1918 Facts for Kids

1918 was a year that started on a Tuesday in the Gregorian calendar. It was a time of big changes around the world. Many important events happened, and many famous people were born or passed away.

Important People Born in 1918
Important People Who Died in 1918
- Famous Thinkers and Artists
- Historical Figures
Major Events of 1918
Images for kids
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Important People Born in 1918

Many people who would become famous were born in 1918. Here are some of them:

Leaders and Politicians

January 15 – Gamal Abdel Nasser: He became the second President of Egypt.
February 26 – Otis R. Bowen: An American politician who was the Governor of Indiana.
July 18 – Nelson Mandela: A very important South African leader. He spent many years in prison for fighting for equal rights. Later, he became the president of South Africa.
November 9 – Spiro Agnew: He served as the 39th Vice President of the United States.
December 21 – Kurt Waldheim: He was the President of Austria and also the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
December 23 – Helmut Schmidt: He was the Chancellor of Germany for many years.

Artists and Writers

July 4 – Ann Landers: A well-known American writer who gave advice in newspapers.
July 14 – Ingmar Bergman: A famous Swedish movie director.
August 25 – Leonard Bernstein: An American composer and conductor who created many famous musical works.
October 17 – Rita Hayworth: A popular American actress.
November 29 – Madeleine L'Engle: An American writer, famous for her children's books like A Wrinkle in Time.
November 30 - Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.: An American actor.

Other Notable People

February 22 – Robert Wadlow: An American record holder. He was known as the world's tallest man.
March 29 – Sam Walton: An American businessman who founded Walmart.
April 8 – Betty Ford: The First Lady of the United States, married to Gerald Ford.
November 7 – Billy Graham: A well-known American religious leader.

Important People Who Died in 1918

Sadly, some important people passed away in 1918.

Famous Thinkers and Artists

January 6 – Georg Cantor: A German mathematician.
January 9 – Émile Reynaud: A French teacher who made some of the very first animated movies.
February 6 – Gustav Klimt: A famous Austrian painter.
March 25 – Claude Debussy: A French composer known for his beautiful music.
April 20 – Karl Ferdinand Braun: A German physicist who won a Nobel Prize.

Historical Figures

April 21 – Manfred von Richthofen: Known as the "Red Baron," he was a famous German pilot during World War I.
July 17 – Tsar Nicholas II of Russia: The last emperor of Russia, who died with his family.
September 12 – George Reid: He was the fourth Prime Minister of Australia.
November 4 – Wilfred Owen: An English poet who wrote about his experiences in World War I.

Major Events of 1918

The year 1918 was a time of huge changes around the world.

End of World War I

November 11 – The Armistice was signed. This agreement officially ended World War I, bringing peace after years of fighting.

Political Changes Around the World

The German Empire came to an end.
The large empire of Austria-Hungary also ended.
The German colonial Empire finished.
The Royal Air Force was founded in the United Kingdom.
February 16: Lithuania declared its independence.
February 23: Estonia also declared its independence.

The Great Influenza Pandemic

The Influenza pandemic of 1918 was a very serious global illness. It started in the United States and quickly spread around the world.
This flu caused many deaths, affecting millions of people worldwide. It also had a big impact on the economy in many countries.