5th August 1914: The Battle of Liège begins, marking the first major engagement of the First World War
The bombardment of the city's ring of forts by Germany's 'Big Bertha' howitzer caused extensive damage, and one by one, the forts were rendered inoperable. By 16 August, the forts had ...
5 Aug 0s
4th August 1789: The August Decrees result in the National Constituent Assembly of France voting to abolish the feudal system
The decision to end the privileges enjoyed by the nobility and clergy came in the early stages of the French Revolution, during a special session of the National Constituent Assembly of France and resulted in the August ...
4 Aug 0s
3rd August 1492: Christopher Columbus sets sail from the Spanish port of Palos de la Frontera on the voyage that takes him to the Americas
Palos de la Frontera holds the official title as the starting point of Columbus’ transatlantic ...
3 Aug 0s
2nd August 1940: No. 303 Squadron, one of two Polish RAF squadrons in the Battle of Britain, formed at RAF Northolt
No. 303 Squadron, which was composed primarily of Polish airmen who had escaped to Britain after the defeat of Poland, claimed the largest number of aircraft shot down of any RAF squadron during the Battle of ...
2 Aug 0s
31st July 1790: The first U.S. patent was awarded to Samuel Hopkins
The first U.S. patent was awarded to Samuel Hopkins for an improvement ‘in making Pot ash and Pearl ash by a new Apparatus and ...
31 Jul 0s
30th July 1916: German agents trigger a major explosion at the Black Tom munitions depot in New Jersey to stop supplies to the Allies
It was later revealed that German agents had infiltrated the site and deliberately ignited the munitions to prevent them from reaching the Allies as part of a broader German campaign of espionage and sabotage on American soil before the U.S. entered the war in ...
30 Jul 0s
29th July 1976: David Berkowitz, known as the Son of Sam, committed his first known murder in the Bronx, New York City
David Berkowitz was responsible for a series of attacks often involving young women with dark hair, and usually while they were in parked cars late at ...
29 Jul 0s
