December 4, 1959Peking pardons Puyi, ex-Emperor of China and of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. Aisingyoro Henry Puyi, the last emperor, Xuantong, is declared rehabilitated and released as citizen Puyi. He settles down as a gardener.

December 5, 1812Napoleon Bonaparte and his army return to France after losing the battle in Russia. The defeat is blamed on the very cold temperature in Russia. In the extremely cold weather, Napoleons soldier