Christian Dior presents his first influential collection

February 12th 1947.

French fashion designer Christian Dior presents his first influential collection, named “La Ligne Corolie”or the "New Look". The collection was a big success, changing the post-World War II fashion scene. Features like rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and a full A-line skirt were clearly revolutionary in the 40s.

The first instant camera is launched

February 21st 1947

Edwin Land unveiled his new invention, the first instant camera, to a gathering of scientists in New York City. It was called the Land Camera, or most commonly known as the Polaroid.

Start of the Cold War

12th March 1947

Following the end of the Second World War and the surrender of the Nazis in 1945, the uneasy alliance of the United States, the UK and USSR began to unravel. The Cold War had fully formed by 1947 when US aid was provided to western Europe. By 1948 the Soviets had installed governments in all the Eastern European states liberated by the Red Army.

Bing Crosby re-records 'A White Christmas'

March 19th 1947

In early 1947, Bing Crosby had to record a new version of "(I'm Dreaming of a) White Christmas" because the original master version of 1942 wore out, due to being constantly repressed to meet demand. This version soon replaced the original and became the standard we usually hear on the radio today.

The great candy bar protest

April 29th 1947

The great candy bar protest, also known as the 5 Cent Chocolate War, was a short-lived protest by 200 Canadian children marched at the capitol building in British Columbia, shutting down the government for a day, after the price of chocolate bars increased from 5 to 8 cents.

Anne Frank's diary published for the first time

June 25th 1947

The first ever version of Anne Frank's diary "Het Achterhuis" or ''The Back House'' was published in The Netherlands. The book made Anne one of the most-discussed Jewish victims of the Holocaust, where it documents her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944, during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II.

The Roswell UFO incident

July 7th 1947

The alleged and long disputed Roswell UFO incident occurred. The alleged crash happened in the desert just outside of Roswell, New Mexico. The 'flying saucer crash' was said to be a hoax which gained national notoriety after being promoted by journalist Frank Scully in his articles and a 1950 book, 'Behind the Flying Saucers'. 

The CIA is officially established

July 26th 1947

The CIA was officially established in 1947 when Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act into law. The creation of the agency was growing tensions with the USSR following the end of World War II.

India and Pakistan gain independence

August 14-15th 1947

India and Pakistan both gain independence from Great Britain. India achieved their long-sought independence when Britain partitioned the country into two seperate nations, India and Pakistan. India had previously been under British control since the 18th century, when the East India Company took control of the country.

State of Israel formed

November 29th 1947

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for Palestine to be partitioned between Arabs and Jews, allowing for the formation of the Jewish state of Israel. Since 1917, Palestine had been under the control of Britain, which supported the creation of a Jewish state in the holy land.

Norwegian Christmas tree is donated to London's Trafalgar Square

December 1st 1947

Norway gifted their first ever Christmas tree to Great Britain where it stood in London's Trafalgar Square. The tradition started when the Norwegian King Haakon VII sent a tree as a thank you gift to Britain, where he had escaped to after the Nazis invaded Norway. 

Steelpan music invented in Trinidad and Tobego

Steelpan music was invented as late as 1947, and debuted internationally in the 1951 Festival of Britain, by a purpose-formed Trinidad national orchestra. The Steel Drum was created in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1930s after the British banned African percussion music and traditional stick-fighting. As a result, Steel Drums were made from frying pans, dustbin lids, and, of course, oil drums due to the country's oil resources.