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February 10 in Military History
Defining Moment263 years ago
Treaty of Paris Ends the French and Indian War, Britain Dominates North America
ArmyNavy· 1763
The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War), transferring virtually all of French North America to Britain. The victory's costs would plant the seeds of the American Revolution.
1200s
1258RevolutionaryArmy768 years ago
Hulegu Khan's Mongol army breached the walls of Baghdad and forced the surrender of the Caliph, ending the 500-year Abbasid Caliphate and destroying one of the greatest cities of the medieval world.
1700s
1763RevolutionaryArmyNavy263 years agoDefining Moment
The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War), transferring virtually all of French North America to Britain. The victory's costs would plant the seeds of the American Revolution.
1800s
1814RevolutionaryArmy212 years ago
Napoleon defeated an isolated Russian corps at Champaubert, launching his legendary Six Days Campaign, a final masterclass in maneuver warfare as Allied armies closed in on Paris.
1846InterwarArmy180 years ago
The Mormon Battalion, the only religiously based unit in U.S. military history, departed Council Bluffs, Iowa, beginning a 2,000-mile march to San Diego during the Mexican-American War.
1900s
1942WWIIArmy84 years ago
The last civilian automobile rolled off American assembly lines as the entire auto industry converted to military production. Factories that built Chevrolets would now build tanks, aircraft engines, and ammunition.
1942WWIIArmy84 years ago
Second Lieutenant Alexander Nininger posthumously received the first Medal of Honor of WWII for single-handedly charging Japanese positions at Abucay, Bataan, killing dozens of enemy soldiers before falling.
1945WWIINavy81 years ago
Soviet submarine S-13 torpedoed the German transport General von Steuben in the Baltic, killing an estimated 4,500 soldiers and refugees during Operation Hannibal, one of the deadliest maritime disasters of WWII.
1962Cold WarAir Force64 years ago
CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers, shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, was exchanged for Soviet spy Rudolf Abel in Berlin, the famous Glienicke Bridge swap that epitomized Cold War espionage.
2000s
2007ModernArmyNavyAir ForceMarines19 years ago
Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced the creation of U.S. Africa Command, the first new unified combatant command since 2002, reflecting the growing military significance of the African continent.
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Born on This Day
William Allen White
Influential Kansas newspaper editor whose editorials about military service and national defense during both World Wars shaped middle-American attitudes toward intervention and isolationism.
Bertolt Brecht
German playwright and poet who fled Nazi Germany and whose anti-war works, including "Mother Courage and Her Children," became the most powerful theatrical critiques of military conflict in the 20th century.
Died on This Day
Alex Haley
Author of "Roots" who served 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, becoming the first Chief Journalist in the service. His career began writing love letters for fellow sailors and evolved into landmark American literature.
Military Quotes
Frequently Asked Questions
What military events happened on February 10?
10 military events occurred on February 10, spanning multiple centuries. Key events include: Treaty of Paris Ends the French and Indian War, Britain Dominates North America (1763), Last Car Rolls Off Assembly Lines, Auto Industry Converts to War Production (1942), HMS Dreadnought Launched, Naval Arms Race Begins (1906), Siege of Baghdad, Mongol Army Breaches the Abbasid Capital (1258), Battle of Champaubert, Napoleon Opens the Six Days Campaign (1814).
What is the most significant military event on February 10?
The most significant military event on February 10 is Treaty of Paris Ends the French and Indian War, Britain Dominates North America (1763). The Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War), transferring virtually all of French North America to Britain. The victory's costs would plant the seeds of the American Revolution.
What famous military figures were born on February 10?
Notable military figures born on February 10 include William Allen White (1868–1944), Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956).
What wars are represented in February 10's military timeline?
Events on February 10 span the Colonial & Revolutionary era, World War II, the Interwar Period, the Cold War, the Modern Era, covering 10 events across 5 centuries of military history.
How many military branches are represented on February 10?
Events on February 10 involve 4 branches of the U.S. and allied armed forces, reflecting the global scope of military operations throughout history.
What Happened on Your Birthday?
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Related Days by Era
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June 6
D-Day
The Allied invasion of Normandy, the largest amphibious assault in history.
December 7
Pearl Harbor
Japan attacks the U.S. Pacific Fleet, bringing America into World War II.
September 11
9/11 Attacks
The deadliest terrorist attack in history transforms U.S. national security.
August 6
Hiroshima
The first atomic bomb is dropped on a city, ushering in the nuclear age.
May 8
VE Day
Nazi Germany surrenders unconditionally, ending World War II in Europe.
November 11
Veterans Day
Armistice Day marks the end of World War I and honors all who served.
June 4
Battle of Midway
The turning point of the Pacific War as the U.S. Navy destroys four Japanese carriers.
July 4
Independence Day
The Declaration of Independence is adopted, sparking the American Revolution.
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