Here’s our regularly-updated selection of films that may be of use to news editors and journalists in covering important anniversaries, contextualising current events or illustrating trending topics.
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With the U.K. preparing to exit the European Union on 12 April, take a look back at the history of the EU and the U.K.’s position within it in this archive collection.
The 9 April marks the 60th Anniversary of the announcement of the selection of the ‘Mercury Seven’, the first astronauts NASA would send into space. Members of the group flew on all of the NASA-crewed orbital programs of the 20th Century- Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and the Space Shuttle.
On 9 April 1917, the Battle of Vimy Ridge began, during World War One (1914-1918). Concluding on the 12 April 1917, it was the first instance in which all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force fought as a cohesive formation. Take a look at how the battle has been remembered here.
On 10 April 1963, the USS Thresher sank, killing 129 of its crew in the deadliest submarine disaster in history. It was also the first nuclear submarine lost at sea, and led to the implementation of SUBSAFE, a rigorous safety programme the U.S. Navy would utilise to test its future submarines.
The Good Friday Agreement
On 10 April 1998, the Good Friday Agreement was signed. It is recognised to have ended The Troubles in Northern Ireland, with all parties agreeing to democratic and peaceful methods of resolving political issues, and the decommissioning of paramilitary groups. Take a look back at the Troubles in this archive collection.
The Sinking of the Titanic
On 10 April 1912, the RMS Titanic departed Southampton for New York, on her maiden, and final voyage. Striking an iceberg on 14 April 1912, the ship sank on the 15 April, killing over 1,500 people. Look back at the famous disaster in this archive collection, containing rare genuine footage of the ship.
‘Ping Pong Diplomacy’
On 10 April 1971, the U.S. table tennis team began their visit to the People’s Republic of China. They were the first American delegation to set foot in the Chinese capital since 1949, and their visit began a series of cultural exchanges and visits which caused a thaw in Sino-American relations.
Adolf Eichmann Tried
On 11 April 1961, the trial of Adolf Eichmann began. Eichmann was tried for his involvement in the Holocaust, and during the trial did not deny it or his role in organising it, but claimed that he was simply following orders in Nazi Germany’s totalitarian bureaucracy. He was executed on 1 June 1962.
Apollo 13
On 11 April 1970, the Apollo 13 mission launched, the third Apollo mission attempting to land on the moon. On 13 April, disaster struck when the oxygen tanker on the service module exploded, endangering the lives of the crew. However, the mission returned safely to Earth on 17 April.
The U.S. Civil War
On 12 April 1861, the U.S. Civil War began, when forces of the Confederate States of America bombarded Fort Sumter. The attack caused the newly-inaugurated President Lincoln to call for 75,000 volunteers to suppress the rebellion, triggering a war which would last for four years.
‘Cosmonautics Day’
The 12 April marks Cosmonautics Day, a holiday created in the USSR to commemorate the first manned spaceflight in 1961 by Yuri Gagarin. Gagarin circled the Earth in the Vostok 1 spacecraft for approximately 1 hour and 48 minutes. Other nations have since celebrated the International Day of Human Spaceflight.
The Space Shuttle
On 12 April 1981, the space shuttle was launched for the first time. Coincidentally, this occurred on the 20th Anniversary of the first human spaceflight, given a technical issue which delayed the launch by two days. Space shuttles have been used in many space missions, flying a total mission time of 1322 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes, and 23 seconds.
The Queen’s Birthday
Happy Birthday to Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrates her 93rd Birthday on 21 April. She’s very lucky, she gets two birthdays- an official one and her actual one, but the 21st marks the latter. Look back on her life in this archive collection.
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