Today in 1991, 32 years ago: the Spanish swimmer Martín López-Zubero breaks the world record of the 200 meters backstroke, with a record of 1 min 57.3 s.
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Today in 1961, 62 years ago: Cold War: East Germany closes the border between the eastern and western sectors of Berlin to thwart its inhabitants' attempts to escape to the West, and construction of the Berlin Wall is started. The day is known as Barbed Wire Sunday.
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Today in 1918, 105 years ago: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) established as a public company in Germany.
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Today in 1521, 502 years ago: After an extended siege, forces led by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés capture Tlatoani Cuauhtémoc and conquer the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.
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Today in 1553, 470 years ago: Michael Servetus is arrested by John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland as a heretic.
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Today in 1969, 54 years ago: in California (United States) the funerals of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger and Steven Parent, four of the victims of the Manson murders, take place.
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Today in 1917, 106 years ago: in Spain as a result of the railway workers' strike in Valencia, after its expansion to other provinces, the general strike in Spain of 1917 was declared.
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Today in 1806, 217 years ago: Battle of Mišar during the Serbian Revolution begins. The battle ends two days later with a Serbian victory over the Ottomans.
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Today in 1659, 364 years ago: Spain and France begin the negotiations for the Peace of the Pyrenees.
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Today in 1949, 74 years ago: a Douglas DC-3 of the Colombian airline Saeta crashes in Bojacá (Colombia). All 32 occupants of the aircraft are killed.
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Today in 1913, 110 years ago: Harry Brearley invents stainless steel.
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Today in 1536, 487 years ago: Buddhist monks from Kyoto, Japan's Enryaku-ji temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in what will be known as the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance.
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Today in 1645, 378 years ago: Sweden and Denmark sign Peace of Brömsebro.
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Today in 1961, 62 years ago: in Germany - within the framework of the Cold War - the army of the GDR (German Democratic Republic) begins the construction of the Berlin Wall.
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Today in 1704, 319 years ago: at the Battle of Blenheim, the Duke of Marlborough (popularly known in Spain as Mambrú) defeats the Spanish-French troops.
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Today in 1792, 231 years ago: King Louis XVI of France is formally arrested by the National Tribunal, and declared an enemy of the people.
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Today in 1997, 26 years ago: the successful cartoon series South Park premiered in the United States.
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Today in 2008, 15 years ago: in Buenos Aires (Argentina), footballer Martín Palermo overtakes Francisco Varallo as the top scorer of Boca Juniors during professionalism with 194 goals.
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Today in 1914, 109 years ago: signing of the Treaties of Teoloyucan.
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Today in 1968, 55 years ago: in Varkiza (Athens) Alexandros Panagoulis tries to assassinate dictator G. Papadopoulos.
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