This Week in History #1

Article written By Ananya Nayar, Website edited by Misaki Tomiyama

In 1895, Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen accidentally discovered x-rays. He was testing if Cathode rays passed through glass, and he saw a chemical glow nearby through the glass, and named it ‘X-Ray’ because of the mysterious properties.

Image by NFejza is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

On November 9th 1938, during World War 2, Germany released the “Kristallnacht,” translating “the night of broken glass.” It was a German campaign of terror against the Jews, with many casualties.

Gedenkstunde im Funkhaus by Deutsche Fotothek is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 DE/cropped from original

Going back in time to war again, it was ! This significant event marked the end of World War 1. And on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the War ended and Germany signed an armistice agreement on a train outside the French border. An armistice is an agreement between two sides to stop fighting, and to have long lasting peace.

Image by Amanda Slater is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

The 11th of November is also Remembrance Day, which was a memorial for the 9 million soldiers who lost their lives fighting in World War 1. It is largely observed in the UK, and the day is also called ‘Poppy Day’ since each Poppy flower represents a life lost. The Poppy flower was used since there were many poppy’s spotted on the Western Front, where a majority of the war was fought.