On this day in 1941, the Battle of Hong Kong ended, beginning the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong.
On this day in 1950, the Stone of Scone, traditional coronation stone of British monarchs, was taken from Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalist students. It later turned up in Scotland on April 11, 1951.
And on this day in 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as General Secretary of the Soviet Union. The union itself was dissolved the next day.