Skip to main content
Low Graphics
Access keys help
Home
Explore the BBC
20 December
Search ON THIS DAY by date
Day
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Front Page
|
Years
|
Themes
|
Witness
About This Site
|
Text Only
1973: Spanish prime minister assassinated
The Spanish Prime Minister, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco, is killed in a car bomb attack in Madrid.
1995: 'Divorce': Queen to Charles and Diana
The Queen has urged the Prince and Princess of Wales to seek "an early divorce".
1989: US forces oust General Noriega
President George Bush orders the invasion of Panama but US troops fail to capture dictator Manuel Noriega.
1979: Council tenants will have 'right to buy'
More than five million council house tenants in Britain are to be given the right to buy their home.
1981: Lifeboat crew missing after mission
A desperate search is underway for eight members of a life boat crew missing feared dead.
1955: Yugoslavia wins UN vote
The United Nations General Assembly elects Yugoslavia to the hotly-contested temporary seat on the Security Council.
Around this Day
17 December
Top Story
1944: Germany counter-attacks in Ardennes
18 December
Top Story
1974: Compensation for Bloody Sunday victims
19 December
Top Story
1984: Britain signs over Hong Kong to China
21 December
Top Story
1988: Jumbo jet crashes onto Lockerbie
22 December
Top Story
1972: Survivors found 10 weeks after plane crash
23 December
Top Story
1972: Earthquake wreaks devastation in Nicaragua
Witness memories
Looking back
A selection of the best of your memories
World War II - 1939 to 1945
A compilation of key stories as they broke throughout the war
On This Day
Headlines delivered to your desktop - find out about RSS
BBC History>>
Articles, biographies and multimedia on historical events
BBC Radio 4 History>>
Find out what Radio 4 has to offer history lovers
Search ON THIS DAY by date
Day
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Month
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
^^
back to top
Front Page
|
Years
|
Themes
|
Witness
©MMVIII
|
News Sources
|
Privacy & Cookies Policy
You might also like:
news
|
sport
|
weather
|
worklife
|
travel
|
future
|
culture
|
world
|
business
|
technology
Home
A compilation of key stories as they broke throughout the war
Headlines delivered to your desktop - find out about RSS 
Articles, biographies and multimedia on historical events
Find out what Radio 4 has to offer history lovers