Reign of Terror begins in French Revolution

On April 6, 1793, the Committee of Public Safety took power as the executive agency of France during the French Revolution, starting the Reign of Terror. During this period, the Committee sought to eliminate “enemies of the Revolution” by summary trials of noblemen, clergy, merchants, and peasants alike. The Reign of Terror ended with the overthrow the Committee’s last and most prominent member, Maximilien Robespierre. By this time, 20,000 to 40,000 Frenchmen and women had been executed by guillotine.

Learn more about the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US signed peace treaty with Germany ending World War I

On August 25, 1921, the United States, which never ratified the Versailles Treaty ending World War I, finally signed its own peace treaties with Germany, Austria and Hungary.

Former East Germany leader convicted of manslaughter for Berlin Wall policy

On August 25, 1997, Egon Krenz, the former of East Germany was convicted of manslaughter for promulgating a policy of shooting any East Germans who attempted to cross the Berlin Wall. Krenz was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison, of which he served four before being released into retirement from political life.