What Happened On This Day – January 27
1983 The first shaft of the world's longest tunnel is completed
The Seikan Tunnel, 53.85 km (33.46 mi) in length, connects the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido.
1967 3 astronauts die in a cabin fire while preparing for the Apollo 1 mission
The accident was a blow to NASA's Apollo manned lunar landing program.
1967 U.S., U.K. and Soviet Union sign the Outer Space Treaty
The treaty bans the deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space and limits the use of the Moon to peaceful purposes.
1945 Soviet forces liberate Auschwitz
The German Nazi regime murdered over 1.1 million people in the extermination camps near Oświęcim, Poland.
1944 Soviet forces liberate Leningrad
Die Siege of Leningrad had lasted 872 days and left over 1 million people dead.
Births On This Day – January 27
1974 Ole Einar Bjørndalen
Norwegian biathlete
1944 Mairead Maguire
Irish activist, Nobel Prize laureate
1859 Wilhelm II, German Emperor
1832 Lewis Carroll
English author
1756 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Austrian composer
Deaths On This Day – January 27
2014 Pete Seeger
American singer-songwriter, guitarist
2009 John Updike
American author, poet, critic
2008 Suharto
Indonesian soldier, politician, 2nd President of Indonesia
1983 Louis de Funès
French actor, comedian
1901 Giuseppe Verdi
Italian composer