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THE DAY IN HISTORY · APRIL 14

April 14 in history

What happened on April 14: 4 moments from the Maps of History atlases, in 1861, 1865, 1935 and 1953, each linked to the map that shows it.

— Battle of Fort Sumter

12–14 Apr 1861 — After 34 hours of bombardment the fort surrenders; the only men killed die in an accidental salute. The cheapest battle of the war opens the costliest war in American history.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

— Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

14 Apr 1865 — Five days after Appomattox, on Good Friday, John Wilkes Booth shoots the President during the play. Lincoln dies the next morning — “Now he belongs to the ages.” Victory and grief arrive in the same week.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

— Stresa Front

11–14 Apr 1935 — Britain, France and Italy meet on Lake Maggiore to condemn German rearmament. The “front” dissolves within months — Britain signs a naval deal with Berlin, and Abyssinia finishes it.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE ROAD TO WAR MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

— Marienfelde reception centre

14 Apr 1953 — West Berlin opens an emergency reception centre for refugees from East Germany. Refugees were registered, screened and flown out to West Germany; about 1.35 million people had passed through it by 1990.

READ THIS MOMENT → · SEE IT ON THE UPROOTED MAP → · THE FULL STORY →

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