Under Saturday, February 12, the book of history records, among other things:
1797: Joseph Haydn’s song “Gott preserve Franz, den Kaiser” is sung in public for the first time on the birthday of Emperor Franz II.
1817: After crossing the Andes, the Argentine-Chilean Army of Independence defeated the Spanish colonial troops in the Battle of Chacabuco (Chile).
1867: The North German Confederation elects its constituent Reichstag, which meets for the first time on February 24.
1887: The “Mediterranean Entente”, an agreement concluded by Great Britain and Italy through the mediation of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, is born. Austria-Hungary joins the agreement on March 24th and Spain on May 4th. The contracting parties want to recognize the status quo in the Mediterranean. The agreement is directed against Russian expansion in the Balkans and along the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits. In 1896 it was dissolved.
1912: In Beijing, six weeks after the proclamation of the Chinese Republic, Empress Dowager Long Yu announces the abdication of her nephew, the six-year-old Emperor Pu Yi. The abdication edict of the Qing Manchu dynasty, which had ruled since 1644, placed the “mandate of heaven in the hands of the people”.
1917: The German Emperor Wilhelm II arrives in Vienna for a state visit. On this occasion, Emperor Karl I of Austria is awarded the honorary rank of Prussian Field Marshal.
1922: The new Pope Pius XI. is solemnly crowned in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Cardinal Achille Ratti, Archbishop of Milan, was appointed as Benedict XV’s successor on February 6th. has been chosen.
1927: The Klagenfurt broadcasting station begins operations.
1932: The Danish Aase Clausen wins the “Miss Europe” election in Paris.
1937: The film “Lumpacivagabundus” with Heinz Rühmann has its premiere in Berlin.
1947: In Paris, Christian Dior presents his “Corolle” collection, which causes a stir in Europe as a “New Look”.
1952: US General Dwight D. Eisenhower is stepping down as NATO commander-in-chief in Europe following his nomination for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination.
1992: FPÖ Federal Councilor Andreas Mölzer fears a “revolution” by a multicultural society. He is heavily criticized by all other parties.
2002: The trial of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević begins before the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. It is the largest war crimes trial since the end of the Second World War.
2007: After several days of negotiations, there is a breakthrough in a new round of talks on North Korea’s nuclear program. North Korea is to receive large supplies of crude oil in exchange for the closure of a nuclear reactor in Yongbyon.
2017: The US men’s magazine “Playboy” is reprinting pictures of naked women after a year of abstinence. Cooper Hefner, chief creative and son of the magazine founder Hugh Hefner, describes the meanwhile turning away from the core business as a mistake.
birthdays: François Diday, Swiss painter (1802-1877); Theodor Plievier, German writer (1892-1955); Anny Konetzni, Austria singer (1902-1968); Gustl Bayrhammer, German actor (1922-1993); Ehud Barak (aka E. Brog), Israel. politicians, physicists and mathematicians; 1999-2001 Prime Minister (1942); Henry Rono, ex-Kenyan. track and field athlete (1952); Ariel Muzicant, Austria-Israel. medical professionals, entrepreneurs and managers; President of the Jewish Community (IKG) 1998-2012 (1952); Anita Wachter, Austria Ex-ski racer (1967).
days of death: Ludwig Börne, German writer (1786-1837); Ernst Zahn, Swiss writer (1867-1952); Rudolf Henz (Pseud. R. Miles), Austrian Writer; 1945-1957 program director of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (1897-1987); Francis Joseph (“Muggsy”) Spanish, US jazz musician (1906-1967); Al Jarreau, US jazz singer (1940-2017).
name days: Gregor, Reginald, Benedikt, Eulalia, Reimund, Ludon, Anton, Reinhold, Sigmar, Modestus, Gosbert.