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2008

War of Afghanistan: The Uzbin Valley ambush occurs.

War of Afghanistan: The Uzbin Valley ambush occurs.

1971

Vietnam War: Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw their troops from Vietnam.

Vietnam War: Australia and New Zealand decide to withdraw their troops from Vietnam.

1966

Vietnam War: The Battle of Long Tan ensues after a patrol from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment clashes…

Vietnam War: The Battle of Long Tan ensues after a patrol from the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment clashes with a Viet Cong force in Phước Tuy Province.

1945

Soviet-Japanese War: Battle of Shumshu: Soviet forces land at Takeda Beach on Shumshu Island and launch the Battle of…

Soviet-Japanese War: Battle of Shumshu: Soviet forces land at Takeda Beach on Shumshu Island and launch the Battle of Shumshu; the Soviet Union's Invasion of the Kuril Islands commences.

1940

World War II: The Hardest Day air battle, part of the Battle of Britain, takes place. At that point, it is the largest…

World War II: The Hardest Day air battle, part of the Battle of Britain, takes place. At that point, it is the largest aerial engagement in history with heavy losses sustained on both sides.

1870

Franco-Prussian War: Battle of Gravelotte is fought.

Franco-Prussian War: Battle of Gravelotte is fought.

1864

American Civil War: Battle of Globe Tavern: Union forces try to cut a vital Confederate supply-line into Petersburg,…

American Civil War: Battle of Globe Tavern: Union forces try to cut a vital Confederate supply-line into Petersburg, Virginia, by attacking the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad.

1890

Walther Funk, German economist and politician, Reich Minister of Economics, convicted Nuremberg war criminal (died 1960)

Walther Funk, German economist and politician, Reich Minister of Economics, convicted Nuremberg war criminal (died 1960)

1975

Odd Lindbäck-Larsen, Norwegian Army general and war historian (born 1897)

Odd Lindbäck-Larsen, Norwegian Army general and war historian (born 1897)

1966

Vietnam War: Members of the 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment were surrounded by a much larger Viet Cong…

Vietnam War: Members of the 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment were surrounded by a much larger Viet Cong unit at the Battle of Long Tan (helicopter pictured), but held them off for severa�

1945

World War II: Amid a Soviet invasion of Japanese-held Sakhalin, Japanese police massacred 18 Koreans in Kamishisuka.

World War II: Amid a Soviet invasion of Japanese-held Sakhalin, Japanese police massacred 18 Koreans in Kamishisuka.

1940

Second World War: During the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe made an all-out effort to destroy RAF Fighter Command,…

Second World War: During the Battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe made an all-out effort to destroy RAF Fighter Command, with both sides combined losing more aircraft on this day than at any other point d�

1919

Russian Civil War: British motor torpedo boats raided the Bolshevik Baltic Fleet's home base of Kronstadt, sinking a…

Russian Civil War: British motor torpedo boats raided the Bolshevik Baltic Fleet's home base of Kronstadt, sinking a depot ship and damaging a battleship.

1864

American Civil War: At the Battle of Globe Tavern, Union forces attempted to sever the Weldon Railroad during the…

American Civil War: At the Battle of Globe Tavern, Union forces attempted to sever the Weldon Railroad during the siege of Petersburg.

1980

Otłoczyn railway accident: In Poland's worst post-war railway accident, 67 people lose their lives and a further 62…

Otłoczyn railway accident: In Poland's worst post-war railway accident, 67 people lose their lives and a further 62 are injured.

1960

Cold War: In Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union, downed American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers is sentenced to ten years…

Cold War: In Moscow, Russia, Soviet Union, downed American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers is sentenced to ten years imprisonment by the Soviet Union for espionage.

1953

Cold War: The CIA and MI6 help to overthrow the government of Mohammad Mosaddegh in Iran and reinstate the Shah…

Cold War: The CIA and MI6 help to overthrow the government of Mohammad Mosaddegh in Iran and reinstate the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

1944

World War II: Liberation of Paris: Paris, France rises against German occupation with the help of Allied troops.

World War II: Liberation of Paris: Paris, France rises against German occupation with the help of Allied troops.

1942

World War II: Operation Jubilee (The Dieppe Raid): The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division leads an amphibious assault by…

World War II: Operation Jubilee (The Dieppe Raid): The 2nd Canadian Infantry Division leads an amphibious assault by allied forces on Dieppe, France and fails.

1862

Dakota War: During an uprising in Minnesota, Lakota warriors decide not to attack heavily defended Fort Ridgely and…

Dakota War: During an uprising in Minnesota, Lakota warriors decide not to attack heavily defended Fort Ridgely and instead turn to the settlement of New Ulm, killing white settlers along the way.