Europa
- 1934: Hitler Consolidates Power in Germany
On August 19, 1934, a pivotal plebiscite in Germany approved the vesting of sole executive power in Adolf Hitler. This referendum marked a critical step in Hitler’s consolidation of totalitarian control, as it merged the roles of Chancellor and President into the position of Führer, giving Hitler unchecked authority over the German state. - 1916: Naval Action in World War I
On August 19, 1916, the German High Seas Fleet attempted to engage the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea. During this action, the British cruiser HMS Nottingham was torpedoed and sunk, and the German battleship Westfalen was also torpedoed by a British submarine. Miscommunications and intelligence failures prevented a full-scale fleet engagement, but the encounter demonstrated the ongoing naval chess match between Britain and Germany during World War I. - 1942: The Dieppe Raid
On August 19, 1942, about 6,000 Canadian and British soldiers launched a raid against German-occupied Dieppe, France. The operation was disastrous, with more than half of the Allied troops becoming casualties. The raid, though a failure, provided important lessons for future amphibious assaults, such as those on D-Day.
America
- Revolutionary War and Early Republic
1782: Battle of Blue Licks
The Battle of Blue Licks, fought in Kentucky, was one of the last major engagements of the American Revolutionary War, occurring nearly ten months after the British surrender at Yorktown. - War of 1812
1812: USS Constitution Defeats HMS Guerriere
The American frigate USS Constitution defeated the British frigate HMS Guerriere off the coast of Nova Scotia. This victory earned the USS Constitution the nickname “Old Ironsides” and became a celebrated moment in U.S. naval history. - Westward Expansion and Conflict
1848: California Gold Rush News Breaks
The New York Herald broke the news of the California Gold Rush to the East Coast, igniting a massive migration westward and shaping American history. - 1854: First Sioux War Begins
The First Sioux War started when U.S. Army soldiers killed Lakota chief Conquering Bear, leading to a violent retaliation. - 1862: Dakota War of 1862
During the Dakota War, Lakota warriors attacked the settlement of New Ulm, Minnesota, resulting in the deaths of settlers. - Civil War and Later 19th Century
1814: Prelude to the Burning of Washington
British troops landed in Maryland, beginning operations that would lead to the burning of Washington, D.C., a significant event in the War of 1812. - 1934: First All-American Soap Box Derby
The inaugural All-American Soap Box Derby was held in Dayton, Ohio, marking the start of a beloved American youth tradition. - 1964: Syncom 3 Launched
The world’s first geostationary communications satellite, Syncom 3, was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It played a key role in broadcasting the Tokyo Olympics to the United States. - 1991: Crown Heights Riot
Race riots erupted in the Crown Heights area of New York City, highlighting racial tensions between African-American and Orthodox Jewish communities. - 2004: Google IPO
Google Inc. held its initial public offering, raising $1.66 billion and marking a transformative moment in American and global tech history.
Asia
- Afghanistan: Independence from Britain (1919)
On August 19, 1919, Afghanistan gained full independence from British influence after the signing of the Rawalpindi Treaty, which ended the Third Anglo-Afghan War. This day is celebrated as Afghan Independence Day, marking a pivotal moment in Central Asian history. - On August 19, 1878, Manuel L. Quezon, a prominent figure in Philippine history and later the country’s second president, was born in Baler, Tayabas (now Quezon province).
- On August 19, 1896, the discovery of the secret revolutionary society “Katipunan” by Spanish authorities forced Filipino revolutionaries led by Andres Bonifacio to openly begin their fight for independence, a precursor to the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonial rule.
- On August 19, 1916, the United States Congress enacted the Jones Law (Philippine Autonomy Act), which was the first formal declaration by the U.S. government to eventually grant independence to the Philippines.
- Vietnam: Entry into Hanoi (1945)
On August 19, 1945, a commando force under Vietnamese nationalist leader Ho Chi Minh entered Hanoi, a decisive event in the August Revolution that led to the declaration of Vietnam’s independence from French colonial rule later that year. - Iran: Abadan Cinema Fire (1978)
On August 19, 1978, a tragic fire at the Rex Cinema in Abadan, Iran, killed over 400 people. The incident, widely believed to be an act of arson, became a catalyst for the Iranian Revolution by intensifying public anger against the ruling regime. - On August 19, 1991, hard-line Communist Party members attempted a coup against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, briefly ousting him and accelerating the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
- On August 19, 1960, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 5, which carried dogs Belka and Strelka, the first living beings to return safely from orbit—an important milestone in the space race.
- Recent Events: Afghanistan (2021)
On August 19, 2021, following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, protests erupted in cities like Asadabad and Jalalabad on Afghan Independence Day. Taliban militants opened fire on crowds, resulting in casualties, as civilians protested the new regime and chaos continued at Kabul airport during evacuation efforts.
Africa
- Afghanistan’s Independence and African Observances
While August 19 is globally recognized for Afghanistan’s independence from Britain in 1919, this event is not directly African but is sometimes included in international observances, such as World Humanitarian Day, which is marked across Africa and the world in honor of humanitarian workers and the 2003 UN Baghdad bombing. - Religious and Cultural Observances
In Ethiopia and Eritrea, August 19 is associated with the “Buhe” festival, celebrated by the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Churches. Buhe, linked to the Feast of the Transfiguration on the Julian calendar, involves traditional songs, bonfires, and community gatherings. - There are no widely documented pan-African political or military events specifically tied to August 19 in the major historical records or commemorations for this date.
- However, African American history notes that on August 19, 1950, Edith Sampson became the first African American appointed as a representative to the United Nations, a milestone in global diplomacy with African diaspora significance.
- August 19 is also a day when sit-ins at Oklahoma City lunch counters occurred in 1958, significant in the context of the American civil rights movement, which had global resonance for anti-colonial and civil rights struggles in Africa.
- World Humanitarian Day
August 19 is officially designated as World Humanitarian Day, observed across Africa to honor humanitarian workers and promote global solidarity, especially relevant in regions affected by conflict and natural disasters.
This day in history: 19 august