death of Harald Juhnke
Harald Juhnke, one of Germany’s best-loved stars of television, film and stage and hailed by many as the German Frank Sinatra, died aged 75.
2007: Crazy Dunkers world record
French acrobatic basketball team “Crazy Dunkers” member Willy Martignon breaks world record for dunking from the longest distance.
Which of these April 1 events do you find most significant?
