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October 21, 1956

Revisit the news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from October 21, 1956

WITHDRAWAL ON; Peril of Moscow Coup Appears Waning, but Debate Continues Move From the East Khrushchev's Demands POLES REPORTED BARRING TROOPS Debate Resumes Today Gomulka Goes to Airport

By Sydney Gruson Special To the New York Times

USSR troops reptd withdrawing from Sochaczew and Siedlce near Warsaw; Polish forces reptdly fired on USSR troops attempting to enter Stettin from E Ger; troops at Siedlce believed to have entered Poland from USSR; Polish officials relieved; danger of USSR coup seen ended; some casualties reptd in Stettin skirmish, most serious of 3 reptd clashes; Defense Min says troop movements, reptd under way for 2 days, are routine shifts to aid potato harvest; map; Central Com to continue debate; 80 speakers listed; majority seen backing Gomulka against USSR; he goes to airport for departure of Khrushchev and others; Russians reptdly demanded retention of Rokossovsky in Politburo, end to anti-USSR agitation and halt to 'democratization'; USSR mil men do not return to Moscow; their identities uncertain; Zhukov's presence doubted; Warsaw seen deceptively quiet; security police under Gomulka's friend Gen Komar reptd mobilized for 2 wks after rept that regular Army under Rokossovsky had been alerted: Central Com member Zawadzki reptdly proposed Rokossovsky for Politburo after Russians had agreed to his elimination; Yugoslavs stung by USSR intervention; had cheered independence moves and expected easy success; see Molotov and Kaganovich role in Warsaw talks as sign 'old guard' Stalinists regain power in USSR; other speculation

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Notable Births

Carrie Fisher

1956Carrie Fisher, American actress and screenwriter (died 2016)[†]

Carrie Frances Fisher was an American actress and writer. She played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars films (1977–1983) and reprised the role in The Force Awakens (2015), The Last Jedi (2017)β€”a posthumous release that was dedicated to herβ€”and The Rise of Skywalker (2019), the latter using unreleased footage from The Force Awakens. Her other film credits include Shampoo (1975), The Blues Brothers (1980), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), The 'Burbs (1989), When Harry Met Sally... (1989), Soapdish (1991), and The Women (2008). She was nominated twice for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performances in the NBC sitcom 30 Rock (2007) and the Channel 4 series Catastrophe (2017).

1956Mike Tully, American pole vaulter[†]

Michael Scott Tully is an American pole vaulter. He represented the United States twice in the Olympics, earning a silver in 1984, and held the American pole vault record from 1984 to 1985.

Historical Events

Mau Mau rebellion

1956The Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya is defeated.[†]

The Mau Mau rebellion (1952–1960), also known as the Mau Mau uprising, Mau Mau revolt, or Kenya Emergency, was a war in the British Kenya Colony (1920–1963) between the Kenya Land and Freedom Army (KLFA), also known as the Mau Mau, and the British authorities. Dominated by Kikuyu, Meru and Embu fighters, the KLFA also comprised units of Kamba and Maasai who fought against the European colonists in Kenya β€” the British Army, and the local Kenya Regiment.

Historical Context for October 21, 1956

In 1956, the world population was approximately 2,795,409,994 people[†]