HistoryData
1971
1973

1972.

What happened in 1972?

In 1972, the world witnessed several major sporting events. The Winter Olympics took place in Sapporo, Japan, and later that year, the Summer Olympics were held in Munich, West Germany. However, the Munich Games were marred by tragedy when a Palestinian terrorist attack led to the deaths of eleven Israeli athletes and coaches, an event known as the Munich massacre. Europe hosted the UEFA Euro 1972 football championship as well. In total, 78 historical events were documented, along with 58 notable births and 14 deaths of well-known individuals.

Events
83
Births
60
Deaths
25
Era
1970s
Post-War / Digital Age
Context:20th CenturyThe 1970sPost-War / Digital Age

Chronology of 1972

Documented Historical Record

January

01.1972

February

02.1972

March

03.1972

April

04.1972

May

05.1972

June

06.1972

July

07.1972

August

08.1972

September

09.1972

October

10.1972

November

11.1972

December

12.1972
End of 1972 Record · 83 events

Historical Significance

Context & Impact

In 1972, the world witnessed several major sporting events. The Winter Olympics took place in Sapporo, Japan, and later that year, the Summer Olympics were held in Munich, West Germany. However, the Munich Games were marred by tragedy when a Palestinian terrorist attack led to the deaths of eleven Israeli athletes and coaches, an event known as the Munich massacre. Europe hosted the UEFA Euro 1972 football championship as well. In total, 78 historical events were documented, along with 58 notable births and 14 deaths of well-known individuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What major events happened in 1972?
1972 included the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and the Munich massacre, where Palestinian terrorists killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team. The year also featured the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, and the UEFA Euro 1972 football championship.
What was the Munich massacre in 1972?
The Munich massacre was a terrorist attack during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Members of the Palestinian group Black September took Israeli Olympic team members hostage, resulting in the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes, coaches, and officials.
Where were the 1972 Olympics held?
The 1972 Winter Olympics were held in Sapporo, Japan, and the 1972 Summer Olympics were in Munich, West Germany. The Munich Olympics are known internationally for the athletic competitions and the tragic terrorist attack during the games.

Explore Related History

Navigate adjacent years, decades, and historical reference pages.

20th Century
All years and events from this century.
1971
Previous year in history.
1973
Next year in history.
Famous People
Biographies by country, category, and era.
All Years
Browse the complete chronological archive.
Events by Date
What happened on a specific day in history.