| image9 = Howard Unruh Massacre Aftermath September 1949.jpg
|footer=From top to bottom, left to right: British astronomer [[Fred Hoyle]] coins the term [[Big Bang]]; the North Atlantic Treaty is signed, forming [[NATO]]; Police and protesters clash during the [[1949 Kemi strike]]; [[EDSAC]] is the second electronic digital stored-program computer to go into regular service; The first Soviet atomic bomb, [[RDS-1]], is made; Devastation after the [[Prüm explosion]] in Germany;
| total_width = 350
Wreckage of an Avio Linee Italiane [[Fiat G.212]] after the [[Superga air disaster]]; [[Mao Zedong]] proclaiming the [[Proclamation of the People's Republic of China|foundation]] of the [[People's Republic of China]]. }}
| footer = From top to bottom, left to right: The [[North Atlantic Treaty]] is signed in [[Washington, D.C.]], creating [[NATO]] as a Western defense alliance; [[Apartheid]] is formally instituted in [[South Africa]], enforcing racial segregation; [[Mao Zedong]] proclaims the [[People's Republic of China]], ending the [[Chinese Civil War]] and establishing communist rule; the [[Soviet Union]] detonates [[RDS-1]], ending the [[United States]]’ nuclear monopoly; the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]] end the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]], setting new borders; the debut of [[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]] becomes a landmark in American theater and cultural history; the [[EDSAC]] runs its first program in [[Cambridge]], advancing digital computing; the [[Superga air disaster]] kills the [[Torino F.C.]] team, shocking Italy; and [[Howard Unruh]] commits a mass shooting in [[Camden, New Jersey]], killing 13.
}}
{{Year nav|1949}}
{{Year nav|1949}}
{{C20 year in topic}}
{{C20 year in topic}}
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* [[January 1]] – A [[United Nations]]-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]. The war results in a stalemate and the division of [[Kashmir]], which still continues as of [[2025]]
* [[January 1]] – A [[United Nations]]-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]. The war results in a stalemate and the division of [[Kashmir]], which still continues as of [[2025]]
* [[January 2]] – [[Luis Muñoz Marín]] becomes the first democratically elected [[Governor of Puerto Rico]].
* [[January 2]] – [[Luis Muñoz Marín]] becomes the first democratically elected [[Governor of Puerto Rico]].
* [[January 11]] – The first "networked" television broadcasts take place, as [[KDKA-TV]] in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], goes on the air, connecting east coast and mid-west programming in the [[United States]].
* [[January 11]] – The first "networked" television broadcasts take place, as [[KDKA-TV]] in [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania, goes on the air, connecting east coast and mid-west programming in the [[United States]].
* [[January 16]] – [[Şemsettin Günaltay]] forms the new government of [[Turkey]]. It is the 18th government, last [[One-party state|single party]] government of the [[Republican People's Party]].
* [[January 16]] – [[Şemsettin Günaltay]] forms the new government of [[Turkey]]. It is the 18th government, last [[One-party state|single party]] government of the [[Republican People's Party]].
[[File:VW Standard, Bj1950 2005-09-17.jpg|thumb|120px| [[January 17]]: [[Volkswagen Beetle|Beetle]] in U.S.]]
[[File:VW Standard, Bj1950 2005-09-17.jpg|thumb|120px| [[January 17]]: [[Volkswagen Beetle|Beetle]] in U.S.]]
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** The [[Council for Mutual Economic Assistance]] (CMEA or COMECON) is established by the [[Soviet Union]] and other [[Communism|communist]] nations.
** The [[Council for Mutual Economic Assistance]] (CMEA or COMECON) is established by the [[Soviet Union]] and other [[Communism|communist]] nations.
** In the [[1949 Israeli legislative election|first Israeli elections]], [[David Ben-Gurion]] becomes [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]].
** In the [[1949 Israeli legislative election|first Israeli elections]], [[David Ben-Gurion]] becomes [[Prime Minister of Israel|Prime Minister]].
* [[January 26]] – [[Australian citizenship]] comes into being.
* [[January 26]] – [[Australian citizenship]] comes into being.<ref>{{Cite web |last=corporateName=National Museum of Australia; address=Lawson Crescent |first=Acton Peninsula |title=National Museum of Australia - Citizenship Act |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/citizenship-act |access-date=2025-09-02 |website=www.nma.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
* c. [[January 28]] – [[Stalin and antisemitism]]: The media in the [[Soviet Union]] resume a propaganda campaign against "[[rootless cosmopolitan]]s", a euphemism for [[Soviet Jews]], accusing them of being [[Pro-western|pro-Western]] and [[antisocialist]].
* c. [[January 28]] – [[Stalin and antisemitism]]: The media in the [[Soviet Union]] resume a propaganda campaign against "[[rootless cosmopolitan]]s", a euphemism for [[Soviet Jews]], accusing them of being [[Pro-western|pro-Western]] and [[antisocialist]].
* [[January 31]] – Forces from the [[Chinese Communist Party]] [[Pingjin campaign|enter Beijing]].
* [[January 31]] – Forces from the [[Chinese Communist Party]] [[Pingjin campaign|enter Beijing]].
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{{Main|February 1949}}
{{Main|February 1949}}
* [[February 13]] – [[António Óscar Carmona]] is re-elected [[president of Portugal]], for lack of an opposing candidate.
* [[February 13]] – [[António Óscar Carmona]] is re-elected [[president of Portugal]], for lack of an opposing candidate.
* [[February 17]] – [[Chaim Weizmann]] begins his term as the first [[President of Israel]].
* [[February 17]] – [[Chaim Weizmann]] begins his term as the first [[President of Israel]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fellowship |first=The |last2=Israel |first2=Stand for |date=2023-02-20 |title=Chaim Weizmann: Israel's First President |url=https://www.ifcj.org/news/stand-for-israel-blog/chaim-weizmann-israels-first-president |access-date=2025-09-27 |website=IFCJ |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[February 26]] – The [[Revolutionary Communist Party of India]] stages attacks at [[Dum Dum]].
* [[February 26]] – The [[Revolutionary Communist Party of India]] stages attacks at [[Dum Dum]].
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** [[United States Secretary of Defense]] [[James Forrestal]] resigns suddenly.
** [[United States Secretary of Defense]] [[James Forrestal]] resigns suddenly.
** English astronomer [[Fred Hoyle]] coins the term ''[[Big Bang]]'' (intending it to be derogatory) during a [[BBC Third Programme]] radio broadcast.<ref>{{cite news|date=2001-08-22|title='Big bang' astronomer dies|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1503721.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=2008-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208220913/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1503721.stm|archive-date=2008-12-08|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Croswell|first=Ken|year=1995|chapter=Chapter 9|title=The Alchemy of the Heavens|publisher=Anchor Books|isbn=0-385-47213-7|url=https://archive.org/details/alchemyofheavens00cros}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Mitton|first=Simon|year=2005|title=Fred Hoyle: a Life in Science|page=127|publisher=Aurum Press|isbn=1-85410-961-8}}</ref>
** English astronomer [[Fred Hoyle]] coins the term ''[[Big Bang]]'' (intending it to be derogatory) during a [[BBC Third Programme]] radio broadcast.<ref>{{cite news|date=2001-08-22|title='Big bang' astronomer dies|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1503721.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=2008-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208220913/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1503721.stm|archive-date=2008-12-08|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Croswell|first=Ken|year=1995|chapter=Chapter 9|title=The Alchemy of the Heavens|publisher=Anchor Books|isbn=0-385-47213-7|url=https://archive.org/details/alchemyofheavens00cros}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Mitton|first=Simon|year=2005|title=Fred Hoyle: a Life in Science|page=127|publisher=Aurum Press|isbn=1-85410-961-8}}</ref>
* [[March 30]] – An [[1949 anti-NATO riot in Iceland|anti-NATO riot in Iceland]] takes place, prompted by the decision of the [[Icelandic parliament]] to join the newly formed [[NATO]].
* [[March 30]] - A [[March 1949 Syrian coup d'état|military coup in Syria]] ousts [[Shukri al-Quwatli|President Shukri al-Quwatli]].
* An [[1949 anti-NATO riot in Iceland|anti-NATO riot in Iceland]] takes place, prompted by the decision of the [[Icelandic parliament]] to join the newly formed [[NATO]].
* [[March 31]] – The former [[British Empire|British]] colony of [[Dominion of Newfoundland|Newfoundland]] joins [[Canada]], as its 10th [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]].
* [[March 31]] – The former [[British Empire|British]] colony of [[Dominion of Newfoundland|Newfoundland]] joins [[Canada]], as its 10th [[Provinces and territories of Canada|province]].
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* [[May 22]] – After two months in [[Bethesda Naval Hospital]], [[James Forrestal]] commits suicide under suspicious circumstances.
* [[May 22]] – After two months in [[Bethesda Naval Hospital]], [[James Forrestal]] commits suicide under suspicious circumstances.
* [[May 23]] – The [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] is established.
* [[May 23]] – The [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] is established.
* [[May 31]] – The first trial of [[Alger Hiss]] for perjury begins in New York City, with [[Whittaker Chambers]] as principal witness for the prosecution.
* [[May 31]] – The first trial of [[Alger Hiss]] for perjury begins in New York City, with [[Whittaker Chambers]] as principal witness for the prosecution.
===June===
===June===
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* [[July 11]] – ''[[Pamir (ship)|Pamir]]'' is the last ''commercial'' [[sailing ship]] to round [[Cape Horn]], under sail alone.
* [[July 11]] – ''[[Pamir (ship)|Pamir]]'' is the last ''commercial'' [[sailing ship]] to round [[Cape Horn]], under sail alone.
* [[July 15]] – In an [[Prüm explosion|explosion at Prüm]] in Germany, the town is badly damaged and 12 people die. The explosion crater is one of the largest ever recorded.
* [[July 15]] – In an [[Prüm explosion|explosion at Prüm]] in Germany, the town is badly damaged and 12 people die. The explosion crater is one of the largest ever recorded.
* [[July 19]] – The [[Kingdom of Laos]] is officially formed, but is not independent from the [[French Army]].
*
* [[July 20]] – [[Israel]] and [[Syria]] sign a truce to end their 19-month war.
* [[July 20]] – [[Israel]] and [[Syria]] sign a truce to end their 19-month war.
* [[July 24]] (St John's Day) – Eruption of the [[Cumbre Vieja]] volcano on [[La Palma]] begins.
* [[July 24]] (St John's Day) – Eruption of the [[Cumbre Vieja]] volcano on [[La Palma]] begins.
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* [[August 12]] – The [[Fourth Geneva Convention]] is agreed to.
* [[August 12]] – The [[Fourth Geneva Convention]] is agreed to.
* [[August 14]]
* [[August 14]]
** Pakistan becomes independent
** The [[Salvatore Giuliano]] Gang explodes mines under a police barracks, outside [[Palermo]], Sicily.
** The [[Salvatore Giuliano]] Gang explodes mines under a police barracks, outside [[Palermo]], [[Sicily]].
** A [[March 1949 Syrian coup d'état|military coup]] in [[Syria]] ousts [[President of Syria|President]] [[Shukri al-Quwatli]].
* [[August 18]] – [[Kemi Bloody Thursday]]: two protesters die in the scuffle between the police and the strikers' protest procession in [[Kemi|Kemi, Finland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.palkkatyolainen.fi/pt99/p990907-p2.html |title=Kemin lakosta puoli vuosisataa |publisher=Palkkatyöläinen |date=7 September 1999 |language=fi |accessdate=11 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222436/http://www.palkkatyolainen.fi/pt99/p990907-p2.html |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>
* [[August 18]] – [[Kemi Bloody Thursday]]: two protesters die in the scuffle between the police and the strikers' protest procession in [[Kemi|Kemi, Finland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.palkkatyolainen.fi/pt99/p990907-p2.html |title=Kemin lakosta puoli vuosisataa |publisher=Palkkatyöläinen |date=7 September 1999 |language=fi |accessdate=11 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222436/http://www.palkkatyolainen.fi/pt99/p990907-p2.html |archivedate=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>
* [[August 21]]
* [[August 21]]
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** [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] military authorities relinquish control of former [[Nazi Germany]] assets back to Germany.
** [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] military authorities relinquish control of former [[Nazi Germany]] assets back to Germany.
[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F078072-0004, Konrad Adenauer.jpg|thumb|115px|right|[[Konrad Adenauer]].]]
[[File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F078072-0004, Konrad Adenauer.jpg|thumb|115px|right|[[Konrad Adenauer]].]]
* [[September 7]] – The [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] is officially founded. [[Konrad Adenauer]] is the first federal chancellor.
* [[September 7]] – The first [[Bundestag]] of the [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] convenes in [[Bonn]]. They will elect [[Theodor Heuss]] as president and [[Konrad Adenauer]] as Chancellor.
* [[September 9]]
* [[September 9]]
** [[Albert Guay affair]]: A dynamite bomb destroys [[Canadian Pacific Airlines]] [[Douglas DC-3]], in [[Quebec]].
** [[Albert Guay affair]]: A dynamite bomb destroys [[Canadian Pacific Airlines]] [[Douglas DC-3]], in [[Quebec]].
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* The [[Malta Labour Party]] is founded.
* The [[Malta Labour Party]] is founded.
* [[D. R. Kaprekar]] discovers the convergence property of the number [[6174]].
* [[D. R. Kaprekar]] discovers the convergence property of the number [[6174]].
* [[Slavery in Kuwait]] is abolished.
* [[Slavery in Kuwait]] is abolished
*
==Births==
==Births==
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* [[February 25]] – [[Ric Flair]], American professional wrestler
* [[February 25]] – [[Ric Flair]], American professional wrestler
* [[February 26]] – [[Simon Crean]], Australian politician (d. [[2023]])
* [[February 26]] – [[Simon Crean]], Australian politician (d. [[2023]])
* [[February 27]] – [[Mary Gibby]], British botanist and professor (d. [[2024]])<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Stephen Blackmore |author2=Johannes Vogel |author1-link=Stephen Blackmore |author2-link=Johannes Vogel (botanist) |title=Professor Mary Gibby Ph.D., OBE, FLS, FRSE, PPBPS (1949–2024) |journal=[[Edinburgh Journal of Botany]] |date=December 2024 |volume=81 |pages=1–6 |doi=10.24823/EJB.2024.2084|doi-broken-date=14 January 2025 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
* [[February 27]] – [[Mary Gibby]], British botanist and professor (d. [[2024]])<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Stephen Blackmore |author2=Johannes Vogel |author1-link=Stephen Blackmore |author2-link=Johannes Vogel (botanist) |title=Professor Mary Gibby Ph.D., OBE, FLS, FRSE, PPBPS (1949–2024) |journal=[[Edinburgh Journal of Botany]] |date=December 2024 |volume=81 |pages=1–6 |doi=10.24823/EJB.2024.2084|doi-access=free }}</ref>
===March===
===March===
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** [[Rudi Koertzen]], South African cricket umpire (d. [[2022]])
** [[Rudi Koertzen]], South African cricket umpire (d. [[2022]])
** [[Vicki Lawrence]], American comedian, singer and game show hostess<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1439}}</ref>
** [[Vicki Lawrence]], American comedian, singer and game show hostess<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1439}}</ref>
** [[Ernest Lee Thomas]], African-American actor (''[[What's Happening!!]]'')
** [[Margareta of Romania]], Romanian princess and diplomat
** [[Margareta of Romania]], Romanian princess and diplomat
** [[Giuseppe Sabadini]], Italian footballer
** [[Giuseppe Sabadini]], Italian footballer
** [[Patrick Süskind]], German writer
** [[Patrick Süskind]], German writer
** [[Ernest Lee Thomas]], African-American actor (''[[What's Happening!!]]'')
* [[March 28]]
* [[March 28]]
** [[Ronnie Ray Smith]], American Olympic athlete (d. [[2013]])
** [[Ronnie Ray Smith]], American Olympic athlete (d. [[2013]])
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** [[Yoon Joo-sang]], South Korean actor
** [[Yoon Joo-sang]], South Korean actor
* [[June 26]]
* [[June 26]]
** [[Graco Ramírez]], governor of [[Morelos]], Mexico 2012-2018
** [[Graco Ramírez]], governor of [[Morelos]], Mexico 2012–2018
** [[Avtar Singh Kang]], Punjabi singer and folk contributor
** [[Avtar Singh Kang]], Punjabi singer and folk contributor
* [[February 21]] – [[Tan Malaka]], Indonesian teacher, philosopher, founder of Struggle Union and Murba Party, guerilla and fighter (b. [[1897]])
* [[February 21]] – [[Tan Malaka]], Indonesian teacher, philosopher, founder of Struggle Union and Murba Party, guerilla and fighter (b. [[1897]])
* [[February 22]] – [[Félix d'Herelle]], French-Canadian microbiologist (b. [[1873]])<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Félix Hubert d'Herelle (1873–1949): History of a scientific mind - PMC|year=2017 |pmc=5221746 |last1=Summers |first1=W. C. |journal=Bacteriophage |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=e1270090 |doi=10.1080/21597081.2016.1270090 |pmid=28090388 }}</ref>
* [[February 22]] – [[Félix d'Herelle]], French-Canadian microbiologist (b. [[1873]])<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Félix Hubert d'Herelle (1873–1949): History of a scientific mind - PMC|year=2017 |pmc=5221746 |last1=Summers |first1=W. C. |journal=Bacteriophage |volume=6 |issue=4 |article-number=e1270090 |doi=10.1080/21597081.2016.1270090 |pmid=28090388 }}</ref>
January 11 – The first "networked" television broadcasts take place, as KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, goes on the air, connecting east coast and mid-west programming in the United States.
January 17 – The first VW Type 1 to arrive in the United States, a 1948 model, is brought to New York by Dutch businessman Ben Pon. Unable to interest dealers or importers in the Volkswagen, Pon sells the sample car to pay his travel expenses. Only two 1949 models are sold in America that year, convincing Volkswagen chairman Heinrich Nordhoff the car has no future in the U.S. (The Type 1 goes on to become an automotive phenomenon.)
March 2 – The B-50 SuperfortressLucky Lady II (under Captain James Gallagher) lands in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, after completing the first non-stop around-the-world airplane flight (it was refueled in flight 4 times).
March 26 – The first half of Giuseppe Verdi's opera Aida, conducted by legendary conductor Arturo Toscanini, and performed in concert (i.e. no scenery or costumes), is telecast by NBC, live from Studio 8H at Rockefeller Center. The second half is telecast a week later. This is the only complete opera that Toscanini ever conducts on television.
April 20 – Royal NavyfrigateHMS Amethyst goes up the Yangtze River, to evacuate British Commonwealth refugees escaping the advance of Mao's Communist forces. Under heavy fire, she grounds off Rose Island. After an abortive rescue attempt on April 26, she anchors Template:Convert upstream. Negotiations with the Communists to let the ship leave drag on for weeks, during which time the ship's cat Simon raises the crew's morale.
May 4 – Superga air disaster: A Fiat G.212 airliner of Avio Linee Italiane, carrying the entire Torino F.C. football team, crashes into the back wall of the Basilica of Superga, killing all 31 on board.
Siam officially changes its French name to "Thaïlande" (English name to "Thailand"), having officially changed its Thai name to "Prated Thai" since 1939.
July 31 – Captain Kerans of HMS Amethyst decides to make a break after nightfall, under heavy fire from the Chinese People's Liberation Army on both sides of the Yangtze River, and successfully rejoins the fleet at Woosung the next day.
August
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".
August 8 – Bhutan signs a Treaty of Friendship with newly independent India, agreeing non-interference in internal affairs, but allowing India to "guide" its foreign policy (similar to the previous arrangements with the British administration in India).
The Vatican announces that bones uncovered in its catacombs could be those of the apostle Peter; 19 years later, Pope Paul VI announces confirmation that the bones belong to this first Pope.[10]
Howard Unruh, a World War II veteran, kills 13 neighbors in Camden, New Jersey with a souvenir Parabellum P.08 pistol, to become America's first single-episode mass murderer.
Allied military authorities relinquish control of former Nazi Germany assets back to Germany.
September 25 – U.S. Christian evangelist Billy Graham starts his Los Angeles Crusade, his first great evangelistic campaign. It runs for eight weeks during which Graham speaks to 350,000 people and the event is subsequently described as the greatest revival since the time of Billy Sunday. After this, Graham becomes a national figure in the United States.
October 3 – Albanian Subversion: First Anglo-American attempt to infiltrate guerillas into Albania; the operation is fatally flawed, by being under the control of double agent Kim Philby.
October 14 – The Foley Square trial of Eugene Dennis and ten other leaders of the Communist Party USA ends in New York City (the longest trial in U.S. history to this date); all defendants are found guilty and all but one sentenced to five years of prison.
November 28 – Winston Churchill makes a landmark speech in support of the idea of a European Union, at Kingsway Hall, London - but does not see UK as part of it, "The British Government have rightly stated that they cannot commit this country to entering any European Union without the agreement of the other members of the British Commonwealth".[13]
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