TODAY IN HISTORY

1945

Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France, ending its role in World War II.

1889

The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore opened its doors.

1915

A German U-boat torpedoed and sank the British liner RMS Lusitania off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans, out of the nearly 2,000 on board.

1928

The minimum voting age for British women was lowered from 30 to 21 , the same age as men.

1939

Germany and Italy announced a military and political alliance known as the Rome-Berlin Axis.

1941

Glenn Miller and His Orchestra recorded “Chattanooga Choo Choo” for RCA Victor.

1954

The 55-day Battle of Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam ended with Vietnamese insurgents overrunning French forces.