July 12
1948
Palestinian expulsion from Lydda and Ramle
In July 1948, during Operation Dani, Israeli forces captured the central Palestinian towns of Lydda (al-Lydd) and Ramle (ar-Ramla). Over a matter of days — roughly July 11–12, 1948 — fighting, mass detentions, and orders to leave produced one of the largest single displacements of the 1947–49 war: tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians forced onto the road under summer heat, many never to return. Read more
1943
Michniów massacre (pacification of Michniów)
On July 12–13, 1943, German security forces carried out a punitive pacification in the small Polish village of Michniów, murdering 204 civilians, burning homes and barns, and leaving survivors homeless. The action became a lasting symbol of Nazi collective punishment of rural communities and is commemorated at a national memorial on the site. Read more
1943
Battle of Prokhorovka
On July 12, 1943, near the village of Prokhorovka southeast of Kursk, Soviet 5th Guards Tank Army and elements of the German II SS Panzer Corps collided in a brutal, short‑range armored clash. The fighting unfolded across mined wheat fields and sunken embankments; it did not produce a decisive breakthrough for either side but helped blunt the German southern offensive during Operation Citadel and marked a turning point in the Eastern Front campaign. Read more
1917
Bisbee Deportation
On July 12, 1917, in the copper town of Bisbee, Arizona, a thousand-plus miners and suspected labor organizers—many recent immigrants and Mexican nationals—were rounded up by deputized posses, loaded into boxcars and cattle cars, and carried into the New Mexico desert, where they were dumped without food or shelter. The mass expulsion, driven by company power, wartime fears, and local vigilante organization, became a landmark episode in American labor and civil‑liberties history.
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Explore more events in July
Jul 9
Lituya Bay Megatsunami
On July 9, 1958, a colossal wave transformed Alaska's Lituya Bay following a massive earthquake, leaving a mark as one of history's most formidable natural events.
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Jul 17
The Death of Eric Garner
On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner’s tragic death in Staten Island, New York, became a pivotal moment in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism. Garner, a 43-year-old African American man with health issues, died after being placed in a prohibited chokehold by NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo. Garner’s repeated pleas of “I can’t breathe” echoed through the nation, igniting widespread protests and fueling the Black Lives Matter movement. Despite legal setbacks, Garner’s death led to significant policy changes and ongoing advocacy for police reform and accountability.
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Jul 22
The 2011 Norway Attacks
On July 22, 2011, Norway faced one of the darkest days in its history when Anders Behring Breivik, a far-right extremist, carried out devastating attacks in Oslo and on Utøya Island. The coordinated acts of terror resulted in the deaths of 77 people, with countless others injured. The attacks left a lasting impact on Norway, prompting significant changes in the nation’s approach to security and counter-terrorism.
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