Major Events of February 1979: 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 February 1979 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of February 1979: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 Feb 1979 Ayatollah Khomeini Returns to Iran: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns triumphantly to Tehran after nearly 15 years of exile, marking a pivotal moment in the Iranian Revolution. His return signaled a dramatic shift in Iran's political landscape and set the stage for the overthrow of the Shah's regime.
- 02 Feb 1979 Death of Sid Vicious: Sid Vicious (born John Simon Ritchie), the iconic bassist of the punk rock band Sex Pistols, died of a heroin overdose in New York City at the young age of 31. His death symbolized the destructive lifestyle often associated with the punk rock movement of the late 1970s.
- 03 Feb 1979 Iranian Revolution: Khomeini Establishes Revolutionary Council: Ayatollah Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution, a pivotal moment in Iran's political transformation that would reshape the country's governance and international relations.
- 04 Feb 1979 UK Billboard Number 1 Song: 'Heart Of Glass' by Blondie reached the top of the UK music charts, highlighting the band's rising popularity and the new wave music genre.
- 05 Feb 1979 Sears Radio Theater Debut: The Sears Radio Theater made its premiere on CBS, introducing a new entertainment format to audiences.
- 06 Feb 1979 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Death Sentence Upheld: The Supreme Court of Lahore, Pakistan, affirmed the death sentence against former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, marking a critical moment in Pakistani political history. This judicial decision effectively sealed the fate of the prominent political leader, who had been convicted of murder.
- 07 Feb 1979 Iranian Political Upheaval: Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar resigns after losing support of the military, signaling the growing instability in Iran preceding the Islamic Revolution.
- 08 Feb 1979 Portugal Establishes Diplomatic Relations with China: Portugal officially established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, a significant diplomatic milestone following the end of Portugal's colonial presence near mainland China.
- 09 Feb 1979 Death of Dennis Gabor: Dennis Gabor, a renowned Hungarian physicist and Nobel Prize laureate, passed away. He was best known for inventing holography in 1947, a groundbreaking technique in optical technology.
- 10 Feb 1979 Iranian Army Mutiny During Islamic Revolution: On February 11, 1979, the Iranian army mutinied and joined the Islamic Revolution, signaling a critical turning point in Iran's political transformation. This event marked a decisive moment where military forces abandoned their loyalty to the Shah and aligned with revolutionary forces led by Ayatollah Khomeini.
- 11 Feb 1979 Iranian Revolution: Khomeini Seizes Power: In a pivotal moment of political transformation, Iran's premier Shapour Bakhtiar resigns, allowing Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to seize power and fundamentally reshape the country's political landscape. The Iranian military steps aside, enabling the establishment of an Islamic theocracy that would dramatically alter Iran's governance and international relations.
- 12 Feb 1979 Battle of N'Djamena in Chad: Prime Minister Hissène Habré initiated a military offensive known as the Battle of N'Djamena, attempting to overthrow President Félix Malloum in a significant political and military confrontation in Chad.
- 13 Feb 1979 Tragic Kidnapping of US Ambassador in Afghanistan: In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnapped the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs. During a dramatic confrontation, Dubs was killed in a gunfight between his kidnappers and local police, marking a significant diplomatic incident during the tumultuous period of Soviet influence in Afghanistan.
- 14 Feb 1979 Kidnapping and Death of U.S. Ambassador Adolph Dubs in Kabul: In a tragic diplomatic incident, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Adolph Dubs was kidnapped by Setami Milli militants in Kabul. The situation escalated when a gunfight erupted between the kidnappers and local police, resulting in the ambassador's death. This event highlighted the volatile political climate in Afghanistan during the late 1970s.
- 15 Feb 1979 Warsaw Bank Explosion Tragedy: A devastating suspected gas explosion in a Warsaw bank resulted in the tragic loss of 49 lives, causing significant shock and mourning in Poland.
- 16 Feb 1979 Soviet Nuclear Test in Kazakhstan: The Soviet Union conducted a nuclear test at the Eastern Kazakhstan/Semipalatinsk Test Site, continuing their Cold War-era nuclear weapons development program.
- 17 Feb 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War Begins: China launches a large-scale military invasion of Vietnam, with hundreds of thousands of troops crossing the northern border. The conflict, driven by complex geopolitical tensions between the two communist nations, would last nearly a month from February 17 to March 1, 1979. This war represented a significant breakdown in relations between previously aligned communist states.
- 18 Feb 1979 Rare Snowfall in Sahara Desert: A remarkable meteorological event occurs as snow falls in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria, a phenomenon unprecedented in recorded history.
- 19 Feb 1979 President's Day Storm of 1979: A historic and powerful snowstorm struck the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, causing unprecedented snowfall and severe weather conditions. The storm significantly disrupted transportation, infrastructure, and daily life across multiple states.
- 20 Feb 1979 Shankill Butchers Sentenced: On February 20, 1979, a significant legal proceeding took place when 11 members of a notorious loyalist paramilitary group known as the 'Shankill Butchers' were sentenced to life imprisonment. These individuals were convicted for a series of 19 brutal murders during the Northern Ireland conflict, representing a crucial moment in addressing sectarian violence.
- 21 Feb 1979 Tanzania-Uganda Conflict: During the Uganda-Tanzania War, Tanzanian forces successfully routed Ugandan troops from the hill country and captured the strategic town of Mbarara, marking a significant military advancement in the conflict.
- 22 Feb 1979 Saint Lucia Gains Independence: Saint Lucia officially gained independence from the United Kingdom, marking a significant milestone in its political history as a sovereign Caribbean nation. This event represented the end of British colonial rule and the beginning of self-governance for the island state.
- 23 Feb 1979 First African American Marine Corps General Appointed: Frank Peterson Jr. made history by becoming the first Black general in the United States Marine Corps, breaking significant racial barriers in military leadership.
- 24 Feb 1979 North Yemen-South Yemen War Erupts: A significant conflict breaks out between North Yemen and South Yemen, marking a critical moment in the regional geopolitical landscape of the Arabian Peninsula. The war highlights the complex political tensions and territorial disputes between the two Yemeni states during the late 1970s.
- 25 Feb 1979 Soyuz 32 Mission to Salyut 6 Space Station: On February 25, 1979, the Soviet Union launched Soyuz 32, a spacecraft carrying two cosmonauts to the Salyut 6 space station. This mission was part of the ongoing Soviet space exploration program, which aimed to establish long-duration human presence in low Earth orbit and conduct scientific research in space.
- 26 Feb 1979 Total Solar Eclipse of 1979: The last total solar eclipse of the 20th century for the continental United States occurred, marking a significant astronomical event. This rare celestial phenomenon provided a spectacular view for observers in the region.
- 27 Feb 1979 New Orleans Mardi Gras Canceled by Police Strike: In an unprecedented move, the annual Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana was canceled due to a labor dispute involving the city's police department. This rare interruption of the iconic festival highlighted tensions between city officials and law enforcement, disrupting a deeply cherished cultural tradition that typically draws thousands of visitors to the city.
- 28 Feb 1979 Significant Earthquake in Alaska: A powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Mt. Saint Elias in Alaska, causing potential geological disruption and seismic activity in the region.