On the 3rd of September 1928 Sir Alexander Fleming, while researching the influenza virus, accidentally discovers penicillin.His results are nearly forgotten, but during the Second World War, a British research team further develops the invention.The aim of the Oxford group is to develop Fleming’s idea for use as a medicine. The”panacea” saves the lives of thousands of soldiers fighting on the front.
Sir Alex Fleming died 56 years ago, on the 11th of March 1955.

After 27 years of captivity Nelson Mandela is released.
Elections in South Africa: a historic event.A first in the life of the country, a black politician winning the highest office.An overall success. For Nelson Mandela, this means a final victory after a long, bumpy road. Only a few years ago he was the number one public enemy of white-dominated South Africa. He spent 27 years in prison, because of the apartheid state government.
In the late 80’s there are demonstrators around the world for him: "Free Mandela" is the cry.
Finally, he is released on the 11th of Febuary 1990. And in '94 he is already the new President of South Africa who suffered so much for his cause.
Nelson Mandela: The first black president of South Africa

1925 – Chaplin the poor English immigrant with his silent movie "Gold Rush" , became a world star. Though dealing with charges of pedophilia and communism, he created significant work in the history of film, such as "The Great Dictator", which held a curved mirror in front of Hitler and Nazism. On the 5th of February 1936 his film Modern Times was first presented and it was not completely silent. Its distinctive character, the Tramp, did not say a word, but burst into song.

The day, January 27th, was declared as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day by the UN General Assembly in 2005. In 1945, this was the day when the largest and most notorious Nazi death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, was liberated. During the second World War 1.3 million people lost their lives here.
On the 27th of January, the world remembers the 6 million Jewish victims and the millions of other victims of the Nazi genocide.
 

On the 16th of January 1920 the United States banned the consumption of alcohol. This of course only made alcohol more attractive as the outlawed nectar. Paradoxically criminals benefited most from prohibition, because ultimately the booming smuggling involved the birth of the Mafia. The uncrowned king of Chicago's underworld was Al Capone. In 1933, the law, ultimately ineffective, was rescinded.