Today in History

Today in History

Today is Wednesday, June 22, the 174th day of 2016. There are 192 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On June 22, 1941, during World War II, Nazi Germany launched Operation Barbarossa, a massive invasion of the Soviet Union.

On this date:

In 1611, English explorer Henry Hudson, his son and several other people were set adrift in present-day Hudson Bay by mutineers aboard the Discovery.

In 1870, the United States Department of Justice was created.

In 1911, Britain's King George V was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

In 1937, Joe Louis began his reign as world heavyweight boxing champion by knocking out Jim Braddock in the eighth round of their fight in Chicago. (A year later on this date, Louis knocked out Max Schmeling in the first round of their rematch at Yankee Stadium.)

In 1940, during World War II, Adolf Hitler gained a stunning victory as France was forced to sign an armistice eight days after German forces overran Paris.

In 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, more popularly known as the "GI Bill of Rights."

In 1945, the World War II battle for Okinawa ended with an Allied victory.

In 1959, the Swedish film "Wild Strawberries," written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, opened in New York.

In 1969, singer-actress Judy Garland died in London at age 47.

In 1977, John N. Mitchell became the first former U.S. Attorney General to go to prison as he began serving a sentence for his role in the Watergate cover-up. (He was released 19 months later.)

In 1987, actor-dancer Fred Astaire died in Los Angeles at age 88.

In 1993, former first lady Pat Nixon died in Park Ridge, New Jersey, at age 81.

Ten years ago: During a visit to Hungary to commemorate the 1956 revolt against communism, President George W. Bush said war-weary Iraqis could learn from the Hungarians' long and bloody struggle against tyranny. The Bush administration confirmed it had gained access to international banking records as part of a classified program to choke off financial support for terrorism. The Red Cross admitted Israel as a member and allowed it to use a Star of David as its symbol.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama announced in a White House address that he would pull home 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by the following summer. James "Whitey" Bulger, the longtime fugitive Boston crime boss and fixture on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list, was arrested in Santa Monica, California.

One year ago: The Obama administration released a report on global warming that said failure to act on climate change could cause an estimated 57,000 deaths a year in the United States from poor air quality by 2100. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said the Confederate flag should be removed from the grounds of the state capitol, reversing her position on the divisive symbol amid growing calls for it to be removed. Oscar-winning film composer James Horner, 61, was killed in the crash of his plane in Los Padres National Forest. Italian actress Laura Antonelli, 73, died in Rome.

Today's Birthdays: Actress Prunella Scales (TV: "Fawlty Towers") is 84. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., is 83. Singer-actor Kris Kristofferson is 80. Movie director John Korty is 80. Actor Michael Lerner is 75. Actor Klaus Maria Brandauer is 73. Fox News analyst Brit Hume is 73. Singer Peter Asher (Peter and Gordon) is 72. Actor David L. Lander is 69. Singer Howard "Eddie" Kaylan is 69. Singer-musician Todd Rundgren is 68. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is 67. Actress Meryl Streep is 67. Actress Lindsay Wagner is 67. Singer Alan Osmond is 67. Actor Murphy Cross is 66. Actor Graham Greene is 64. Pop singer Cyndi Lauper is 63. Actor Chris Lemmon is 62. Rock musician Derek Forbes is 60. Actor Tim Russ is 60. Rock musician Garry Beers (INXS) is 59. Actor-producer-writer Bruce Campbell is 58. Rock musician Alan Anton (Cowboy Junkies) is 57. Actress Tracy Pollan is 56. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich is 56. Rock singer-musician Jimmy Somerville is 55. Basketball Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler is 54. Actress Amy Brenneman is 52. Author Dan Brown is 52. Rock singer-musician Mike Edwards (Jesus Jones) is 52. Rock singer Steven Page is 46. Actor Michael Trucco is 46. Actress Mary Lynn Rajskub is 45. TV personality Carson Daly is 43. Rock musician Chris Traynor is 43. Country musician Jimmy Wallace is 43. Actor Donald Faison is 42. Actress Alicia Goranson is 42. Actor-comedian Mike O'Brien (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 40. TV personality/actor Jai Rodriguez is 37. Americana singer-songwriter John Moreland is 31. Actress Lindsay Ridgeway is 31. Pop singer Dina Hansen (Fifth Harmony) (TV: "The X Factor") is 19.

Thought for Today: "There is only one reason for an individual to side-step to the useless side: the fear of a defeat on the useful side." -- Alfred Adler, Austraian psychotherapist (1870-1937).