Deaths on December 20

Hans Langsdorff

Died on December 20, 1939

Hans Langsdorff, German captain (b. 1894)

Hans Wilhelm Langsdorff (20 March 1894 – 20 December 1939) was a German naval officer, most famous for his command of the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee during the Battle of the River Plate off the coast of Uruguay in 1939. After the Panzerschiff ( Deutschland-class cruiser) was unable to escape a pursuing squadron of Royal Navy ships, Langsdorff scuttled his ship. Three days later he committed suicide in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

References

Hans Langsdorff

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Events on 1939

3 Mar

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
In Bombay, Mohandas Gandhi begins a hunger strike in protest at the autocratic rule in British India.
1 Apr

Francisco Franco
Spanish Civil War: Generalísimo Francisco Franco of the Spanish State announces the end of the Spanish Civil War, when the last of the Republican forces surrender.
6 Sep

Nazi Germany
World War II: South Africa declares war on Nazi Germany.
14 Dec

Soviet Union
Winter War: The Soviet Union is expelled from the League of Nations for invading Finland.
24 Dec

Pope Pius XII
World War II: Pope Pius XII makes a Christmas Eve appeal for peace.

Deaths on December 20

Hans Langsdorff

Died on December 20, 1939

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1939

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Francisco Franco

Nazi Germany

Soviet Union

Pope Pius XII