August 13 - This Day in History

August 13: General Interest
1961: Berlin is divided

Shortly after midnight on this day in 1961, East German soldiers begin laying down barbed wire and bricks as a barrier between Soviet-controlled East Berlin and the democratic western section of the city... read more


American Revolution
1781 : Patriots ambush Loyalists as French set sail
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/patriots-ambush-loyalists-as-french-set-sail


Automotive
1902 : Rotary engine inventor Felix Wankel born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/rotary-engine-inventor-felix-wankel-born


Civil War
1864 : Deep Bottom Run campaign begins
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/deep-bottom-run-campaign-begins


Cold War
1948 : Record day for the Berlin Airlift
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/record-day-for-the-berlin-airlift


Crime
1961 : Yosemite killer Cary Stayner born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yosemite-killer-cary-stayner-born


Disaster
1878 : First victim of Memphis yellow-fever epidemic dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-victim-of-memphis-yellow-fever-epidemic-dies


General Interest
1521 : Aztec capital falls to Cortés
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/aztec-capital-falls-to-corts

1899 : Hitchcock born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hitchcock-born

1926 : Fidel Castro born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fidel-castro-born


Hollywood
1982 : Fast Times at Ridgemont High debuts
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fast-times-at-ridgemont-high-debuts


Literary
1931 : Novelist and screenwriter William Goldman is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/novelist-and-screenwriter-william-goldman-is-born


Music
1952 : "Hound Dog" is recorded for the first time by Big Mama Thornton
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quothound-dogquot-is-recorded-for-the-first-time-by-big-mama-thornton


Old West
1860 : Annie Oakley is born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/annie-oakley-is-born


Presidential
1981 : Reagan signs Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA)
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/reagan-signs-economic-recovery-tax-act-erta


Sports
1995 : Yankee legend dies
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yankee-legend-dies


Vietnam War
1966 : Prince Sihanouk criticizes the United States
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/prince-sihanouk-criticizes-the-united-states

1972 : Sappers raid Long Binh ammo dump
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sappers-raid-long-binh-ammo-dump


World War I
1918 : German crown council at Spa
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/german-crown-council-at-spa


World War II
1940 : The Battle of Britain escalates
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-battle-of-britain-escalates