Timeline March 1979

Events in March 1979 8

• 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War China invades Vietnam over the Cambodia conflict China launched a punitive invasion of Vietnam on 17 February 1979 in response to Vietnam's overthrow of the Khmer Rouge, a Chinese ally. Fighting lasted about a month along the border before Chinese forces withdrew on 16 March 1979, both sides claiming victory. The brief but bloody war caused tens of thousands of casualties.
• 1979 Yemenite War of 1979 Brief border war between North and South Yemen North Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic) and South Yemen (People's Democratic Republic of Yemen) fought a short border war from late February to March 1979. Arab League mediation produced a ceasefire and renewed talk of unification between the two states. The rivalry between the two Yemens continued until they finally unified in 1990.
• 1979 Iditarod 1979 Winner: Rick Swenson — 15 days 10h Rick Swenson won his second Iditarod title, becoming the first musher to win the race twice.
• 1979 European Monetary System established European Communities create a currency stability zone The European Monetary System came into force on 13 March 1979, linking the currencies of most European Communities member states through the Exchange Rate Mechanism. It aimed to reduce exchange-rate volatility ahead of eventual monetary union. The system operated, with periodic crises, until it was superseded by the euro in 1999.
• 1979 New Jewel Movement seizes power in Grenada Maurice Bishop takes power in a near-bloodless coup The Marxist New Jewel Movement, led by Maurice Bishop, overthrew Grenadian Prime Minister Eric Gairy on 13 March 1979 while Gairy was abroad. Bishop established the People's Revolutionary Government, aligning Grenada with Cuba. The government lasted until Bishop's own overthrow and execution in 1983, which triggered the US invasion of Grenada.
• 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty signed Sadat and Begin end thirty years of war Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin signed a peace treaty in Washington, D.C. on 26 March 1979, witnessed by US President Jimmy Carter. It formally ended the state of war between the two countries dating to 1948 and led to Israel's withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt became the first Arab state to recognize Israel diplomatically.
• 1979 Marries Pattie Boyd The muse of "Layla" Finally married Pattie Boyd, the woman whose rejection had inspired "Layla" — by now divorced from George Harrison. The marriage was troubled by Clapton's alcoholism and infidelities and ended in divorce in 1989.
• 1979 Three Mile Island Nuclear accident, USA A partial nuclear meltdown at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in March 1979 was the most significant nuclear accident in US history.