All Events

Historical Events on July 17

  • Catherine the Great

    1762

    Catherine II becomes tsar of Russia upon the murder of Peter III of Russia.

  • Nicholas II of Russia

    1918

    Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his immediate family and retainers are executed by Bolshevik Chekists at the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

  • Spanish Civil War

    1936

    Spanish Civil War: An Armed Forces rebellion against the recently elected leftist Popular Front government of Spain starts the civil war.

  • World War II

    1944

    World War II: Napalm incendiary bombs are dropped for the first time by American P-38 pilots on a fuel depot at Coutances, near Saint-Lô, France.

  • World War II

    1944

    World War II: At Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery.[1] in Normandy Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was strafed by allied aircraft while returning to his headquarters.

  • Allies of World War II

    1945

    World War II: The main three leaders of the Allied nations, Winston Churchill, Harry S. Truman and Joseph Stalin, meet in the German city of Potsdam to decide the future of a defeated Germany.

  • Nicaragua

    1979

    Nicaraguan dictator General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami, Florida, United States.

  • Concorde

    2001

    Concorde is brought back into service nearly a year after the July 2000 crash.

  • Malaysia Airlines Flight 17

    2014

    Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a Boeing 777, crashes near the border of Ukraine and Russia after being shot down. All 298 people on board are killed.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on July 17

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on July 17

16. July

18. July