On This Day in History – June 30

by hpmom June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

1908 – The Tunguska event occurs in Siberia, where a massive explosion—likely caused by a meteoroid—levels over 800 square miles of forest.
1934 – Adolf Hitler carries out the “Night of the Long Knives,” purging his political rivals within the Nazi Party.
1953 – The first Chevrolet Corvette rolls off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan, launching an American automotive icon.
1960 – The Democratic Republic of the Congo gains independence from Belgium after decades of colonial rule.
1971 – The crew of Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 11 is found dead upon re-entry—the only known humans to have died in space.
1997 – The United Kingdom hands sovereignty over Hong Kong back to China, ending more than 150 years of British rule.
2013 – Croatia becomes the 28th member state of the European Union.

Lena Horne (1917–2010), American singer, actress, and civil rights activist known for her pioneering roles in Hollywood.
Mike Tyson (born 1966), American heavyweight boxing champion and one of the most famous figures in sports history.
Michael Phelps (born 1985), American swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time.
Cheryl Cole (born 1983), English singer and television personality, formerly of the girl group Girls Aloud.
Fantasia Barrino (born 1984), American singer and American Idol season 3 winner.
Alfonso Cuarón (born 1961), Mexican filmmaker and Academy Award-winning director of Gravity and Roma.

Czesław Miłosz (1911–2004), Polish poet, Nobel Prize laureate in Literature.
Antonio Gaudí (1852–1926), Spanish architect best known for designing the Sagrada Família in Barcelona.
Buddy Hackett (1924–2003), American comedian and actor known for his work in film and on stage.

Independence Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo) – Celebrates independence from Belgium in 1960.
Navy Day (Ukraine) – Honors the service and dedication of Ukraine’s naval forces.
Meteor Day (International) – Observed by sky-watchers and astronomy enthusiasts in memory of the Tunguska event.

The Tunguska explosion in 1908 was so powerful that it flattened 80 million trees and is estimated to have released energy equivalent to 10–15 megatons of TNT.
Mike Tyson, born on this day, became the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history at age 20.
The Soyuz 11 tragedy is the only instance where humans have died outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Corvette, introduced in 1953, has become one of the longest-running sports car nameplates in history.
Hong Kong’s 1997 handover ceremony was watched live by millions and symbolized a major geopolitical shift in East Asia.