THE DAY IN HISTORY · JANUARY 4
January 4 in history
What happened on January 4: 2 moments from the Maps of History atlases, in 1948 and 1951, each linked to the map that shows it.
— Independence of Burma
4 Jan 1948 — Burma, separated from India in 1937 and wrecked by the war, takes independence outside the Commonwealth altogether — at 4:20 a.m., an hour chosen by astrologers. Aung San, its architect, was assassinated six months before the day.
READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE & PARTITION MAP → · THE FULL STORY →
— Third Battle of Seoul
4 Jan 1951 — Peng Dehuai’s third offensive retakes Seoul, the high-water mark of the Chinese intervention. Long supply lines and American firepower stop the next push; in March the city changes hands for the fourth time, and from mid-1951 the front settles near the 38th parallel, where the war began.
READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC UNDER MAO MAP → · THE FULL STORY →
THE FREE PRINTABLE STUDY GUIDE
Join the Dispatch — a short welcome series, then a letter when a new atlas opens — and a printable atlas study guide of your choice is yours now, free.
NO TRACKING · YOUR ADDRESS IS USED FOR THE DISPATCH AND NOTHING ELSE · UNSUBSCRIBE ANYTIME