Today in History: WWI: The 10-month long Battle of Verdun ends in 1916

The following are ten historical events that occurred on December 19:

1154: Henry II is crowned King of England, marking the beginning of the Plantagenet dynasty.

1777: During the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington’s Continental Army begins its winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

1907: The first licensed taxicabs start operation in New York City, introducing a new mode of urban transportation.

1916: During World War I, the Battle of Verdun ends after ten months of intense fighting, resulting in over 700,000 casualties.

1941: Adolf Hitler becomes Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the German Army during World War II, centralizing military command under his leadership.

1972: Apollo 17, the final mission of NASA’s Apollo program, returns to Earth after the last manned lunar landing.

1984: The United Kingdom and China sign the Sino-British Joint Declaration, agreeing to the transfer of Hong Kong’s sovereignty to China in 1997.

1998: The United States House of Representatives impeaches President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.

2012: Park Geun-hye is elected as South Korea’s first female president, marking a significant milestone in the country’s political history.

2016: A terrorist attack in Berlin, Germany, occurs when a truck is driven into a Christmas market, resulting in 12 deaths and 56 injuries.