Today in History:: Italy became a republic in 1946

The following is a chronological list of notable events that occurred on June 2 throughout history:

455 – Sack of Rome by the Vandals
The Vandal king Genseric led his forces into Rome, initiating a two-week plundering of the city, marking one of the final blows to the Western Roman Empire.

1098 – Crusaders capture Antioch
During the First Crusade, Crusader forces successfully captured the city of Antioch after a prolonged siege, a pivotal moment in their campaign.

1943 – Liquidation of the Lwów Ghetto
The Nazi regime completed the liquidation of the Lwów Ghetto in German-occupied Poland, deporting the last surviving Jewish residents to the Janowska concentration camp.

1946 – Italy becomes a republic
Following a referendum, Italy abolished its monarchy and established a republic, leading to the exile of King Umberto II. This day is now celebrated as Festa della Repubblica.

1953 – Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
At age 27, Queen Elizabeth II was crowned at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was the first British coronation to be televised, reaching a global audience.

1964 – Formation of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
The PLO was established with the aim of creating an independent State of Palestine, marking a significant development in Middle Eastern politics.

1967 – Killing of Benno Ohnesorg in West Berlin
During protests against the Shah of Iran’s visit to West Berlin, German student Benno Ohnesorg was fatally shot by police. His death became a catalyst for the German student movement and the formation of the 2 June Movement.

1979 – Pope John Paul II visits Poland
Pope John Paul II began his first official visit to his native Poland, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country. His visit is credited with inspiring the Solidarity movement.

2003 – Launch of Mars Express by the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency launched Mars Express, its first planetary mission, from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.

2023 – Deadly train collision in India
A collision between two passenger trains and a parked freight train near Balasore, Odisha, resulted in 296 deaths and over 1,200 injuries, marking one of the deadliest train disasters in India’s history.