Europa
- Roma Holocaust Memorial Day (Porajmos)
August 2 is officially recognized across Europe as the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, commemorating the genocide of the Roma and Sinti people by Nazi Germany during World War II. On the night of August 2, 1944, approximately 4,300 Roma—mainly women, children, and the elderly—were murdered in the “Gypsy camp” at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. This atrocity is remembered as one of the darkest moments in European history, with an estimated 500,000 Roma and Sinti killed across Nazi-occupied Europe. - 1492: Expulsion of Jews from Spain
On August 2, 1492, the Alhambra Decree took effect, ordering the expulsion of Jews from Spain. Between 40,000 and 200,000 Jews were forced to leave, with many finding refuge in the Ottoman Empire, particularly in cities like Thessaloniki (now in Greece) and İzmir (now in Turkey). - 338 BC: Battle of Chaeronea
Philip II of Macedon defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes, establishing Macedonian dominance over Greece and the Aegean. - 216 BC: Battle of Cannae
Hannibal, the Carthaginian general, achieved a decisive victory against a much larger Roman army, one of the most famous battles in ancient military history. - 1914: German Occupation of Luxembourg
At the outset of World War I, German troops occupied Luxembourg as part of their strategy to invade France. - 1934: Adolf Hitler Becomes Führer
Following the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, Adolf Hitler assumed the combined roles of Chancellor and President, becoming the absolute ruler (Führer) of Germany. - 1830: Abdication of Charles X of France
Charles X abdicated the French throne in favor of his grandson Henri, following the July Revolution.
America
- Signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776)
On August 2, 1776, most members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia began signing the parchment copy of the United States Declaration of Independence. While the document was adopted on July 4, the majority of the 55 signatures were affixed on this day, marking a pivotal moment in American history. - First United States Census (1790)
The very first U.S. Census was conducted on August 2, 1790, laying the groundwork for the nation’s demographic and political development. - Death of President Warren G. Harding (1923)
President Warren G. Harding died suddenly in San Francisco on August 2, 1923, while on a speaking tour. His administration had been marred by the Teapot Dome scandal, and he was succeeded by Vice President Calvin Coolidge. - Einstein–Szilárd Letter to President Roosevelt (1939)
On August 2, 1939, Albert Einstein and physicist Leó Szilárd sent a letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, warning about the potential for Nazi Germany to develop atomic weapons. This letter was instrumental in initiating the Manhattan Project, which led to the creation of the first atomic bomb. - PT-109 Incident (1943)
On this day in 1943, John F. Kennedy’s patrol torpedo boat, PT-109, was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer in the Pacific during World War II. Kennedy’s leadership in rescuing his crew later contributed to his heroic reputation. - Gulf of Tonkin Incident (1964)
The first of two incidents involving the USS Maddox and North Vietnamese gunboats occurred on August 2, 1964. This event led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and a significant escalation of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. - 1819: The first parachute jump from a balloon in the U.S. was made by Charles Guille in New York City.
- 1832: The massacre of Sauk Indians at the Bad Axe River in Wisconsin, effectively ending the Black Hawk War.
- 1861: The U.S. Congress passed the first income tax to fund the Civil War, though it was never enacted.
Asia
- Iraq Invades Kuwait (1990)
On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. This act of aggression shocked the world and was the catalyst for the Gulf War, drawing in a U.S.-led international coalition to liberate Kuwait. The invasion had profound consequences for Middle Eastern geopolitics and global energy markets. - Devastating Shantou Typhoon in China (1922)
On August 2, 1922, a catastrophic typhoon struck Shantou, in the Republic of China. The disaster resulted in one of the deadliest natural calamities in Chinese history, causing massive destruction and loss of life. - August Revolution in Vietnam (1945)
While the August Revolution in Vietnam is generally marked from August 16 to September 2, key events leading up to Vietnamese independence from Japanese and French control occurred in August. By late August, the abdication of Emperor Bảo Đại and the transfer of power to the Việt Minh set the stage for the official declaration of independence on September 2, 1945. - Discovery of the Positron (1932): Carl D. Anderson discovered the positron, a subatomic particle, on this day. While not an Asian event, it is a significant scientific milestone noted in world history.
- Indian History: August 2 marks the death anniversaries of prominent Indian personalities such as Ramkinkar Baij, a pioneer of modern Indian sculpture (1980), and Kamal Kapoor, a prolific actor (2010).
Africa
- Second Congo War Begins (1998)
On August 2, 1998, the Second Congo War—also known as the Great War of Africa—broke out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This conflict rapidly escalated, drawing in nine African nations and resulting in an estimated 5.4 million deaths, making it the deadliest conflict on the continent since World War II. - Renaming of Burkina Faso (1984)
On August 2, 1984, President Thomas Sankara officially changed the name of his country from Upper Volta to Burkina Faso, which means “Land of Honest Men.” This was a significant move in asserting national identity and post-colonial pride. - Marcus Garvey’s “Back to Africa” Speech (1920)
On this day in 1920, Jamaican-born Black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey delivered his influential “Back to Africa” speech to the Universal Negro Improvement Association, advocating for the empowerment and unity of people of African descent worldwide. - Death of Fela Kuti (1997)
The legendary Nigerian musician, activist, and Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti died on August 2, 1997. He was renowned for his powerful music and outspoken activism against political oppression in Nigeria. - Arab Federation Dissolved (1958): The short-lived Arab Federation between Iraq and Jordan was dissolved on this day, following political upheaval in Iraq. While not strictly an African event, it involved countries with significant ties to the continent.
- Battle of Cannae (216 BC): The Carthaginian army, from North Africa and led by Hannibal, achieved a historic victory over Rome at the Battle of Cannae. This is one of the most famous military engagements involving an African power in ancient history.
This day in history: 2 august