The 1948 Ashgabat earthquake occurred in Turkmenistan near Ashgabat. Due to Soviet government censorship the event was not widely reported, and estimates of casualties vary from 10,000 to as many as 110,000.
The UN Security Council voted 9-2 to place the question of the Berlin Blockade on its agenda, over the protests of the Soviet and Ukrainian delegates who declared they would not participate in any discussions on the matter.[6]
At a Conservative Party conference in Llandudno, Wales, Winston Churchill urged the United States not to destroy its reserve of nuclear weapons. "The Western nations will be far more likely to reach a lasting settlement without bloodshed if they formulate their just demands while they have the atomic power and before the Russian Communists have got it too," Churchill said.[11]
The New York Yankees announced that Casey Stengel would succeed Bucky Harris as manager of the team for 1949. The announcement came as a shock to many, as Stengel did not have a very distinguished managerial record and had a reputation as something of a clown.[13]
The West German Constituent Assembly meeting in Bonn decided that the new west German state would be named the Federal Republic of Germany.[16]
The drama film Johnny Belinda starring Jane Wyman (in an Oscar-winning role), Lew Ayres and Charles Bickford had its official world premiere at the Warner Hollywood Theatre in Los Angeles. To promote the film, a poll had been conducted of the nation's movie editors to name the actresses who had given the greatest film performances of all time, who would be invited as guests of honor. Of the 42 actresses named, Bette Davis topped the poll with one vote more than Greta Garbo.[17][18]
Born:Renato Corona, 23rd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, in Manila, Philippines (d. 2016); Chris de Burgh, British-Irish singer and songwriter, in Venado Tuerto, Argentina
Died:Edythe Chapman, 85, American stage and silent film actress
Soviet authorities in Germany began arming a new German police force and imposed new traffic restrictions to prevent the smuggling of food and other rationed goods into West Berlin.[23]
By a vote of 39-6, the Soviet proposal to outlaw the atomic bomb and create an international control agency was soundly defeated in the Political committee of the UN General Assembly.[24]
The Soviet Union announced a massive fifteen-year land reclamation project covering almost 300 million acres of land in western Russia and Siberia.[29]
Pope Pius XII promulgated In multiplicibus curis, an encyclical expressing concern at the danger of destruction of holy sites during the Arab-Israeli War.
Foreign ministers of western Europe meeting in Paris announced plans to form a North Atlantic defensive alliance together with the United States and Canada.[32]
1948 Donora smog: in one of the worst air pollution events in US history, a fog began building up in the mill town of Donora, Pennsylvania that would kill 20 people and sicken 7,000 over the next few days.
The High Command Trial ended in Nuremberg. Of the original fourteen defendants, two were acquitted of charges and Johannes Blaskowitz had committed suicide during the trial; the remaining defendants were given prison sentences ranging from three years to life.
Non-Communist French coal miners resumed work after accepting a 15% pay raise and increased family benefits. Members of the Communist-led General Confederation of Labour remained on strike.[38]
Operation Hiram ended with Israeli forces claiming to have complete control of Galilee after a total rout of Fawzi al-Qawuqji's forces in the 250-square mile bulge there.[41]
The Hula massacre took place in the village of Hula, Lebanon when Israeli soldiers executed between 35 and 58 men.
Died:Mary Nolan, 45, American actress, singer and dancer (drug overdose)
