Today:
303 – Roman Emperor Diocletian issues orders that mark the beginning of the persecution of Christians in the empire.
1836 – The Battle of the Alamo begins in San Antonio, Texas, a pivotal event during the Texas Revolution.
1917 – Protests in Petrograd spark the events that lead to the February Revolution in Russia (as per the Julian calendar in use at the time).
1918 – Soviet Russia marks the formation of the Red Army, a date later celebrated as Defender of the Fatherland Day.
1940 – American actor Peter Fonda is born, who would later become an icon of counterculture cinema.
1943 – Intense fighting characterizes this day during the Battle of Kasserine Pass in North Africa.
1945 – The famous flag-raising on Iwo Jima is captured in a photograph that becomes one of the enduring images of World War II.
1997 – The 47th Berlin International Film Festival opens in Berlin, showcasing a diverse range of international films.
2017 – North Korea conducts a missile test, raising regional tensions and drawing widespread international attention.
2018 – At the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu delivers a record-breaking performance in the men’s short program.