WHAT ALL HAPPENED JANUARY TO JUNE 1956
Find out what all happened January to June 1956

A Venezuelan Super-Constellation crashes in the Atlantic Ocean off Asbury Park, New Jersey, killing 74 people. (20. June 1956)

Start of Gal Oya riots, the first reported ethnic riots that target minority Sri Lankan Tamils in the Eastern Province. The total number of deaths is reportedly 150. (11. June 1956)

Formation of the East German Nationale Volksarmee (1. March 1956)

In his speech On the Personality Cult and its Consequences, Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Soviet Union denounces the cult of personality of Joseph Stalin. (25. February 1956)

Tunisia gains independence from France. (20. March 1956)

Pakistan becomes the first Islamic republic in the world. (Republic Day in Pakistan) (23. March 1956)

President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt vows to reconquer Palestine. (16. January 1956)

The first Eurovision Song Contest is held in Lugano, Switzerland. (24. May 1956)

The United States Merchant Marine Academy becomes a permanent Service Academy. (20. February 1956)

In Chicago, Illinois, videotape is first demonstrated. (14. April 1956)

Former Vice President and Senator Alben Barkley dies during a speech in Virginia. He collapses after proclaiming "I would rather be a servant in the house of the lord than sit in the seats of the mighty." (30. April 1956)

SS Ideal X, the world's first successful container ship, leaves Port Newark, New Jersey for Houston, Texas. (26. April 1956)

The XX Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union begins in Moscow. On the last night of the meeting, Premier Nikita Khrushchev condemns Joseph Stalin's crimes in a secret speech. (14. February 1956)

Sudan achieves independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom. (1. January 1956)

In Sri Lanka, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna win the general elections in a landslide and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike is sworn in as the Prime Minister. (5. April 1956)

First ascent of Lhotse 8,516 meters, by a Swiss team. (18. May 1956)

As the World Turns and The Edge of Night premiere on CBS-TV. The two soaps become the first daytime dramas to debut in the 30-minute format. (2. April 1956)

A TWA Super Constellation and a United Airlines DC-7 collide above the Grand Canyon in Arizona and crash, killing all 128 on board both planes. It is the worst-ever aviation disaster at that point in time. (30. June 1956)

My Fair Lady receives its premiere performance on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. (15. March 1956)

In Poznań, workers from HCP factory went to the streets, sparking one of the first major protests against communist government both in Poland and Europe. (28. June 1956)