July 14: From floods and attacks to the birth of "Billy the Kid"

July 14 is marked by significant historical events, including the devastating floods that struck western Germany in 2021, causing over 180 deaths and widespread destruction. In 2016, a truck attack in Nice, France, on Bastille Day killed 86 people and injured 200, with the Islamic State later claiming responsibility. The year 1881 saw the death of the notorious outlaw William F. Bonney, known as "Billy the Kid," at the age of 21.

Other historical entries for July 14 include the first official German telephone directory published in Berlin in 1881, listing only 99 users. In 2006, German Chancellor Angela Merkel convened the first integration summit to discuss challenges faced by immigrants.

Birthdays celebrated on this date include Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (49), the eldest daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. German politician Manfred Weber, chairman of the European People's Party group in the European Parliament, turns 54. Also noted is journalist and broadcaster Patricia Schlesinger, former director of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), who would be 65. American film actor Harry Dean Stanton, known for "Paris, Texas" and "Pretty in Pink," was born in 1926.

Notable deaths on July 14 include German media entrepreneur Leo Kirch, founder of the KirchGruppe media conglomerate, who was born in 1926.