The Operation Big Bang, the largest non-nuclear man-made explosion to that time, destroys bunkers and military installations on the North Sea island of Heligoland, Germany. Date: April 18, 1947 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events on this day in 1947 📅 On This Day (Today)

The Republic of Ireland Act comes into force, declaring Éire to be a republic and severing Ireland's "association" with the Commonwealth of Nations. Date: April 18, 1949 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events on this day in 1949 📅 On This Day (Today)

Gamal Abdel Nasser seizes power in Egypt. Date: April 18, 1954 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events on this day in 1954 📅 On This Day (Today)

Twenty-nine nations meet at Bandung, Indonesia, for the first Asian-African Conference. Date: April 18, 1955 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events on this day in 1955 📅 On This Day (Today)

East African Airways Flight 720 crashes during a rejected takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing 43. Date: April 18, 1972 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events on this day in 1972 📅 On This Day (Today)

The town of Elmore City, Oklahoma holds its first dance in the town's history. Date: April 18, 1980 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events on this day in 1980 📅 On This Day (Today)

The Republic of Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) comes into being, with Canaan Banana as the country's first President. The Zimbabwean dollar replaces the Rhodesian dollar as the official currency. Date: April 18, 1980 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events on this day in 1980 📅 On This Day (Today)

In Israel John Demjanjuk is sentenced to death for war crimes committed in World War II, although the verdict is later overturned. Date: April 18, 1988 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events on this day in 1988 📅 On This Day (Today)

The United States launches Operation Praying Mantis against Iranian naval forces in the largest naval battle since World War II. Date: April 18, 1988 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events on this day in 1988 📅 On This Day (Today)

The Israeli military commits the Qana massacre in a deliberate shelling of a United Nations compound near the village of Qana in southern Lebanon, killing 106 Lebanese civilians who were taking shelter there and wounding over 100 more. Date: April 18, 1996 Read more on Wikipedia → 📅 Other events on April 18 📅 Events…