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1939 - Slovakia and Ruthenice declare their independence from the Czech government in Prague.

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1940 - 27 killed, 15 injured when truck full of migrant workers collides with a train outside McAllen, Texas, USA.

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1940 - Birth of Eleanor Bron in Stanmore, Middlesex, England; actress (Women in Love, Bedazzled).

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1941 - Birth of Wolfgang Petersen in Emden, Germany; actor (Shattered, Enemy Mine).

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1941 - German occupiers of Holland forbid Jewish-owned companies.

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1942 - Birth of Jerry Jeff Walker in Oneonta, New York, USA; country singer ("Mr Bojangles").

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1942 - Birth of John Whittaker; English real estate developer (Peel Holdings).

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1942 - Birth of Rita Tushingham in Liverpool, England; actress (Green Eyes, Doctor Zhivago).

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1942 - John Bumstead and Orvan Hess become the first in the world to successfully treat a patient using penicillin.

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1943 - Birth of Jim Pons in Santa Monica, California, USA; bassist (Turtles - "Happy Together").

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