6th of April

The 6th of April is International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (according to the United Nations. In the United States of America the 6th of April is National Tartan Day, marking the day in 1320 when Scottish nobles signed the Declaration of Arbroath which declared their independence from England to the pope. The 6th of April is the 96th day of the year (Gregorian calendar) or 97th day in a leap year.

 

 


 

 

 

 

6th of april

 

On the 6th of April 1896

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens. The first recorded Olympic Games were held in the ancient Greek city of Olympia in 776BC (although they are thought to be much older). Every four years the Greeks celebrated the festival of Zeus, and the Olympic Games were held as part of those celebrations. Originally the games were just for Greek men (un-married women had their own games during the festival of Helena, the wife of Zeus) and included boxing, chariot racing and wrestling to name a few. When the Romans found the Christian god and rose to power they attempted to stop all worship of other gods. In 393AD the Roman Emperor Theodosius I ended the Olympic Games and they would never be held again if not for a French Baron some 1,500 years later. In June 1894 at a meeting for international sport held in Paris, a young baron, Pierre de Coubertin proposed that the games be revived for competitors from around the world. His proposal was very popular with the delegates at the meeting and from there the International Olympic Commission (the IOC) was created. To continue with the traditions of ancient Greece the games would be held once every four years but the first games would be held in Athens, the capital of Greece. The games were a great success with 13 nations competing in 43 events including some old (wrestling, track and field) and new (shooting, swimming and tennis). Now the main Olympic Games have 204 nations competing for 302 events as well as the Paralympics and Winter Olympics.

 

On the 6th of April 1917

The United States entered World War I joining the ‘Allies’ against Germany. When War broke out on the 28th of July 1914 between the ‘Allies ‘(the United Kingdom, France and the Russian Empire) and the ‘Central Powers’(Germany and Austro-Hungary). After Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and heir to the throne, was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. This led to Austro-Hungry invading Sarajevo and due to many international alliances all the great powers of Europe were brought into the ‘First World War’. The United States had chosen to stay neutral from the troubles in Europe and this view was greatly held by the American people but this would soon change. Great Britain and the United States were great trading partners and America continued this throughout the war but Germany had placed many sea mines around the British Coast. Although neutral, many American un-armed civilian and commercial ships were being sunk by German torpedoes despite assurances from Germany that this would not happen. By 1917 American public opinion had turned and by April 1917 the American government voted for War with Germany. This came just in time for Great Britain. Due to the Russian revolution, Russia had left the War and much of France had been taken over by German forces. Britain who was fighting at the front lines in France was bankrupting herself buying munitions from the US and although they could not provide a significant force early on, the US did provide much needed financial help. Germany was meantime being financially crippled and with the allied forces continued advance and the continued weakening of ‘The Central Powers’, by November 1918 Germany’s fate was sealed. Although its defeat was inevitable the German Navy was ordered to attack the British Royal Navy and so to prevent a pointless defeat, German naval sailors began mass uprising against the German leaders (The Wilhelmshaven and Kiel Mutinies). This uprising was mirrored throughout Germany and with revolution in the air Germany was forced to effectively surrender to the Allies on the 11th of November 1918.

 

 

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