Date in year · 1956 · The 1950s

January 8, 1956

On January 8, 1956, operation Auca: Five U.S. missionaries are killed by the Waorani of Ecuador shortly after making first contact. César, Anne Glover, Beatrice Ask would arrive in the same year.

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1956

1950s

Around 1956

The year in brief

1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar, the 1956th year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 956th year of the 2nd millennium, the 56th year of the 20th century, and the 7th year of the 1950s decade.

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What happened

On January 8, 1956

  1. 1956 Operation Auca: Five U.S. missionaries are killed by the Waorani of Ecuador shortly after making first contact.

    1955 Christian proselytizing in Ecuador

    Operation Auca was an attempt by five Evangelical Christian missionaries from the United States to bring Christianity to the Waorani or Huaorani people of the Amazon rainforest of Ecuador. The Waorani, also known pejoratively as Aucas, were an isolated tribe known for their violence, against both their own people and outsiders who entered their territory. With the intention to evangelize the previously uncontacted Waorani, the missionaries began making regular flights over Waorani settlements in September 1955, dropping gifts, which were reciprocated.

Elsewhere that year

Other moments from 1956

The class of 1956

Others born in 1956

César 1956– Brazilian footballer (died 2024)
Anne Glover 1956– Scottish biologist and academic
Beatrice Ask 1956– Swedish politician, Swedish Minister for Justice
Peter Chelsom 1956– English film director, writer, and actor
Kakha Bendukidze 1956– Georgian economist and politician (died 2014)
Peter Kosminsky 1956– English director, producer, and screenwriter

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