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On This Day

August 23

YEAR 2023

Chandrayaan-3 mission initiated first Moon landing in Indian history.

Chandrayaan-3 mission initiated first Moon landing in Indian history.

YEAR 1994

Eugene Bullard, the only African American pilot in World War I, is posthumously commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

Eugene Bullard, the only African American pilot in World War I, is posthumously commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.

YEAR 1990

Armenia declares its independence from the Soviet Union.

Armenia declares its independence from the Soviet Union.

YEAR 1989

Singing Revolution: Two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stand on the Vilnius–Tallinn road, holding hands.

Singing Revolution: Two million people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stand on the Vilnius–Tallinn road, holding hands.

YEAR 1966

Lunar Orbiter 1 takes the first photograph of Earth from orbit around the Moon.

Lunar Orbiter 1 takes the first photograph of Earth from orbit around the Moon.

YEAR 1954

The first flight of the Lockheed C-130 multi-role aircraft takes place.

The first flight of the Lockheed C-130 multi-role aircraft takes place.

YEAR 1954

The Cruise of the Kings, a royal cruise organised by the Queen Consort of Greece, Frederica of Hanover, departs from Marseille, France.

The Cruise of the Kings, a royal cruise organised by the Queen Consort of Greece, Frederica of Hanover, departs from Marseille, France.

YEAR 1945

World War II: Soviet–Japanese War: The USSR State Defense Committee issues Decree no. 9898cc "About Receiving, Accommodation, and Labor Utilization of...

World War II: Soviet–Japanese War: The USSR State Defense Committee issues Decree no. 9898cc "About Receiving, Accommodation, and Labor Utilization of the Japanese Army Prisoners of War".

YEAR 1944

World War II: Marseille is liberated by the Allied forces.

World War II: Marseille is liberated by the Allied forces.

YEAR 1944

World War II: King Michael of Romania dismisses the pro-Nazi government of Marshal Antonescu, who is later arrested. Romania switches sides from the A...

World War II: King Michael of Romania dismisses the pro-Nazi government of Marshal Antonescu, who is later arrested. Romania switches sides from the Axis to the Allies.

YEAR 1943

World War II: Kharkiv is liberated by the Soviet Red Army for the second time after the Battle of Kursk.

World War II: Kharkiv is liberated by the Soviet Red Army for the second time after the Battle of Kursk.

YEAR 1942

World War II: Beginning of the Battle of Stalingrad.

World War II: Beginning of the Battle of Stalingrad.

YEAR 1939

World War II: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. In a secret protocol to the pact, Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia,...

World War II: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. In a secret protocol to the pact, Poland, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania are divided into German and Soviet "spheres of influence".

YEAR 1923

Captain Lowell Smith and Lieutenant John P. Richter perform the first mid-air refueling on De Havilland DH-4B, setting an endurance flight record of 3...

Captain Lowell Smith and Lieutenant John P. Richter perform the first mid-air refueling on De Havilland DH-4B, setting an endurance flight record of 37 hours.

YEAR 1914

World War I: The British Expeditionary Force and the French Fifth Army begin their Great Retreat before the German Army.

World War I: The British Expeditionary Force and the French Fifth Army begin their Great Retreat before the German Army.

YEAR 1914

World War I: Japan declares war on Germany.

World War I: Japan declares war on Germany.

YEAR 1904

The automobile tire chain is patented.

The automobile tire chain is patented.

YEAR 1898

The Southern Cross Expedition, the first British venture of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, departs from London.

The Southern Cross Expedition, the first British venture of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, departs from London.

YEAR 1866

The Austro-Prussian War ends with the Treaty of Prague.

The Austro-Prussian War ends with the Treaty of Prague.

YEAR 1839

The United Kingdom captures Hong Kong as a base as it prepares for the First Opium War with Qing China.

The United Kingdom captures Hong Kong as a base as it prepares for the First Opium War with Qing China.