This day in history: 31 august

Europa

• The Gleiwitz Incident and the Outbreak of World War II (1939)
  On August 31, 1939, Nazi Germany staged a false flag attack on the Gleiwitz radio station near the German-Polish border. This operation, carried out by German operatives posing as Polish saboteurs, was used as a pretext for Germany’s invasion of Poland the following day, marking the beginning of World War II in Europe.
• On the same day, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union ratified the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, and Britain began evacuating civilians from cities likely to be targeted by bombing, with nearly 3 million people relocated in the days that followed.
• Death of Princess Diana (1997)
  In the early hours of August 31, 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales, died in a car crash in a Paris tunnel. Her death shocked the world and led to an unprecedented outpouring of public grief in the UK and across Europe.
• Jack the Ripper’s First Confirmed Victim (1888)
  On August 31, 1888, the mutilated body of Mary Ann Nichols was discovered in the Whitechapel district of London. She is widely considered the first confirmed victim of the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper.
• Solidarity Movement in Poland (1980)
  On this day in 1980, Polish labor activist Lech Wałęsa and Deputy Premier Mieczysław Jagielski signed an agreement that granted Polish workers the right to organize freely and independently. This was a pivotal moment in the rise of the Solidarity movement, which played a key role in the eventual fall of communism in Eastern Europe.
• 1798: Irish rebels, with French assistance, established the short-lived Republic of Connacht during the Irish Rebellion.
• 1813: Spanish troops repelled a French attack at the Battle of San Marcial during the Peninsular War.
• 1936: Radio Prague, now the official international broadcaster of the Czech Republic, began transmissions.

America

• Battle of Jonesboro and the Atlanta Campaign (1864)
  On August 31, 1864, during the American Civil War, Union forces led by General William T. Sherman launched an assault on Atlanta, Georgia. This action was part of the pivotal Atlanta Campaign. The Confederate evacuation of Atlanta began on this day, setting the stage for the city’s occupation by Union troops and providing a significant victory for the North.
• Charleston Earthquake (1886)
  A major earthquake struck Charleston, South Carolina, on August 31, 1886. With a magnitude of 7.0 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), the quake killed at least 60 people and caused damages estimated at $5–6 million, making it one of the most destructive earthquakes in eastern U.S. history.
• Aeroméxico Flight 498 Crash (1986)
  On August 31, 1986, Aeroméxico Flight 498 collided with a Piper PA-28 Cherokee over Cerritos, California. The disaster killed 67 people in the air and 15 on the ground, marking one of the deadliest mid-air collisions in U.S. aviation history.
• Ruby Ridge Standoff Ends (1992)
  The 11-day standoff at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, ended on August 31, 1992. The confrontation between government officials and the Weaver family, headed by Randy Weaver, resulted in the deaths of three people and became a flashpoint in debates over federal law enforcement tactics in America.
• Naval and Aviation Milestones
  On August 31, 1943, the first battle of Essex/New Yorktown took place, with a U.S. assault on Marcus Island during World War II.
• On August 31, 1962, the U.S. Navy’s operation of lighter-than-air craft (blimps and airships), which dated back to before World War I, made its final flight at Naval Air Station Lakehurst, New Jersey.
• 1842: The U.S. Naval Observatory was authorized by an act of Congress.
• 1881: The first U.S. men’s singles tennis championships were held in Newport, Rhode Island.
• 1895: The first professional football game was played, with quarterback John Brallier paid $10 to play and winning 12-0.

Asia

• Independence of Malaysia (1957)
  August 31 is celebrated as Hari Merdeka (Independence Day) in Malaysia, commemorating the Malayan Declaration of Independence from British colonial rule in 1957. This event marked the end of British control and the birth of a new, sovereign nation in Southeast Asia.
• Uzbekistan Declares Independence (1991)
  On August 31, 1991, Uzbekistan declared its independence from the Soviet Union, marking a pivotal moment in Central Asian history. The country now observes September 1 as its official Independence Day, but the declaration itself was made on August 31.
• 1751: British troops occupied Arcot, India, during the Carnatic Wars, a significant episode in the struggle between European colonial powers in South Asia.
• 1956: The President of India gave assent to the States Reorganisation Bill, leading to the States Reorganisation Act, which redefined state boundaries along linguistic lines.
• 1968: India successfully launched the two-stage Rohini-MSV1 sounding rocket.
• 1983: Indian satellite INSAT-1B was broadcast from the U.S. Space Shuttle Challenger.
• North Korea’s First Satellite Claim (1998)
  On August 31, 1998, North Korea announced the launch of its first satellite, Kwangmyongsong-1. While North Korea claimed the launch was successful, international space agencies could not verify the satellite’s presence in orbit.
• 2005: A tragic stampede in Baghdad, Iraq, during a religious event resulted in the deaths of over 800 people.
• 1978: Sri Lanka adopted a new constitution, establishing a unicameral parliament and an executive presidency.

Africa

• International Day for People of African Descent
  August 31 is recognized globally as the International Day for People of African Descent. Established by the United Nations in 2021, this observance celebrates the rich heritage, diverse cultures, and significant contributions of people of African descent worldwide, while also addressing ongoing challenges such as racism and social injustice. The day falls within the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024), emphasizing the need to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms for people of African descent.
• While not on the African continent, the independence of Trinidad and Tobago on August 31, 1962, is celebrated as a significant event for the African diaspora, given the country’s large population of African descent.
• Community and cultural events, such as Black August commemorations, often culminate in late August, reflecting on Black liberation, resilience, and the ongoing fight for justice and equality.