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On This Day · The 220th day of the year

August 8

A look at August 8 through the almanac — historic events, famous birthdays including Roger Federer and Mohamed Morsi, and the day's notable deaths and observances.

♌ZodiacLeo ◈BirthstonePeridot ❀Birth flowerGladiolus
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Events

10 notable moments
  1. 2008

    EuroCity

    A EuroCity express train en route from Kraków, Poland to Prague, Czech Republic strikes a part of a motorway bridge that had fallen onto the railroad track near Studénka railway station in the Czech Republic and derails, killing eight people and injuring 64 others.

    Network of train services
  2. 1998

    Mazar-i-Sharif

    Iranian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan is raided by Taliban leading to the deaths of ten Iranian diplomats and a journalist.

    Provincial capital in Balkh,
  3. 1991

    Warsaw radio mast

    The Warsaw radio mast, then the tallest construction ever built, collapses.

    Former radio mast near
  4. 1988

    8888 Uprising

    The 8888 Uprising begins in Rangoon (Yangon), Burma (Myanmar). Led by students, hundreds of thousands join in nationwide protests against the one-party regime. On September 18, the demonstrations end in a military crackdown, killing thousands.

    1988 protests in Burma
  5. 1969

    Zebra crossing

    At a zebra crossing in London, photographer Iain Macmillan takes the iconic photo that becomes the cover image of the Beatles' album Abbey Road.

    Type of pedestrian crossing
  6. 1956

    Marcinelle mining disaster

    Marcinelle mining disaster in Belgium. 262 coal miners, including a substantial number of Italian migrant workers, were killed in one of the largest mining accidents in Belgian history.

    1956 mining disaster in
  7. 1945

    World War II

    World War II: The Soviet Union declares war on Japan.

    1939–1945 global conflict
  8. 1929

    LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin

    The German airship Graf Zeppelin begins a round-the-world flight.

    German rigid airship (1928–1940)
  9. 1918

    World War I

    World War I: The Battle of Amiens begins a string of almost continuous Allied victories with a push through the German front lines (Hundred Days Offensive).

    1914–1918 global conflict
  10. 1786

    Mont Blanc

    Mont Blanc on the French-Italian border is climbed for the first time by Jacques Balmat and Dr. Michel-Gabriel Paccard.

    Highest mountain in the
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Famous birthday twins

Born on August 8

Roger Federer

b. 1981

Swiss tennis player

Mohamed Morsi

b. 1951

Egyptian engineer, academic, and politician, 5th President of Egypt

Anita Włodarczyk

b. 1985

Polish track and field athlete

Nigel Mansell

b. 1953

English racing driver

Bruce Matthews

b. 1961

American football player and coach

Emiliano Zapata

b. 1879

Mexican general and politician

Dustin Hoffman

b. 1937

American actor and director

Dominic de Guzmán

b. 1170

founder of the Dominicans

Deaths

  • 2012Kurt Maetzig, German director and screenwriter
  • 1944Erwin von Witzleben, German field marshal
  • 1944Michael Wittmann, German commander
  • 1897Jacob Burckhardt, Swiss historian and academic
  • 1828Carl Peter Thunberg, Swedish botanist and psychologist
  • 117AD 117, Roman emperor

Holidays & observances

  • —Ceasefire Day (end of Iran–Iraq War) (Iraqi Kurdistan)
  • —Christian Feast Day: Altmann of Passau
  • —Christian Feast Day: Cyriacus
  • —Christian Feast Day: Dominic de Guzmán, founder of the Dominican Order.
  • —Christian Feast Day: Four Crowned Martyrs
  • —Christian Feast Day: Largus
  • —Christian Feast Day: Mary MacKillop
  • —Christian Feast Day: Saint Smaragdus (and companions)

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