Yawm an-Nakba commemoration
Palestinians mourn Yawm an-Nakba (Day of Catastrophe) on May 15 to commemorate the exodus of close to 700,000 Palestinians from around 400 towns and villages after Israel’s independence on May 14, 1948. Many of the refugees were forced to leave due to deteriorating circumstances but others were forcefully expelled and the towns they left behind depopulated and destroyed. Violence and intimidation were some of the tactics used by the Israeli forces, and those attempting to return were barred from doing so. The descendants of the original refugees now number in the millions and live in neighbouring Arab countries, the Gaza strip or West Bank. The conflict in the region continues to this day.
Soviet troops begin to leave Afghanistan
After close to ten years of fighting, Soviet troops begin to withdraw from Afghanistan on May 15, 1988.
Netherlands surrenders to Nazi Germany
Within five days of the invasion by Nazi German forces, the Netherlands surrenders on May 15, 1940.
“This afternoon Germany bombarded Rotterdam, while Utrecht has also been threatened with destruction. In order to spare the civil population and to prevent further bloodshed I feel myself justified in ordering all troops concerned to suspend operations … By great superiority of the most modern means [the enemy] has succeeded in breaking our resistance. We have nothing wherewith to reproach ourselves in connection with this war. Your bearing and that of the forces was calm, firm of purpose and worthy of the Netherlands,” said the Dutch General Henri Winkelman.
McDonald’s founded
Richard and Maurice McDonald found the first McDonald’s restaurant on May 15, 1940 in California, USA. In a matter of decades, McDonald’s grew to become the largest restaurant chain in the world by revenue and currently serves in more than a 100 countries.
Machine gun invented
The world’s first Machine gun in invented by James Puckle on May 15, 1718.
Disney launches Mickey Mouse in 1928
Walt Disney Studios releases a six-minute animated short film titled Plane Crazy on May 15, 1928. Directed by Walt Disney himself, the short film for the first time introduced one of the most iconic characters of the twentieth century – Mickey Mouse.
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