Major Events of December 1955: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from December 1955 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of December 1955: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Dec 1955 Rosa Parks Defies Segregation on Montgomery Bus: On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks, an African American seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, courageously refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, directly challenging the city's racist segregation laws. Her arrest became a pivotal moment in the American Civil Rights Movement, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott and catalyzing widespread civil rights activism.
02 Dec 1955 Barnes Rail Disaster in London: On December 2, 1955, a tragic rail accident occurred at Barnes, London, United Kingdom. Due to a critical signal error, two trains collided, resulting in a devastating fire. The accident claimed the lives of thirteen people and left thirty-five others injured. This incident highlighted the urgent need for improved railway safety protocols and signaling systems in the mid-1950s.
03 Dec 1955 Norwegian Resistance Fighter Returns from Soviet Imprisonment: Osvald Harjo, a courageous Norwegian resistance fighter who endured 13 years of imprisonment in Soviet labor camps during and after World War II, finally returns to his homeland. His return symbolizes the resilience of individuals who resisted occupation and survived extreme hardship during one of the most challenging periods in modern European history.
04 Dec 1955 International Blood Donor Federation Established: The International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations was founded in Luxembourg, representing a pivotal moment in global healthcare collaboration and blood donation coordination.
05 Dec 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott: A Pivotal Civil Rights Movement: The Montgomery Bus Boycott began with most of the city's 50,000 Black workers biking, carpooling, or walking. The boycott was organized by the local chapter of the NAACP led by Pullman porter E. D. Edgar Nixon and prominently featured Martin Luther King Jr. as a key leader. King declared, 'We're going to work with grim and bold determination to gain justice on the buses in this city. And we are not wrong.' The boycott continued despite intense intimidation and numerous arrests, ultimately leading to a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared bus segregation unconstitutional, marking a significant turning point in the American Civil Rights Movement.
06 Dec 1955 Austria's Post-War Neutrality Recognized: Major world powers, including the USA, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and France, officially recognized Austria's neutrality, a significant diplomatic milestone in the aftermath of World War II.
07 Dec 1955 Clement Attlee Resigns from Labour Party Leadership: Clement Attlee, a prominent British political figure who served as Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951, stepped down from his role as chairman of the Labour Party. This marked a significant transition in British political leadership, as Attlee had been a key figure in post-World War II British politics, implementing major social reforms including the establishment of the National Health Service.
08 Dec 1955 Austria's International Neutrality Recognition: Major world powers, including the USA, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, and France, formally recognize Austria's neutrality, marking a crucial diplomatic milestone in post-World War II European geopolitics.
09 Dec 1955 Mass United Nations Membership Expansion: A significant diplomatic milestone occurred when 16 countries simultaneously joined the United Nations, marking the end of a membership moratorium that had been in place since the Korean War. This expansion included nations from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, representing a diverse range of political systems and geographical regions.
10 Dec 1955 Australian Federal Election of 1955: In a significant political event, Robert Menzies' Liberal/Country Coalition Government secures re-election with a substantially increased parliamentary majority, decisively defeating the Labor Party led by H. V. Evatt. This election reinforced Menzies' political dominance and continued conservative governance in Australia during the mid-1950s.
11 Dec 1955 Operation Olive Leaves: Israeli Military Action Against Syria: On December 11, 1955, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a significant military reprisal operation against Syrian military positions. The operation resulted in the destruction of Syrian military emplacements, with 54 Syrian soldiers killed and 30 taken prisoner. The IDF suffered six fatalities during the engagement, highlighting the intense nature of the cross-border conflict.
12 Dec 1955 First Hovercraft Prototype Patented: On December 12, 1955, British engineer Christopher Cockerell patented the first prototype of the hovercraft, a revolutionary transportation technology that uses a cushion of air to enable vehicles to glide smoothly over various surfaces, including water and land. Cockerell's innovative design would later transform maritime and amphibious transportation, with applications ranging from military vessels to civilian passenger craft.
13 Dec 1955 De Havilland Comet 3 Makes Historic US Airport Landing: On December 13, 1955, the de Havilland Comet 3, a pioneering jet airliner developed by the British aircraft manufacturer, made its inaugural stop at Honolulu International Airport. This milestone marked a significant moment in aviation history, demonstrating the growing capabilities of jet-powered commercial aircraft and expanding transpacific air travel routes. The Comet 3 was an advanced iteration of the world's first commercial jet airliner, representing a technological leap forward in passenger transportation and international connectivity.
14 Dec 1955 Multiple Countries Join United Nations: On December 14, 1955, sixteen countries were admitted to the United Nations through United Nations Security Council Resolution 109, significantly expanding the organization's global representation. These countries included Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Laos, Libya, Nepal, Portugal, Romania, and Spain.
15 Dec 1955 Johnny Cash Releases 'Folsom Prison Blues': On December 15, 1955, Sun Records released Johnny Cash's iconic song 'Folsom Prison Blues', originally recorded on July 30. This blues-country track would become a pivotal moment in Cash's career and a significant milestone in American music history.
16 Dec 1955 Earl Attlee Peerage Creation: The title of Earl Attlee is officially created in the British peerage, honoring former Prime Minister Clement Attlee in recognition of his significant political leadership during and after World War II. This elevation to the peerage was a traditional method of recognizing distinguished public service in British political history.
17 Dec 1955 African National Congress 44th Annual Conference: The African National Congress (ANC) held its 44th Annual Conference in Bloemfontein, South Africa. This conference was significant during the apartheid era, as the ANC was a key organization in the struggle against racial segregation and for equal rights for Black South Africans.
18 Dec 1955 Death of Garegin Nzhdeh, Armenian Statesman: Garegin Nzhdeh, a prominent Armenian political leader and national hero, died around December 21, 1955. He was a key figure in Armenian political history, known for his nationalist ideology and resistance efforts during complex geopolitical periods of the early-to-mid 20th century.
19 Dec 1955 Sudan Declares Independence from Egypt: Under the leadership of Ismail al-Azhari, Sudan officially declares its independence from Egypt, with the agreement of both Egypt and the United Kingdom. This declaration is set to take full effect on January 1, 1956, marking a significant milestone in Sudan's path to national sovereignty.
20 Dec 1955 Cardiff Becomes Capital of Wales: On December 20, 1955, Cardiff was officially proclaimed as the capital city of Wales by the British Government. This historic designation recognized Cardiff's significant role in Welsh political, economic, and cultural life. As the largest city in Wales, Cardiff had long been a center of administrative and economic activity, making its selection as the capital a symbolic and practical milestone in Welsh national identity.
21 Dec 1955 France Addresses Algerian Unrest: French Prime Minister Edgar Faure convenes an extraordinary cabinet meeting in response to escalating violence in Algeria. The urgent meeting is prompted by recent guerrilla activities that resulted in approximately 100 casualties within a 24-hour period, highlighting the intense conflict during the Algerian War of Independence.
22 Dec 1955 Discovery of Human Chromosome Count: American cytogeneticist Joe Hin Tjio makes a groundbreaking scientific discovery by accurately identifying that humans have 46 chromosomes, a pivotal moment in human genetics and cytology.
23 Dec 1955 Otto John's Arrest: Otto John, the former head of the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), is arrested in Wiesbaden, signaling a complex moment in post-war German intelligence history.
24 Dec 1955 NORAD Begins Santa Tracking Tradition: On Christmas Eve, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) initiated its now-famous Santa tracking service. This unique tradition began accidentally when a misprinted Sears advertisement provided the phone number for the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center in Colorado Springs, leading to children calling to speak with Santa Claus. Military personnel, embracing the unexpected situation, began tracking 'Santa's journey' across the globe, which has since become an annual Christmas Eve event that delights children worldwide.
25 Dec 1955 Christmas Day Celebration: Christmas Day was commemorated on December 25, 1955, representing a significant religious and cultural holiday for Christian communities globally.
26 Dec 1955 RKO Pioneers Film Library Television Sales: RKO Studios made history by becoming the first film studio to announce the sale of its entire film library rights for television broadcast, a groundbreaking move that would significantly impact media distribution and entertainment consumption.
27 Dec 1955 SS Tanda Maru Shipwreck during Typhoon: On December 27, 1955, the Japanese cargo ship SS Tanda Maru was driven ashore during a severe typhoon on the island of Honshu. The vessel was critically damaged, breaking into two sections. In a dramatic rescue operation, a United States helicopter successfully rescued 14 of the 24 crew members, highlighting the perilous conditions of maritime travel during mid-20th century storms.
28 Dec 1955 Birth of Liu Xiaobo, Prominent Chinese Dissident: Liu Xiaobo was born in Changchun, China. He would later become a renowned writer, literary critic, human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate known for his peaceful advocacy for democratic reforms in China.
29 Dec 1955 Soviet Leaders Report on Asian Diplomatic Tour and Missile Capabilities: On December 29, 1955, Soviet leaders Nikolai Bulganin and Nikita Khrushchev addressed the Supreme Soviet, providing a detailed account of their recent diplomatic tour in Asia. During this significant presentation, Bulganin revealed a crucial piece of strategic information: the Soviet Union possessed intercontinental ballistic missiles, signaling a major advancement in Cold War military technology.
30 Dec 1955 Passing of Neal Macrossan, Queensland Chief Justice: Neal Macrossan, a distinguished 66-year-old Australian lawyer, died on December 30, 1955. He served as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, making significant contributions to the legal system during his distinguished career.
31 Dec 1955 General Motors Reaches Billion-Dollar Milestone: General Motors Corporation made history by becoming the first U.S. corporation to generate over $1 billion in annual profits, marking a significant milestone in American corporate financial achievement.