1949 facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	19th century – 20th century – 21st century
Decades:	1910s 1920s 1930s – 1940s – 1950s 1960s 1970s
Years:	1946 1947 1948 – 1949 – 1950 1951 1952

1949 was a very important year, full of big changes around the world. It was a common year starting on Saturday in the Gregorian calendar. Many events happened that shaped the future, from new countries being formed to famous people being born.

Events of 1949
- Key Global Changes
- Interesting Moments
Famous People Born in 1949
Notable People Who Passed Away
Popular Movies of 1949
Important Books Published
Images for kids
See also

Events of 1949

Key Global Changes

January 20 – The President of the United States, Harry S. Truman, suggested the Point Four Program. This plan aimed to help poorer countries around the world develop and grow.
April 4 – Twelve countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty. This created the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), a military alliance where members agree to protect each other if attacked.
May 11 – The country once known as Siam officially changed its name to Thailand.
September 21 – After World War II, a new country called the German Federal Republic, also known as West Germany, was officially created.
October 1 – In China, Mao Zedong announced the start of the People's Republic of China. This was a major change in the country's history.
October 7 – Another new country, the German Democratic Republic, often called East Germany, was formed. This meant Germany was split into two parts for many years.
December 27 – The Netherlands officially recognized Indonesia as an independent country. This was a big step for Indonesia's freedom.

Interesting Moments

February 22 – A very large cow named Grady, weighing 1,200 pounds, got stuck inside a silo on a farm in Yukon, Oklahoma. This unusual event caught the attention of news reporters all over the country!

Famous People Born in 1949

Many well-known people were born in 1949, who would later become famous in movies, music, sports, and politics.

January 12 – Haruki Murakami, a famous Japanese writer.
February 22 – Niki Lauda, an Austrian racecar driver who became a Formula One champion.
February 24 – John Belushi, a popular American actor and comedian.
April 20 – Jessica Lange, an American actress known for many great films.
May 9 – Billy Joel, a very famous American singer and songwriter.
June 20 – Lionel Richie, an American singer and musician.
June 22 – Meryl Streep, one of the most respected American actresses of all time.
August 31 – Richard Gere, a well-known American actor.
September 23 – Bruce Springsteen, an iconic American singer and musician.
October 8 – Sigourney Weaver, an American actress famous for her roles in science fiction movies.
October 21 – Benjamin Netanyahu, an important Israeli politician.
December 25 – Sissy Spacek, an American actress.

Notable People Who Passed Away

In 1949, the world also said goodbye to some important figures.

January 6 – Victor Fleming, an American director who made classic movies like The Wizard of Oz.
March 30 – Friedrich Bergius, a German chemist who won a Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
May 6 – Maurice Maeterlinck, a Belgian writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
September 8 – Richard Strauss, a famous German composer.
October 27 – Marcel Cerdan, a French boxer, and Ginette Neveu, a French violinist, both sadly died in a plane crash.
December 6 – Lead Belly, a legendary American musician.

Popular Movies of 1949

Many great movies were released in 1949 that are still enjoyed today.

Adam's Rib
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Samson and Delilah
The Third Man

Important Books Published

1949 was also a big year for books, with some very famous titles being published.

The Aleph by Jorge Luis Borges
Crooked House by Agatha Christie
The Egyptian by Mika Waltari
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell – This book became incredibly famous for its ideas about a future society.
The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir
Shane by Jack Schaefer
The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute