On this day in 1940 Bugs Bunny is introduced to the world in the cartoon "A Wild Hare". Warner Brothers studios became the chief rival to Disney in the animation world after WWII. Although short on plot, Bugs Bunny cartoons always resulted in crazy shenanigans. Yes Bugs, you are a stinker.
On this day in 1794 Maximilien Robespierre is overthrown as the leader of the French Revolution. Robespierre was the architect of the "reign of terror" that executed anyone who was thought to be an enemy of the revolution. After he was unanimously voted the leader of the National Convention, he immediately put forth a law that took away the rights of citizens to have a trial. 1,400 people were executed in about a month. Before his election he was a member of the Committee of Public Safety that arrested 300,000 people, executed 17,000, and allowed many more to die in jail. But the Revolution cannibalized its creators and Robespierre was guillotined.
On this day in 1943 Joseph Stalin issued order number 227, which outlawed cowards. In the face of the advancing Nazi army, Stalin had to deal with defeat after defeat. What's a crazed dictator to do? Tell your troops you either die at the hands of enemy or die by my hands. Slowly, the tide of war turned. Whether this was due to order number 227, or another reason is up for debate.
On this day in 1953 the Korean war ends with an armistice. After three long years a stalemate on the battlefield occurred and peace talks were initiated. A new border was drawn dividing Korea in half and the two sides have been at odds for nearly 60 years. But we stopped those darn communists! Didn't we?
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