August 20th What Happened on the day you were born on This day in History
1940 UK "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
20th August 1940 : After 3 months of the Battle Of Britain in the skies over the South Coast the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill paid tribute to the British Royal Air Force, saying,
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
20th August 1940 : After 3 months of the Battle Of Britain in the skies over the South Coast the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill paid tribute to the British Royal Air Force, saying,
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
1902 Cuba Soldiers
20th August 1902 : Militant Cuban veteran soldiers demanded $85,000,000 from the Cuban government to compensate them for their previous military service. This would take money away from the sugar industry. At Puerto Principe, 5,000 soldiers demanded that President Palma and the Congress find money to pay their salaries.
20th August 1902 : Militant Cuban veteran soldiers demanded $85,000,000 from the Cuban government to compensate them for their previous military service. This would take money away from the sugar industry. At Puerto Principe, 5,000 soldiers demanded that President Palma and the Congress find money to pay their salaries.
1920 U.S.A. First Commercial Radio Station
20th August 1920 : The first commercial radio station begins operating in Detroit, Michigan with call sign 8MK ( Now WWJ (Newsradio 950) ). The radio station was started by The Detroit News newspaper and is now owned and run by CBS.
20th August 1920 : The first commercial radio station begins operating in Detroit, Michigan with call sign 8MK ( Now WWJ (Newsradio 950) ). The radio station was started by The Detroit News newspaper and is now owned and run by CBS.
1927 Canada Prime Minister Baldwin
20th August 1927 : Prime Minister Baldwin of Great Britain visited Canada and toured part of the time with the Prince of Wales and Prince George. This was the first time an English Prime minister had visited a dominion while still in office.
20th August 1927 : Prime Minister Baldwin of Great Britain visited Canada and toured part of the time with the Prince of Wales and Prince George. This was the first time an English Prime minister had visited a dominion while still in office.
1936 U.S.A. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Roosevelt
20th August 1936 : President Franklin Delano Roosevelt speech in the state of New York left Europe angry, but Latin America very pleased. The President’s comments that provoked opposite reactions were, “… the unhappy nations of the old world seem utterly unable to live amicably among themselves and we must recognize this and being ‘singularly blessed’ geographically take every possible advance preparation to keep out of their future conflicts.”
20th August 1936 : President Franklin Delano Roosevelt speech in the state of New York left Europe angry, but Latin America very pleased. The President’s comments that provoked opposite reactions were, “… the unhappy nations of the old world seem utterly unable to live amicably among themselves and we must recognize this and being ‘singularly blessed’ geographically take every possible advance preparation to keep out of their future conflicts.”
1940 Mexico Trotsky
20th August 1940 : Leon Trotsky the Russian revolutionary and Marxist theorist and one of the leaders of the Russian October Revolution in 1917, is assassinated by a Soviet agent at Coyoacán, in Mexico City. where he lived in exile.
20th August 1940 : Leon Trotsky the Russian revolutionary and Marxist theorist and one of the leaders of the Russian October Revolution in 1917, is assassinated by a Soviet agent at Coyoacán, in Mexico City. where he lived in exile.
1948 Germany Reichmark
20th August 1948 : Post war Germany’s currency, the Reichmark, was worthless, but then was reformed and economic recovery was in sight. All classes of Germans had been leveled by the economic crisis and the black market was active. The newly invented Reichmark made bankers poor and families with lots of children wealthy. Each German citizen was allowed 40 Reichmarks.
20th August 1948 : Post war Germany’s currency, the Reichmark, was worthless, but then was reformed and economic recovery was in sight. All classes of Germans had been leveled by the economic crisis and the black market was active. The newly invented Reichmark made bankers poor and families with lots of children wealthy. Each German citizen was allowed 40 Reichmarks.
1959 Africa Dr. Albert Schweitzer
20th August 1959 : The famous Wyatt Earp, who was the actor Hugh O’Brian, finally met his idol, Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa. O’Brian was conveyed up the river by natives who were lepers and he met the famous doctor at his hospital. After meeting Schweitzer, O’Brian referred to him as “a living saint”. The physician strongly urged the need to abolish nuclear testing and war and O’Brian came back to the U.S. with the same views.
20th August 1959 : The famous Wyatt Earp, who was the actor Hugh O’Brian, finally met his idol, Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa. O’Brian was conveyed up the river by natives who were lepers and he met the famous doctor at his hospital. After meeting Schweitzer, O’Brian referred to him as “a living saint”. The physician strongly urged the need to abolish nuclear testing and war and O’Brian came back to the U.S. with the same views.
1965 Russia Accuses Johnston of Globalism
20th August 1965 : The communist journal, The Kommunist, blasted President Johnston of the U.S. for what it called, “Johnston globalism” and causing a threat to world peace. The journal went on to point out that this kind of globalism would allow the U.S. to be the watch dog of the capitalist world and American intervention whenever U.S. interests were impinged upon.
20th August 1965 : The communist journal, The Kommunist, blasted President Johnston of the U.S. for what it called, “Johnston globalism” and causing a threat to world peace. The journal went on to point out that this kind of globalism would allow the U.S. to be the watch dog of the capitalist world and American intervention whenever U.S. interests were impinged upon.
1968 Czechoslovakia Soviet Troops Crush Resistance
20th August 1968 : Following Anti-Communist protests in Czechoslovakia in what is called "Prague Spring", Soviet troops intervene to crush the protests and restore order.
The period of the "Prague Spring" began in January 5, 1968 when Alexander Dubček came to power, with reformist policies for the country of Czechoslovakia.
1. Grant additional rights to the citizens.
2. Loosening of restrictions on the media and allowing free speech.
3. Partial decentralization of the economy and democratization.
Due to many of these reforms taking the country in a direction in opposition to Communist Ideology the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies invaded the country to take back power and halt the reforms.
20th August 1968 : Following Anti-Communist protests in Czechoslovakia in what is called "Prague Spring", Soviet troops intervene to crush the protests and restore order.
The period of the "Prague Spring" began in January 5, 1968 when Alexander Dubček came to power, with reformist policies for the country of Czechoslovakia.
1. Grant additional rights to the citizens.
2. Loosening of restrictions on the media and allowing free speech.
3. Partial decentralization of the economy and democratization.
Due to many of these reforms taking the country in a direction in opposition to Communist Ideology the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact allies invaded the country to take back power and halt the reforms.
1978 Zimbabwe Brink Of Civil War
20th August 1978 : Rhodesia, a break away colony of Britain, was to be called “Zimbabwe” and the country teetered on the brink of civil war. After a year of British and American diplomacy, President Ian Smith and militant black leaders were still at odds over how the transition was going to take place. Black guerrilla leader, Robert Mugabe, insisted on having his army in control, which would mean his group would have the actual power in Zimbabwe.
20th August 1978 : Rhodesia, a break away colony of Britain, was to be called “Zimbabwe” and the country teetered on the brink of civil war. After a year of British and American diplomacy, President Ian Smith and militant black leaders were still at odds over how the transition was going to take place. Black guerrilla leader, Robert Mugabe, insisted on having his army in control, which would mean his group would have the actual power in Zimbabwe.
1982 Lebanon Peacekeeping Force
20th August 1982 : A Multi National peacekeeping force is sent into Lebanon to try and halt the fighting between Muslim and Christian Militia groups and to oversea the Palestinian withdrawal from Lebanon.
20th August 1982 : A Multi National peacekeeping force is sent into Lebanon to try and halt the fighting between Muslim and Christian Militia groups and to oversea the Palestinian withdrawal from Lebanon.
1989 England Marchioness Disaster River Thames
20th August 1982 : The Thames pleasure cruiser Marchioness packed with young party goers collides with the Bowbelle dredger on the River Thames. The dredger Bowbelle ran into the Marchioness and due to the difference in sizes of the boats Bowbelle ( 2000 tons ), Marchioness ( 90 tons ) the pleasure cruiser was forced under the water by the larger boat and sank within a few seconds. The death toll of the disaster is put at more than 50 .
20th August 1982 : The Thames pleasure cruiser Marchioness packed with young party goers collides with the Bowbelle dredger on the River Thames. The dredger Bowbelle ran into the Marchioness and due to the difference in sizes of the boats Bowbelle ( 2000 tons ), Marchioness ( 90 tons ) the pleasure cruiser was forced under the water by the larger boat and sank within a few seconds. The death toll of the disaster is put at more than 50 .
1990 Argentina Beat Brazil In World Cup
20th August 1990 : Argentina’s soccer playing abilities caught the world’s attention in the World Cup as the Brazilian team was upset. Coach Carlos Bilardo commented, “Some of the (Argentinean) players played better than we expected. This was a classic South American match.” Argentina had been losing, but then Caniggia took a pass from Maradona and defeated Brazilian goal keeper Claudio Taffarel.
20th August 1990 : Argentina’s soccer playing abilities caught the world’s attention in the World Cup as the Brazilian team was upset. Coach Carlos Bilardo commented, “Some of the (Argentinean) players played better than we expected. This was a classic South American match.” Argentina had been losing, but then Caniggia took a pass from Maradona and defeated Brazilian goal keeper Claudio Taffarel.
1996 U.S.A. Minimum Hourly Wage $5.15
20th August 1996 : The Minimum hourly wage is raised to $5.15 an hour an increase of 90cents.
20th August 1996 : The Minimum hourly wage is raised to $5.15 an hour an increase of 90cents.
1998 Afghanistan Cruise Missile Attacks on al-Qaida
20th August 1998 : The United States launch cruise missile strikes against al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan, this was in retaliation for US embassy bombings on August 7th of Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by the Islamic fundamentalist terrorist organization al-Qaeda which left more than 200 dead.
20th August 1998 : The United States launch cruise missile strikes against al-Qaida training camps in Afghanistan, this was in retaliation for US embassy bombings on August 7th of Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by the Islamic fundamentalist terrorist organization al-Qaeda which left more than 200 dead.
2005 Iraq Sunnis Gunned Down
20th August 2005 : Retribution was swift against Sunnis who promoted the proposed new Iraqis constitution and encouraged Iraqis to vote in the referendum on October 15. Three Sunnis were gunned down as they were putting up posters designed to encourage Iraqis people to vote.
20th August 2005 : Retribution was swift against Sunnis who promoted the proposed new Iraqis constitution and encouraged Iraqis to vote in the referendum on October 15. Three Sunnis were gunned down as they were putting up posters designed to encourage Iraqis people to vote.
