December 11 is the 345th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 20 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about December 11th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about December 11th in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- International Mountain Day
- National Noodle Ring Day
- Gingerbread Decorating Day
- International Shareware Day
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – December 11
2008: Bernard Madoff arrested
Popularly known as Bernie Madoff, the founder and chairman of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, was arrested and subsequently convicted of fraud. The Ponzi scheme he was involved in was the biggest such fraud in the history of the United States.
1997: Kyoto Protocol adopted
The Protocol is a part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, an international treaty that calls for the restriction of greenhouse gasses by the signatories. The United States signed the treaty but did not ratify it.
1946: UNICEF established
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, a U.N. affiliate organization that works for the welfare of children around the world, was founded on this day.
1941: U.S. declares war on Germany and Italy
The U.S. responded to Italy and Germany’s declaration of war, by declaring war on the two countries.
1936: King Edward VIII abdicates from the British throne
King Edward VIII abdicated from the British throne to marry American Wallis Warfield Simpson.
1941: Adolf Hitler declaring war on America, December 11, 1941.

Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, December 11
1973: Mos Def, American rapper, actor
1969: Viswanathan AnandIndian chess player
1967: Mo’Nique, American comedian, actress
1943: John Kerry, American politician, 68th United States Secretary of State
1725: George Mason, American politician
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, December 11
2012: Ravi Shankar, Indian/American sitar player, composer
2008: Bettie Page, American model, actress
1997: Eddie Chapman, English spy
1959: Jim Bottomley, American baseball player, sportscaster
1918: Ivan Cankar, Slovenian poet, playwright