German Unity Day commemorates the reunification of East and West Germany, which had been divided from World War II until 1990.  The Berlin Wall, which physically separated East and West Germany, came down on Nov. 9, 1989, but the Treaty of Unification was not signed by both sides until the following year.

1872 – Bloomingdale’s Opens

Brothers Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale opened their first store on 3 rd Ave. in New York City.  When business began picking up, Bloomingdale’s moved to its current New York flagship location at 59 th St. and Lexington Ave.

1932 – Iraq Independence

Iraq gained full independence from the United Kingdom in 1932.  A monarchy government remained in place until it was overthrown in 1958.

1952 – UK Tests an A-Bomb

The United Kingdom became the world’s third nuclear power, joining the United States and the Soviet Union.  The U.K. successfully tested an atomic bomb on the Monte Bello Islands, off the coast of Australia.

1985 – NASA Shuttle Atlantis’ Maiden Flight

On its first mission, the space shuttle Atlantis carried two military communications satellites for the United States Department of Defense. In July 2011, the Atlantis shuttle was used for the final mission of the American Space Shuttle program.

1995 – O.J. Simpson Acquitted

Former football star O.J. Simpson was found not guilty in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

2008 – Emergency Economic Stabilization Plan

Less than two hours after the House passed it, President Bush signed the emergency economic stabilization plan.

Famous Birthdays

1900 – Thomas Wolfe

1919 – James M. Buchanan

1941 – Chubby Checker

1954 – Al Sharpton

1964 – Clive Owen

1969 – Gwen Stefani

1973 – Neve Campbell

1975 – India.Arie

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