| 1949-04-01
Chinese Civil War: The Communist Party of China holds unsuccessful peace talks with the Kuomintang in Beijing, after three years of fighting.
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| 1949-01-11
First recorded case of snowfall in Los Angeles, California.
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| 1949-02-14
The Knesset (Israeli parliament) convenes for the first time.
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| 1949-10-14
The Red Chinese Army occupies the city of Canton, in Guangzhou, China.
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| 1949-09-06
Allied military authorities relinquish control of former Nazi Germany assets back to German control.
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| 1949-03-25
The extensive deportation campaign known as March deportation is conducted in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to force collectivisation by way of terror. The Soviet authorities deport more than 92,000 people from the Baltics to remote areas of the Soviet Union.
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| 1949-02-14
The Asbestos Strike begins in Canada. The strike marks the beginning of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec.
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| 1949-06-24
The first Television Western, Hopalong Cassidy, is aired on NBC starring William Boyd.
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| 1949-04-23
Chinese Civil War: Establishment of the People's Liberation Army Navy.
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| 1949-05-04
The entire Torino football (soccer) team (except for one player who did not take the trip due to an injury) is killed in a plane crash at the Superga hill at the edge of Turin, Italy.
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| 1949-05-11
Siam officially changes its name to Thailand for the second time. The name had been in use since 1939 but was reverted in 1945.
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| 1949-01-20
Point Four Program a program for economic aid to poor countries announced by United States President Harry S. Truman in his inaugural address for a full term as President.
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| 1949-08-29
Soviet atomic bomb project: The Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb, known as First Lightning or Joe 1, at Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan.
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| 1949-01-01
United Nations cease-fire takes effect in Kashmir from one minute before midnight. War between India and Pakistan stops accordingly.
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| 1949-05-11
Israel joins the United Nations.
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| 1949-01-15
Chinese Civil War: The Chinese Communist Party forces take over Tianjin from the Nationalist Government.
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| 1949-08-10
U.S. President Harry S. Truman signs the National Security Act Amendment, streamlining the defense agencies of the United States government, and replacing the Department of War with the United States Department of Defense.
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| 1949-11-26
The Indian Constituent Assembly adopts India's constitution presented by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
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| 1949-08-08
Bhutan becomes independent.
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| 1949-07-01
The merger of two princely states of India, Cochin and Travancore, into the state of Thiru-Kochi (later re-organized as Kerala) in the Indian Union ends more than 1,000 years of princely rule by the Cochin Royal Family.
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| 1949-12-08
The capital of the Republic of China is moved from Nanjing to Taipei, Taiwan.
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| 1949-07-27
Initial flight of the de Havilland Comet, the first jet-powered airliner.
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| 1949-12-16
Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget, later knows as SAAB, is founded in Sweden.
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| 1949-01-25
At the Hollywood Athletic Club the first Emmy Awards are presented.
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| 1949-09-27
The first Plenary Session of the National People's Congress approves the design of the Flag of the People's Republic of China.
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| 1949-08-31
The retreat of the Greek Democratic Army in Albania after its defeat in mountain Grammos marks the end of the Greek Civil War.
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| 1949-10-16
The diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic are established.
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| 1949-04-01
The twenty-six counties of the Irish Free State become the Republic of Ireland.
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| 1949-04-01
The Canadian government repeals Japanese Canadian internment after seven years.
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| 1949-04-17
At midnight 26 Irish counties officially leave the British Commonwealth. A 21-gun salute on O'Connell Bridge, Dublin, ushers in the Republic of Ireland.
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| 1949-03-30
A riot breaks out in Austurvöllur square in Reykjavík, when Iceland joins NATO.
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| 1949-04-28
Former First Lady of the Philippines Aurora Quezon, 61, is assassinated while en route to dedicate a hospital in memory of her late husband; her daughter and 10 others are also killed.
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| 1949-01-17
The Goldbergs, the first sitcom on American television, first airs.
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| 1949-07-20
Israel and Syria sign a truce to end their nineteen-month war.
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| 1949-04-18
The aircraft carrier USS United States (CVA-58) is laid down at Newport News Drydock and Shipbuilding. However, the United States is canceled five days later, resulting in the Revolt of the Admirals.
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| 1949-10-16
Nikolaos Zachariadis, leader of the Communist Party of Greece, announces a "temporary cease-fire", effectively ending the Greek Civil War.
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| 1949-09-04
Maiden flight of the Bristol Brabazon.
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| 1949-04-05
A fire in a hospital in Effingham, Illinois, kills 77 people and leads to nationwide fire code improvements in the United States.
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| 1949-12-10
Chinese Civil War: The People's Liberation Army begins its siege of Chengdu, the last Kuomintang-held city in mainland China, forcing President of the Republic of China Chiang Kai-shek and his government to retreat to Taiwan.
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| 1949-09-29
The Communist Party of China writes the Common Programme for the future People's Republic of China.
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| 1949-07-21
The United States Senate ratifies the North Atlantic Treaty.
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| 1949-12-07
Chinese Civil War: The government of Republic of China moves from Nanking to Taipei.
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| 1949-01-02
Luis Muñoz Marín becomes the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico
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| 1949-12-27
Indonesian National Revolution: The Netherlands officially recognizes Indonesian independence.
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| 1949-01-19
Cuba recognizes Israel.
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| 1949-05-09
Rainier III of Monaco becomes Prince of Monaco.
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| 1949-10-07
German Democratic Republic (East Germany) formed.
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| 1949-11-15
Nathuram Godse and Narayan Apte are executed for assassinating Mahatma Gandhi.
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| 1949-10-14
Eleven leaders of the American Communist Party are convicted, after a nine-month trial in a Federal District Court, of conspiring to advocate the violent overthrow of the U.S. Federal Government.
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| 1949-09-30
The Berlin Airlift ends.
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| 1949-03-02
Captain James Gallagher lands his B-50 Superfortress Lucky Lady II in Fort Worth, Texas after completing the first non-stop around-the-world airplane flight in 94 hours and one minute.
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| 1949-10-01
The People's Republic of China is declared by Mao Zedong.
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| 1949-05-12
The Soviet Union lifts its blockade of Berlin.
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| 1949-08-05
In Ecuador an earthquake destroys 50 towns and kills more than 6000.
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| 1949-09-06
A former sharpshooter in World War II, Howard Unruh kills 13 neighbors in Camden, New Jersey, with a souvenir Luger to become the first U.S. single-episode mass murderer.
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| 1949-05-23
The Federal Republic of Germany is established and the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany is proclaimed.
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| 1949-09-04
The Peekskill Riots erupt after a Paul Robeson concert in Peekskill, New York.
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| 1949-02-08
Cardinal Mindszenty of Hungary is sentenced for treason.
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| 1949-05-12
The western occupying powers approve the Basic Law for the new German state: the Federal Republic of Germany.
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| 1949-08-24
The treaty creating NATO goes into effect.
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| 1949-12-13
The Knesset votes to move the capital of Israel to Jerusalem.
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| 1949-04-05
Fireside Theater debuts on television.
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| 1949-08-03
The National Basketball Association is founded in the United States.
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| 1949-05-20
In the United States, the Armed Forces Security Agency, the predecessor to the National Security Agency, is established.
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| 1949-03-02
The first automatic street light is installed in New Milford, Conn..
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| 1949-05-05
The Treaty of London establishes the Council of Europe in Strasbourg as the first European institution working for European integration.
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| 1949-05-20
The Kuomintang regime declares martial law in Taiwan.
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| 1949-04-04
Twelve nations sign the North Atlantic Treaty creating the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
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| 1949-09-17
The Canadian steamship SS Noronic burns in Toronto Harbour with the loss of over 118 lives.
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| 1949-06-08
Celebrities Helen Keller, Dorothy Parker, Danny Kaye, Fredric March, John Garfield, Paul Muni and Edward G. Robinson are named in an FBI report as Communist Party members.
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| 1949-02-19
Ezra Pound is awarded the first Bollingen Prize in poetry by the Bollingen Foundation and Yale University.
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| 1949-12-29
KC2XAK of Bridgeport, Connecticut becomes the first Ultra high frequency (UHF) television station to operate a daily schedule.
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| 1949-03-31
The Dominion of Newfoundland joins the Canadian Confederation and becomes the 10th Province of Canada.
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| 1949-06-25
Long-Haired Hare, starring Bugs Bunny, is released in theaters.
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| 1949-08-22
Queen Charlotte earthquake: Canada's largest earthquake since the 1700 Cascadia earthquake
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| 1949-03-08
Mildred Gillars ("Axis Sally") is condemned to prison on count of treason
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