Births on March 18

Volker Weidler, German race car driver and engineer

Volker Weidler (born 18 March 1962) is a former racing driver from Germany, best known for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991.

5 Feb

Charles de Gaulle
French President Charles de Gaulle calls for Algeria to be granted independence.
5 Aug

Nelson Mandela
Apartheid in South Africa: Nelson Mandela is jailed. He would not be released until 1990.
15 Sep

Cuban Missile Crisis
The Soviet ship Poltava heads toward Cuba, one of the events that sets into motion the Cuban Missile Crisis.
18 Sep

Jamaica
Burundi, Jamaica, Rwanda and Trinidad and Tobago are admitted to the United Nations.
6 Nov

Apartheid
The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution condemning South Africa's apartheid policies and calls for all UN member states to cease military and economic relations with the nation.