12/20/12

This day in history December 16

1901 - The famous story, "Peter Rabbit", by Beatrix Potter, was printed for the first time, complete with Potter’s watercolor illustrations.

1944 - The Battle of the Bulge, the final major German counteroffensive of World War II, began. Initially, the Nazi commanders were able to thrust deep into Allied territory in North and East Belgium, a 75-mile front, choosing a time when foggy, rainy weather prevailed. The Allies were taken by surprise, but recovered and repulsed the Nazi offensive by January 1945.

1972 - The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to go unbeaten and untied in a 14-game regular season.

1999 - Days of torrential rains and mudslides in Caracas and surrounding states in Venezuela left tens of thousands of people dead, missing or homeless (150,000 were forced to flee).