December 17-23, 2017 (week 51) infographic
Graphics show birthdays and anniversaries on each day for the week.
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ON THIS DAY

On this day in history December 17-23

By Fiona Roberts

December 17, 2017 - December 23, 2017 - Graphics show birthdays and anniversaries on each day for the week.This week features South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, violin-maker Stradivari, the Christmas market truck attack in Berlin, the Grim folk tales, Jane Fonda, the library of Alexandria and the Soviet aircraft designer, Andrei Tupolev.

December 17, 1997: Thabo Mbeki succeeded Nelson Mandela as president of the African National Congress. He went on to succeed Mandela as president of South Africa in 1999

December 18, 1737: Italian violin-maker Antonio Stradivari died. His surviving violins, noted for their astonishing sound quality, are still recognised as the world’s best

December 19, 2016: A stolen truck was rammed into a Christmas market in Berlin, Germany, killing 12 people and injuring 56. The attacker was shot dead in Milan four days later

December 20, 1812: Brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their first book of classic German folk tales, including Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White

December 21, 1937: Jane Fonda, Oscar-winning U.S. film actress and one-time political activist, was born. Her best known films include Barbarella, Klute, and On Golden Pond

December 22, 640: The Saracen caliph Omar is said to have ordered the destruction of the famed Library of Alexandria following the Muslim conquest of Egypt

December 23, 1972: Andrei Tupolev, Soviet aircraft designer, died. He designed both military and commercial aircraft and Russian aircraft today still bear his name

Sources
PUBLISHED: 13/12/2017; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Newscom, Getty, Associated Press
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