1944 - Data Points by Date/Period

Lafleche is a small town in southwest Saskatchewan, Canada, located in the Rural Municipality of Wood River No. 74, at the intersection of Highway 13 and Highway 58. Situated on the south bank of Lafleche Creek, a tributary of the Wood River, it lies 20 km south of Gravelbourg and 45 km west of Assiniboia. The community's origins trace back to 1905 when settlers formed the village of Buffalo Head, which later changed its name to Lafleche in honor of Louis-François Richer Laflèche.In 1910, a school district was established, and a school was built on land owned by Mr. Belisle. By March 1912, a hamlet had developed on land owned by F. X. Brunelle, featuring a bank, two stores, and blacksmith shops. The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1913 prompted rapid growth, leading to the relocation of the hamlet's houses to the new site, which quickly transformed into a village with spacious streets and avenues.By 1913, businesses such as Square Deal Store, Palace Livery, and Lafleche Meat Market had emerged, prompting the village's incorporation the same year. In December 1913, telegraph service began, and by 1914, the village had expanded to twelve blocks. The following years saw the opening of various businesses, including a jewelry store and multiple lumber yards.Despite facing challenges in the 1920s, including a notorious bank robbery in 1922, Lafleche continued to grow. The community saw the establishment of public amenities, such as sidewalks, electric lights, and a fire brigade. The 1930s brought hardships, but residents launched the first rural community credit union in Saskatchewan in 1938 to address financial needs.Lafleche persevered through the war years and established essential services, including a hospital in 1944. By 1953, it had officially become a town, and infrastructure improvements continued with the installation of water and sewer services in the 1950s.Significant milestones include the construction of a curling rink in 1961, the opening of the Wood River Centennial Home for seniors in 1967, and the paving of streets in 1969. Lafleche celebrated its centennial in 2013. According to the 2021 Census, the town had a population of 373 residents living in 184 of its 201 total private dwellings, reflecting a slight decrease from 382 in 2016. With a land area of 1.43 km², the town had a population density of 260.8/km².

Rocanville, located in Saskatchewan, Canada, is notable for housing the world's largest oil can and the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan's Rocanville mine, which is undergoing a $1.6 billion expansion. The town also hosts the Symons Oiler factory, which produced over 1 million oil cans during World War II, leading to the creation of the giant oil can monument in its honor.In addition, Rocanville gained attention for crop circles discovered in the fall of 1996.Fort Espérance, an archaeological site in Rocanville with remains of late 18th- and early 19th-century fur trade forts, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1944. The Rocanville and District Museum Site, Rocanville Farmers Building, and Symons Metalworks are all recognized as Municipal Heritage Properties under Saskatchewan's Heritage Property Act.According to the 2021 Census of Population, Rocanville had a population of 889 residing in 398 of its 471 private dwellings, marking a 3% increase from 2016. The town covers an area of 2.36 km² (0.91 sq mi) and has a population density of 376.7/km² (975.6/sq mi).

Kamsack, Saskatchewan, Canada, is a town situated in the Assiniboine River Valley, where the Whitesand River converges with the Assiniboine River. Located 56 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Yorkton, Kamsack is at the intersection of Highway 8 and Highway 5. The town is also near two First Nations: Coté First Nation, 8 kilometers (5 miles) north, and Keeseekoose First Nation, 18 kilometers (11 miles) north, both accessible via Highway 8.The establishment of Kamsack began in 1904 when land was surrendered from Coté First Nation to accommodate the Canadian Northern Railway station and the town site. Additional land was allocated between 1905 and 1907, with some sections later returned to reserve status. In 1913, a two-mile strip of land on the southern boundary was also surrendered but was returned in 1915 when it was determined that the Coté people had lost too much of their prime agricultural land. Further land, surrendered in 1905, was reconstituted as reserve land in 1963. The interest in and surrender of land near the Kamsack town site was driven partly by speculation of its value for settlement.The surrounding area was first settled in the 1880s by agricultural pioneers, and by 1905, the farmland around Kamsack was well established. The early settlers were a diverse group, including Doukhobors, Ukrainians, Europeans, Americans, and Eastern Canadians, many of whose descendants remain in the area today.Kamsack’s growth was closely tied to the Canadian Northern Railway, which led to the construction of the Kamsack railway station in 1903 and essentially spurred the town’s development. The town’s name originated from an early post office located in one of the first settlers’ homes, derived from the Cree word *kamesak kîkway* (meaning 'large, something large'). In the early 1900s, the nearby Doukhobor village of Nadezhda, approximately 15 km northwest of Kamsack, hosted the annual general meetings of Saskatchewan's Doukhobor community. By 1910, these meetings moved to the village of Veregin, about 10 km west of Kamsack, where a permanent Doukhobor central office was established. Kamsack’s early growth was rapid. The first buildings were constructed in 1904 along the north side of the railway, including a general store, drug store, pool room, hotel, and post office. By the spring of 1905, the town’s first school was opened, and by 1911, Kamsack had a population of over 500, leading to its incorporation as a town. The town’s expansion continued, with property assessments reaching $1.2 million by 1913. In the summer of 1914, construction began on essential infrastructure, including waterworks, a sewage system, and an electric light plant. By 1921, Kamsack’s population had exceeded 2,000.Like many other communities, Kamsack faced challenges during the Great Depression, with its population dropping to 1,800. However, the town weathered the downturn better than many others. In the summer of 1944, Kamsack was struck by a tornado known as the 'Kamsack Cyclone,' which devastated 400 homes and 100 businesses, causing over $2 million in damage. The post-war period marked a significant building boom in the town's history, with veterans returning from World War II contributing to the rebuilding efforts.This period of growth included the expansion of business, public, and residential areas, with extended water and sewer systems, paved streets, and cement sidewalks. The boom continued until 1961, when Kamsack’s population reached 2,941. In the 1970s, the town’s business district continued to expand with the arrival of the Royal Bank, the construction of the 'Kamplex' (a dual-purpose hockey and curling rink), and the beginning of construction on a new hospital.According to the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Kamsack had a population of 1,779 living in 792 of its 903 total private dwellings, marking a 6.3% decrease from its 2016 population of 1,898. With a land area of 5.67 km² (2.19 sq mi), Kamsack had a population density of 313.8/km² (812.6/sq mi) in 2021.

The 'Eugeniu Coșeriu' Municipal Library in Bălți, funded through the municipal budget, serves as a public library providing informational resources, services, and facilities to the community. Holding the status of a territorial biblioeconomic center, it plays a vital role in the cultural landscape of the municipality.Established in 1880 as a Reading Room following a request by city residents, the library evolved over time. In 1913, it became the Public Reading Library under the patronage of the town and ZI Cernîševskaia. Notably, Ioan Pelivan significantly contributed to its development during his tenure as a judge in Bălți (1907-1914), expanding the collection with Romanian books.In the aftermath of World War II, the library was destroyed but reopened in 1944. Statistical data from January 1, 1945, indicates a collection of 5840 books and magazines, serving 552 readers with 2702 copies borrowed.Over the years, the library underwent relocations, eventually settling at 34 Pushkin Street in 1968. The library's services expanded, including the opening of a children's department in 1945, later transformed into the 'Ion Creangă' Children's Branch in 1947. As of its 125th anniversary in 2005, the library was named after the renowned Romanian linguist Eugeniu Coșeriu.

The Janis Rozentāls Art School (Jaņa Rozentāla Mākslas skola, JRMS), a Latvian institution, focuses on teaching academic arts encompassing drawing, painting, composition, graphics, and design. Initially established in 1895 by the Latvian Painters Society as a painter's school, it underwent several name changes over the years. It transformed into the Latvian Painters Crafts Promotion and Relief Society Vocational School in 1928, followed by iterations as the Riga Secondary School of Art in 1944, the Janis Rozentāls Art High School in 1946, and the Janis Rozentāls Art College in 1998. Subsequently, on March 18, 2002, it became the Janis Rozentāls Riga Art High School.

Yellowknife Airport, situated in the Northwest Territories of Canada, operates at an elevation of 675 feet / 206 meters above mean sea level. Its geographical coordinates are 62°27′47″N 114°26′25″W. This airport serves as part of the National Airports System and is managed by the Government of the Northwest Territories. It facilitates regular passenger and freight services, underwent a substantial terminal expansion in 2008, and is an airport of entry staffed by the Canada Border Services Agency, catering primarily to general aviation with a capacity of up to 15 passengers. The airport includes facilities for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and the Canadian NORAD Region Forward Operating Location, designed for military aircraft deployment during conflicts. Initially built by Canadian Pacific Airlines in 1944 and later acquired by the federal Department of Transport in 1946, the airport has seen various renovations and expansions in 1963, 1972, 1967, 1998, and 2005-2006. During the 2023 Canadian wildfires, Yellowknife Airport facilitated the evacuation of the city, with Air Canada offering additional flights before suspending services due to the fires.

The park in Taul is the largest dendrological park in the Republic of Moldova, covering 64 hectares. It features a diverse collection of trees and shrubs, making it the third largest and most valuable park in terms of floristic collection in Southeast Europe. The park was established between 1901 and 1904 by landscape architect Ipolit Vladislavski-Padalko, modeled after a park in Ukraine. Banker Andrei Pommer, its owner, chose the location due to its topography, with a valley surrounded by hills, creating a unique amphitheater effect. The park was planted with various species adapted to different conditions, preserving over 150 tree, shrub, and vine species. Over time, the park faced challenges including the demolition of parts of the Pommer mansion in 1944 and degradation of its floristic background. Despite being declared a nature reserve in 1956, the park currently requires urgent state intervention to restore the deteriorating architectural complex, replace roofs, and install protective fencing to prevent further deterioration. The park holds immense cultural value for the republic and includes a notable water basin in its landscape architecture.

Gornja Maoča, situated in northeastern Bosnia, falls within the territorial bounds of the Srebrenik municipality in Tuzla Canton, part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nestled in the Majevica mountain range, just south of the village of Maoča, its name translates to 'Upper Maoča.' Perched within the Majevica, a gentle low mountain range in northeastern Bosnia, Gornja Maoča is a mountainous village. Once known as Karavlasi (Serbian Cyrillic: Каравласи), the village witnessed a tragic event in 1944 when 25 individuals of Boyash heritage were killed in a massacre carried out by members of the 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian). Following the Bosnian War in the 1990s, Gornja Maoča became inhabited by both foreign and domestic Wahhabists, a significant portion of whom were Bosnian mujahideen (El Mudžahid) active during the conflict.The village gained considerable local and international attention due to allegations of extremist ties, potentially serving as a hideout and logistical base for terrorists. The situation reached its peak in the winter of 2010. During a visit in November 2009, FBI Director Robert Mueller expressed concerns about Wahhabis in Gornja Maoča to the security authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Subsequently, on February 2, 2010, a large-scale operation involving personnel from 11 law enforcement agencies led to a ten-hour raid on the village. The outcome included the arrest of 'seven people,' the confiscation of arms, ammunition, mobile phones, computers, and audiovisual material.Despite the magnitude of the operation and the media frenzy surrounding it, the results were perceived as underwhelming. As stated by U.S. diplomats familiar with the case and reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL):'Based on the stuff police are pulling out of there, the Salafis from Gornja Maoca do seem a bit like amateurs' However, following these developments around Gornja Maoča, the German government, which had been resistant to visa liberalization for Bosnia, indicated a willingness to escalate its assistance to the government and security agencies. This was in the hopes of receiving a positive report from the European Commission and subsequently securing a non-visa regime for Bosnia.

The University of Iași is the first modern university in Romania. It was founded in 1860 at the initiative of politician Mihail Kogălniceanu and of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, then named after the latter in 1942. This University Palace in Copou Quarter was opened by the royal family in 1897, then extended in the 1930s and rehabilitated after the bombing in 1944. The painting entitled 'Homage to the Founders' at the end of the 'Hall of Lost Steps' gallery, along with the statue of Mihail Kogălniceanu in front of the building, emphasize the role of local personalities in the birth of Romania in 1859. During the First World War, the Old Auditorium hosted the Romanian Senate, and other rooms were occupied by the War and Education Ministries, the Red Cross and the Scouts.The building was erected in eclectic French style in 1897, by the Swiss architect Louis Blanc. The Hall of Honour, called 'The Hall of Echoing Lost Steps', hosts the masterpiece of the painter Sabin Bălașa: 19 wall paintings depicting the history of the Romanian people, universal myths, Romanian legends, poet Eminescu's universe, and the ideals of socialism. In the left wing, 'The Galaxy of Love' (the largest mural of Romania, 50 square meters) dominates 'Mihai Eminescu' Magna Hall of 'Alexandru Ioan Curza' University. In the right wing, there are two masterpieces of the royal period: the Old Auditorium and the Library of 'Gh. Asachi' Technical University. The latter has been recently included in the 'Top 30 Most Majestic Libraries in the World'. Under the central staircase, there is 'Tafrali BookShop - Cafe' and the University souvenir shop.

The Stephen the Great Monument (Romanian: Monumentul lui Ștefan cel Mare) stands prominently in Chișinău, Moldova. Architect Alexandru Plămădeală designed the monument to Stephen the Great in 1923. Situated near the main entrance of Stephen the Great Park in Central Chișinău, it was completed in 1927 and unveiled on 29 April 1928. This monument replaced the Alexander II of Russia monument, which had been destroyed by Romanian authorities in 1918. The monument's creation cost 4,000,000 lei. Prior to the 1940 Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina, the monument was relocated to Vaslui, and its pedestal was destroyed. On August 25, 1942, the monument returned to Chișinău and was taken back to Romania in 1944. Soviet authorities ordered its restoration to Chișinău in 1945. On August 31, 1989, the Stephen the Great Monument was reinstated to its original location, as chosen by Alexandru Plămădeală in the 1920s. The initial inscriptions were reinstated. The monument's pedestal hosts regular flower-laying ceremonies during national holidays and official high-level visits.

1944 (38)

Other Dates/Periods

1619

24-04-2020

1906

1928

09-09-2023

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