✦ DateLore

On This Day · The 339th day of the year

December 5

A look at December 5 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Józef Piłsudski and André-Pierre Gignac, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2007

    Westroads Mall shooting

    Westroads Mall shooting: Nineteen-year-old Robert A. Hawkins kills nine people, including himself, with a WASR-10 at a Von Maur department store in Omaha, Nebraska.

    Mass shooting in Omaha,
  2. 1977

    Egypt

    Egypt breaks diplomatic relations with Syria, Libya, Algeria, Iraq and South Yemen in retaliation to preventing President Anwar el-Sadat from pursuing negotiations with Israel at the Tripoli confer.

    Country in Northeast Africa
  3. 1952

    Great Smog of London

    Beginning of the Great Smog in London. A cold fog combines with air pollution and brings the city to a standstill for four days. Later, a Ministry of Health report estimates 4,000 fatalities as a result of it.

    1952 air pollution event
  4. 1941

    Finland

    World War II: Great Britain declares war on Finland, Hungary and Romania.

    Country in northern Europe
  5. 1941

    World War II

    World War II: In the Battle of Moscow, Georgy Zhukov launches a massive Soviet counter-attack against the German army.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  6. 1914

    Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

    The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition begins in an attempt to make the first land crossing of Antarctica.

    1914–17 British Expedition led
  7. 1757

    Seven Years' War

    Seven Years' War: Battle of Leuthen: Frederick II of Prussia leads Prussian forces to a decisive victory over Austrian forces under Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine.

    Global war among European
  8. 1484

    Pope Innocent VIII

    Pope Innocent VIII issues the Summis desiderantes affectibus, a papal bull that deputizes Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger as inquisitors to root out alleged witchcraft in Germany.

    Head of the Catholic
  9. 1456

    1456 Central Italy earthquakes

    The first of two earthquakes measuring Mw 7.2 strikes Italy, causing extreme destruction and killing upwards of 70,000 people.

    Earthquakes in Italy
  10. -63

    Cicero

    Cicero gives the fourth and final of the Catiline Orations.

    Roman statesman and lawyer
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Famous birthday twins

Born on December 5

Józef Piłsudski

b. 1867

Polish field marshal and politician, 15th Prime Minister of Poland

André-Pierre Gignac

b. 1985

French footballer

Walt Disney

b. 1901

American animator, director, producer, and screenwriter, co-founded The Walt Disney Company

Jianwen Emperor

b. 1377

of China

Martin Van Buren

b. 1782

American lawyer and politician, 8th President of the United States

Fritz Lang

b. 1890

Austrian-American director, producer, and screenwriter

Fyodor Tyutchev

b. 1803

Russian poet and diplomat

Werner Heisenberg

b. 1901

German physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate

Deaths

  • 2013Nelson Mandela, South African lawyer and politician, 1st President of South Africa, Nobel Prize laureate
  • 1989John Pritchard (conductor), English conductor and director
  • 1926Claude Monet, French painter
  • 1870Alexandre Dumas, French novelist and playwright
  • 1791Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer and musician
  • 1082Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona, Count of Barcelona from 1076 to 1082

Holidays & observances

  • —Christian feast day: Clement of Alexandria (Episcopal Church)
  • —Christian feast day: Crispina
  • —Christian feast day: Dalmatius of Pavia
  • —Christian feast day: John Almond
  • —Christian feast day: Justinian of Ramsey Island
  • —Christian feast day: Nicetius (Nizier)
  • —Christian feast day: Pelinus of Brindisi
  • —Christian feast day: Sabbas the Sanctified

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