TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2019

1715-Swedish troops occupy Norway

1799-Jakobijns plot against Napoleon uncovered

1818-"Silent Night" composed by Franz Joseph Gruber; sung for first time the next day

1851-Fire devastates Library of Congress in Washington, destroys 35,000 volumes

1914-German plane drops bombs on Dover England

1922-BBC sends first British radio play "Truth about Father Christmas"

1924-Albania becomes a republic (ex-Premier Ahmed Zogoe's coup)

1932-Arturo Alessandri wins presidential election in Chile

1933-Paris express train derails and kills 160, injures 300 (France)

1942-Red Army occupies German airports at Tasjinskaja, Morozowsk

1946-U.S. Gen. MacNarney gives 800,000 "minor nazis" amnesty

1948-Greek government disbands due to state of war, press censorship

1951-First televised opera (Amahl and the Night Visitor)

1954-Laos gains independence

1963-Greek and Turks riot in Cyprus

1973-Ferryboat capsized off coast of Ecuador, drowning 200