February 15, 2025: Historical Events and Notable Birthdays
Historical Events:
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1925: Birth of Erik Schumann, German actor best known for his roles in "Lili Marleen" and "The Longing of Veronika Voss."
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1943: Birth of Elke Heidenreich, German literary critic, TV presenter, and author.
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1945: Nazi Reich Minister of Justice Franz Gürtner issues a decree establishing summary courts under the command of Adolf Hitler. These courts are responsible for numerous death sentences in the final weeks of the war.
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1950: Birth of Berthold Huber, German trade unionist and Chairman of the IG Metall from 2007-2013.
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1965: Canada adopts its own national flag, featuring a red maple leaf on a white-red background. It replaces the insignia of the former colonial power, Great Britain.
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1965: Death of Nat King Cole, American jazz pianist, and singer known for songs such as "Unforgettable" and "Mona Lisa."
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1995: Birth of Sara Däbritz, German footballer and Olympic gold medalist (2016) and European champion (2013) with the national team.
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2010: Two regional trains collide near Brussels, Belgium, killing 19 people. A train driver had overlooked a red stop signal.
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2015: The carnival parade in Braunschweig, Germany, is canceled two hours before its start due to threats of a possible terrorist attack.
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2020: France reports the first COVID-19 death in Europe. The deceased was an 80-year-old Chinese tourist from the heavily-affected Hubei province in central China.
Notable Birthdays:
Claude and Sigfrid
Claude and Sigfrid are a German musical clown duo consisting of Claude Peter Kremer and Sigfrid Dedler. They have been performing together since the 1980s, known for their slapstick comedy, juggling, and musical routines.
Sara Däbritz
Sara Däbritz is a German footballer who plays as a midfielder for VfL Wolfsburg and the German national team. She has won numerous titles with Wolfsburg, including the UEFA Women’s Champions League, and has helped Germany win the Olympic gold medal in 2016 and the European Championship in 2013.
Berthold Huber
Berthold Huber is a German trade unionist who served as Chairman of IG Metall, the largest trade union in Germany, from 2007 to 2013. Under his leadership, IG Metall played a crucial role in shaping labor policies and representing the interests of metalworkers in Germany.
Elke Heidenreich
Elke Heidenreich is a German literary critic, TV presenter, and author. She is known for her sharp wit and critical analysis of German literature. Her TV show, "Lesen!" ("Reading!"), aired on ZDF for over two decades and became a popular platform for literary discussions.
Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole was an American jazz pianist and singer. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest vocalists of all time, and his velvety smooth voice and intricate piano playing left a lasting mark on jazz music. His signature songs include "Unforgettable," "Mona Lisa," and "Nature Boy."
