On this day in history - January 27

What Happened On This Day – January 27

• 1983 The first shaft of the world's longest tunnel is completed

  The Seikan Tunnel, 53.85 km (33.46 mi) in length, connects the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido.

• 1967 U.S., U.K. and Soviet Union sign the Outer Space Treaty

  The treaty bans the deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space and limits the use of the Moon to peaceful purposes.

• 1967 3 astronauts die in a cabin fire while preparing for the Apollo 1 mission

  The accident was a blow to NASA's Apollo manned lunar landing program.

• 1945 Soviet forces liberate Auschwitz

  The German Nazi regime murdered over 1.1 million people in the extermination camps near Oświęcim, Poland.

• 1944 Soviet forces liberate Leningrad

  Die Siege of Leningrad had lasted 872 days and left over 1 million people dead.