-81 years ago, 1939-
November 30, 1939, Beginning of the Winter War. Which was a failed invasion of Finland by the USSR. 🇫🇮

-168 years ago, 1852-
December 2, 1852, Proclamation of the Second Empire by President Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte who becomes emperor under the name of Napoleon III. 🇫🇷

-215 years ago, 1805-
French victory over the Prussian and Austrian forces. The French troops were commanded by Napoleon I, it was a crushing victory reaffirming the power of the French Empire and its domination in Europe. 🇫🇷

-220 years ago, 1800-
December 3, 1800, by beating the Austrians at Hohenlinden, Moreau opened the road to Vienna, The battle of Hohenlinden was between the French troops of General Moreau and the Austrian and Bavarian forces commanded by Archduke John the Baptist of Austria. The confrontation ends with a French victory. This led Austria to sign the Peace of Lunéville on February 9, 1801. 🇫🇷🇦🇹

-1249 years ago, 771-
December 4, 771, On the death of his younger brother Carloman, Charles becomes the sole master of the Frankish kingdom, which allows him to increase his power and enter history as one of the most essential figures in Europe. 🇫🇷

-128 years ago, 1892-
Was born Francisco Franco Bahamonde. He was a Spanish soldier and statesman. During the Spanish Civil War, he established himself as leader of the nationalist camp, which won the war over the Republicans. From 1939 to 1975, he led a dictatorial political regime - the Francoist State - with the title of Caudillo (“leader”). Happy Birthday Franco. 🇪🇸

-524 years ago, 1496-
December 5, 1496, King Manuel I signed a decree to expel Jews from Portugal. Subsequently, violent pogroms took place all around Portugal. 🇵🇹

-103 years ago, 1917-
December 6, 1917, Independence of Finland. during the Russian revolutionary events, Finland obtains its independence. 🇫🇮

-79 years ago, 1941-
December 7, 1941, a decree ordered the deportation of all the enemies or opponents of the Reich to concentration camps under the code name of Nacht und Nebel ("Night and fog"). 🇩🇪

-1143 years ago, 877-
December 8, 877, Coronation of the king of the Franks Louis II le Bègue (Louis the Stammerer). As his nickname suggests, Louis II stutters, which prevents him from speaking in public and undermines his authority. 🇫🇷

-115 years ago, 1905-
December 9, 1905, Adoption of the Law of Separation of Churches and State in France. Another huge tragic misstep in French history. 🇫🇷

-79 years ago, 1941-
December 11, 1941, Germany and Italy declare war on the United States. 🇩🇪🇮🇹🇺🇸

-924 years ago, 1096-
December 12, 1096, Godefroy de Bouillon arrives on the Sea of ​​Marmara, and ravages the surroundings of Selymbria, the Muslims retreat against the powerful European armies led by Godefroy de Bouillon (first crusade). 🇫🇷🇩🇪🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

-546 years ago, 1474-
December 13, 1474, Isabella I of Castile "the Catholic" becomes Queen of Castile. Since the Muslim conquest of 711 by Tariq ibn Ziyad, the kings of Spain and Portugal will try to recover the entire Iberian Peninsula. It was during the reign of Ferdinand III that the reconquest was almost completed, except Granada because the Emir signed a truce and paid a huge sum of money. But Isabella wants to reign over a kingdom based on the Christian faith. The two sovereigns decide to undertake a crusade against the Muslims and to take Grenada. With 50,000 men, they surrounded Granada. After six months of siege, they completed the Reconquista in 1492 with the annexation of the kingdom of Granada which was handed over by King Boabdil, the last vestige of eight centuries of Muslim presence in Spain. This success in the Reconquista of formerly Christian lands earned Isabella and Ferdinand the title of “Catholic Kings” by Pope Alexander VI in 1494. 🇪🇸

-180 years ago, 1840-
December 15, 1840, The ashes of Napoleon I are buried at the Invalides. 🇫🇷

-140 years ago, 1880-
December 16, 1880, The Boers (Who are the white pioneers of South Africa, coming, for the most part, from the Dutch-speaking regions of Europe) of past origin and dissatisfied with the English annexation of South Africa, found the South African Republic of the Transvaal. 🇳🇱🇿🇦

-76 years ago, 1944-
December 17, 1944, Baugnez massacre which was perpetrated by the 1st SS Panzerdivision Leibstandarte-SS-Adolf Hitler and represents the execution of 84 American prisoners during the Battle of the Bulge. 🇺🇸🇩🇪

-104 years ago, 1916-
December 18, 1916, End of the Battle of Verdun. This battle caused more than 700,000 victims, it resulted in a French victory following the great tactics of Philippe Pétain. 🇫🇷

-458 years ago, 1562-
December 19, 1562, Battle of Dreux (Wars of Religion). This battle took place in France during the Wars of Religion between the Catholics and the Protestants. The battle resulted in a crushing defeat of the Protestants, thus making the Catholics take the advantage of the war. 🇫🇷