1914-1919.
Rivalry between Austria and Russia for influence in the Balkans, mutual hostility between Germany and France
and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo spark World War 1. Britain, France, Russia and the USA
are pitched against the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Otterman Empire. When the armistice
is signed on Monday November 11th 1918, over ten million people are dead. Hostilities are formally ended with
the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on Saturday June 28th 1919, founding the League of Nations, the forerunner
of the United Nations.
Contemporary account.
1917.
Thursday March 15th. Czar Nicholas the Second abdicates after a provisional government is formed by the Soviet
of Workers and Soldier's Deputies and led by Alexander Kerensky. Tuesday November 6th-Wednesday November 7th,
after months of infighting among the Mensheviks, the Bolsheviks led by Lenin seize power and the communist U.S.S.R
is born.
Contemporary account and Exercise Of Vital Powers.
1920.
In the town of Matewan West Virginia there is a confrontation between the townsfolk, miners and mine detectives
when the United Mineworkers of America attempt to organise the miners in that town. Those who join lose their
jobs and their homes.
Contemporary account and By Any Means Necessary, Neeoma cites this event as an example of the supression of
workers rights.
circa 1930.
The Vree gain interstellar flight.
The Official Guide To Babylon 5. The Vree have had starflight capability for over 300 years.
1933.
Monday January 30th. Adolph Hitler is sworn in as German Chancellor, signalling the rise to power of the Nazi
Party.
Contemporary account.
1939.
Sunday September 3rd. After Chancellor Adolph Hitler refuses to withdraw his invasion force from Poland, British
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declares war on Germany.
Contemporary account.
1940.
July-October. The German Luftwaffe begin a campaign of air attacks over the skies of Great Britain. One of the
pilots fighting in the Royal Air Force is an ancestor of future Babylon 5 governor, Commander Jeffrey Sinclair.
Contemporary account. Midnight On The Firing Line, Sinclair says his family's flying tradition goes right back
to the Battle Of Britain.
Having cracked the Nazi's "Enigma" code, British Intelligence learn of the plan to bomb the city of Coventry.
Winston Churchill is faced with the choice of evacuating the city, thus tipping the Nazi's off that their code
has been broken, or let the city be bombed. Churchill chooses the latter and on Thursday November 14th, a Luftwaffe
raid devastates Coventry. In the aftermath, Churchill's visit to the city is filmed for the news reels. In the 23rd
century, John Sheridan views the footage as part of his history studies and never forgets the haunted look in
Churchill's eyes as he sees the consequences of his decision.
Contemporary account. In The Shadow Of Z'ha'dum,Sheridan relates this historical event to Zack Allan.
Author's note: Whether Churchill really knew about the bombings in advance is debatable. Most of the targets
were code names and numbers, an intelligence assessment on a captured German map suggested the targets were
London and the Home Counties. It was a Luftwaffe pilot held prisoner who said the targets were Birmingham and
Coventry, but his revelation was ignored. Only when direction finding beams were detected crossing the city
did they know where the attack was going to be. Twelve hours later the Luftwaffe began bombing, reducing Coventry
to rubble.
1941.
Saturday December 7th. The Japanese Imperial Navy launch a sneak attack on Pearl Harbour, bringing America into
World War Two.
Contemporary account. Midnight On The Firing Line, Sinclair cites this as an example of cowardice.
1945.
May. Germany surrenders to the allied forces. Monday August 6th, the Americans drop an atom bomb on the Japanese
city of Hiroshima. Thursday August 9th, another atom bomb is dropped on Nagasaki, ending the war in the Pacific
theatre. World War 2 finally ends with over fifty million people dead.
Contemporary account.
The United Nations is founded with headquarters in New York and Geneva. By the 23rd century,the U.N. no longer
exists.
Contemporary account.The Gathering,Sinclair mentions the U.N's disbandment.
1947.
Friday July 4th. At 11.17 p.m. a Vree scoutship is struck by lightning during a survey of the New Mexico region
of the United States. The craft crashes thirty five miles north north west of Roswell, with just one survivor
from the crew of five.
Contemporary account and conjecture from Grail and The Official Guide To Babylon 5.
1953.
The novel The Demolished Man written by Alfred Bester (1913-1987) is published. In the 22nd century, Psi Corps
Director Kevin Vacit is fascinated by his stories dealing with telepathy.
Contemporary account and Dark Genesis:The Birth Of The Psi Corps.
1957.
Friday October 4th. Russia launches Sputnik One and starts the space race.
Contemporary account.
circa 1960.
The Centauri Republic begin using telepaths in their military forces.
Conjecture, from The Paragon Of Animals.The Centauri have had military telepaths for over 300 years.
1961.
Wednesday April 12th. Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space.
Contemporary account.
Tuesday September 19th. The Streib abduct New Hampshire couple Barney and Betty Hill from a deserted road.
After completing their tests, the couple have their memories blocked and they are returned to their car.
Contemporary account and conjecture, from All Alone In The Night.
1963.
Sunday June 16th. Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space.
Contemporary account.
1965.
Thursday March 18th. Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov makes the first spacewalk.
Contemporary account.
1969.
Sunday July 20th. Astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first man on the moon.
Contemporary account.
1973.
Monday May 14th. NASA launch Skylab, the first space station. Problems during the launch put it into a lower
orbit and the station is damaged during deployment.
Contemporary account.
1979.
Wednesday July 11th. After just 6 years, Skylab crashes to Earth, burning up over the Indian ocean.
Contemporary account.
1985.
President Mikhail Gorbachev is elected leader of the USSR. To save their ailing economy he institutes the
policies of perestroika and glasnost, restructuring and openness. These policies signal the eventual demise
of the Communist system.
Contemporary account.
1986.
Tuesday January 28th. Seven astronauts are killed when the space shuttle Challenger explodes, seventy three
seconds after it launches.
Contemporary account.
Thursday February 20th. The core section of the Soviet space station Mir is launched into orbit.
Contemporary account.
1987.
K.Eric Drexler's groundbreaking book on nanotechnology "Engines Of Creation" is published.
Contemporary account.
1989.
President Gorbachev refuses to use Soviet forces to support the collapsing Communist regimes in Eastern Europe.
In November the Berlin wall opens leading to the eventual unification of East and West Germany.
Contemporary account.
1991.
Sunday March 31st. The military structure of the Warsaw Pact is disbanded and on Wednesday July 1st the pact is
dissolved. August, in Russia the Communist system collapses and by December the USSR is dissolved. Some of the
former USSR's nuclear weaponry goes missing but that fact is not reported for a number of years.
Contemporary account and The Fall Of Centauri Prime. Franklin notes that the nuclear weapon the terrorists used
to destroy San Diego could be traced back to the break up of the Soviet Union.
1992.
The Kawasaki Ninja ZX11 motorcycle with a 1052cc, six valve engine and six speed gearbox is launched this year.
Babylon 5 Security Chief Michael Garibaldi calls it the best performance bike of it's time.
Eyes. Garibaldi describes the cycle's history.
1996.
Friday August 16th. NASA scientists announce the discovery of microbiotic fossils in a piece of Martian
meteorite, the first confirmation of life in the solar system on planets other than Earth. The announcement
is controversial and other scientists try to confirm or dismiss the find.
Contemporary account.
1998.
Thursday March 5th. NASA announce the Lunar Prospector's discovery of ice on the moon, paving the way for the
first moonbase.
Contemporary account.
Friday November 20th. Russia launch the Zarya control module into orbit from Baikonur Cosmodrome, the first
section of the International Space Station. Friday December 4th, NASA launch the Unity 1 Node for the ISS aboard
the shuttle Endeavour.
Contemporary account.
1999.
United States President Bill Clinton creates the Commission On The Future.
The Illusion Of Truth. From the ISN broadcast segment This Year In History.
