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On April 6, 1199, Richard Coeur de Lion died. On April 6, 1580, an earthquake destroyed part of London. George Washington was elected first President of the U.S. on April 6, 1789, and on April 6, 1909, Admiral Peary reached the North Pole. On April 6, 1917, the U.S. declared war on Germany.

On April 6, 1941, Germany launched what may well prove to be the decisive campaign of World War II (see p. 25). Germany had tipped off the world on the date a month in advance (TIME, March 17). But the...

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