April 29th Through History

Explanation: The right to vote for women in France had been granted by ordinance on April 21, 1944, by General de Gaulle. France was one of the last Western European countries to grant this right, while New Zealand had done so as early as 1893.

Explanation: The arrival of Joan of Arc in Orléans marked a turning point in the Hundred Years' War. She managed to lift the English siege as early as May 8, 1429, which earned her the nickname "Maid of Orléans". This victory revived the morale of French troops and allowed the coronation of Charles VII at Reims.

Explanation: The "Jamais contente", driven by Camille Jenatzy, was the first vehicle to exceed the 100 km/h mark, reaching precisely 105.882 km/h. This torpedo-shaped electric racer was covered in partinium, an aluminum alloy, and Jenatzy bore the nickname "Red Devil".

Explanation: Dachau, located in Bavaria, was the first Nazi concentration camp, opened in 1933. Its liberation by American soldiers of the 45th Infantry Division was marked by the discovery of conditions of extreme barbarity. The camp had served as a "model" for the organization of all other camps of the Nazi regime.

Explanation: Hitler married Eva Braun on the night of April 28-29, 1945, just hours before their joint suicide. Eva Braun had been Hitler's secret companion for more than ten years, deliberately kept out of public life. They both committed suicide on April 30, 1945.

Explanation: Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal de Richelieu, was one of the most influential ministers in the history of France. Nicknamed the "Red Eminence", he centralized royal power and weakened the great nobles and Protestants. He also founded the Académie française in 1635 and laid the foundations of French foreign policy in Europe.

Explanation: Duke Ellington, real name Edward Kennedy Ellington, was one of the greatest composers and jazz pianists of the 20th century. He led his own orchestra for more than fifty years and composed major works such as "Mood Indigo" and "It Don't Mean a Thing". He received many honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969.

Explanation: Cyclone Gorky was one of the deadliest natural disasters of the 20th century. Bangladesh, located in the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta, is particularly vulnerable to cyclones due to its very low and flat geography. This disaster accelerated international efforts to improve early warning systems in the region.

Explanation: Andre Agassi is one of the few players to have achieved the "Career Grand Slam", winning each of the four major tournaments at least once. He is also an Olympic gold medalist at Atlanta in 1996. After his retirement, he devoted himself to philanthropic works, notably for the education of underprivileged children in Las Vegas.

Explanation: The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force on April 29, 1997, is administered by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), based in The Hague. It prohibits the development, production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons. In 2013, the OPCW received the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in favor of chemical disarmament.