Shortly after midnight on this day in 1961, East German soldiers begin laying
down barbed wire and bricks as a barrier between Soviet-controlled East
Berlin and the democratic western section of the city.

After World War II, defeated Germany was divided into Soviet, American,
British and French zones of occupation. The city of Berlin, though technically
part of the Soviet zone, was also split, with the Soviets taking the eastern part
of the city. After a massive Allied airlift in June 1948 foiled a Soviet attempt to blockade West Berlin, the eastern section was drawn even more tightly into
the Soviet fold. Over the next 12 years, cut off from its western counterpart
and basically reduced to a Soviet satellite, East Germany saw between 2.5
million and 3 million of its citizens head to West Germany in search of better opportunities. By 1961, some 1,000 East Germans—including many skilled
laborers, professionals and intellectuals—were leaving every day.

CAMILLE

BOHANNON

Tony Bennett (Anthony Dominick Benedetto) is 94 years old today.

Pop singer Tony Bennett is known for his renditions of show tunes, jazz,
and popular songs like “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” and “Rags to
Riches.”

Before Fame

He dropped out of school to work as a copy boy in order to help support
his family. He was a painting and music student at New York’s School of
Industrial Art. He founded the Frank Sinatra School of Arts.

One of the largest military conflicts in North American history began on July
1, 1863, when Union and Confederate forces collided at Gettysburg, PA. The 
epic battle lasted three days and resulted in a retreat to Virginia by General
Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.

Robert Edward Lee
(January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870)

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The Gettysburg Battlefield as it looks today on the rolling hills to the
west of town. 

TIM MAGUIRE

Comedy legend Mel Brooks (Melvyn Kaminsky) is 94 years old
today. He became one of the most successful film directors of 
the 1970s.

1974

Actor/Director Clint Eastwood (Clinton Eastwood Jr.) is 90
years old today.