(1429) Joan of Arc breaks the siege of Orleans
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After routing the French at Agincourt, the English are poised to gain control of France if they can take Orleans after months of laying siege to the walled city. Joan of Arc, 17, arrives and turns the tide for what will be a decisive French victory.. |
(1944) Resistance fighter Nancy Wake parachutes behind enemy lines
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British agent Nancy Wake returns to France via parachute drop to help fight the Nazi occupation. The 32-year-old has a history of running risky missions, and she’s become the Gestapo’s most wanted person, with a 5 million-franc price on her head.. |
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(1968) Groundbreaking antiwar musical ‘Hair’ opens on Broadway
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Capturing the voices of the under-30 crowd in musical-theater form, ‘Hair’ brings counterculture concerns, and taboo-busting nudity, to the Broadway stage, having premiered off-Broadway the previous fall. The production will earn Tony nods along with notoriety, run for four years, and be made into a 1979 film.. |
(1992) Riots erupt in L.A. following Rodney King verdict
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Four LAPD officers are found not guilty of charges stemming from the beating of motorist Rodney King, and long-simmering tensions between police and African Americans in South Central Los Angeles erupt into rioting that will last six days and kill 54. . |
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