December 25th, 2009

Today in History

1991:
Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as president of the Soviet Union (the union itself is dissolved the next day).

1973:
The ARPANET crashes when a programming bug causes all ARPANET traffic to be routed through the server at Harvard University, causing the server to freeze.

1939:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is introduced by Montgomery Ward stores

1914:
World War I: The Christmas truce: Just after midnight on Christmas morning, German and British troops on the Western Front cease firing their guns and artillery and sing Christmas carols. Crossing the No man's land, they trade gifts with the enemy forces that face them. They also played a game of soccer with a makeshift soccer ball (fashioned by the Germans) This truce lasts for several days, depending on the location.

1776:
George Washington and his army cross the Delaware River to attack the monarchy's Hessian mercenaries in Trenton, New Jersey.