What Happened on August 20?
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events
births
deaths
holidays
EVENTS ON AUGUST 20
Explore the most important historical events that happened on August 20, featuring key moments that shaped the world.
Eighth Route Army
Year:
1940
World War II: The Eighth Route Army launches the Hundred Regiments Offensive, a successful campaign to disrupt Japanese war infrastructure and logistics in occupied northern China.
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World War II
Year:
1940
World War II: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill makes the fourth of his famous wartime speeches, containing the line "Never was so much owed by so many to so few".
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Lou Gehrig
Year:
1938
Lou Gehrig hits his 23rd career grand slam, a record that stood for 75 years until it was broken by Alex Rodriguez.
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Saladin
Year:
1191
Believing Saladin had reneged on ransom promises, Richard I of England initiates the massacre at Ayyadieh, beheading 2,700 captive Muslim soldiers and another 300 women and children seized at the Fall of Acre.
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WWJ (AM)
Year:
1920
The first commercial radio station, 8MK (now WWJ), begins operations in Detroit.
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Leon Trotsky
Year:
1940
In Mexico City, exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky is fatally wounded with an ice axe by Ramón Mercader. He dies the next day.
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Battle of Romania
Year:
1944
World War II: The Battle of Romania begins with a major Soviet Union offensive.
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King of Hungary
Year:
1083
The first King of Hungary, Stephen I, and his son, Prince Emeric, are canonized, a date now celebrated as a National Day in Hungary.
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BIRTHS ON AUGUST 20
Discover famous people and historical figures born on August 20, including leaders, artists, scientists, and cultural icons.
Connie Chung
Year of birth:
1946
Connie Chung, American journalist
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Henryk M. Broder
Year of birth:
1946
Henryk Broder, Polish-German journalist and author
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Laurent Fabius
Year of birth:
1946
Laurent Fabius, French politician, 158th Prime Minister of France
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Ralf Hütter
Year of birth:
1946
Ralf Hütter, German singer and keyboard player
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Roy Gardner (businessman)
Year of birth:
1945
Roy Gardner, English businessman
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N. R. Narayana Murthy
Year of birth:
1946
N. R. Narayana Murthy, Indian businessman, co-founded Infosys
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Mufaddal Saifuddin
Year of birth:
1946
Mufaddal Saifuddin, 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq of Fatimid Caliphate
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Ray Wise
Year of birth:
1947
Ray Wise, American actor
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DEATHS ON AUGUST 20
Look back at notable individuals who passed away on August 20, and learn about their lasting influences on history.
Pope Pius X
Year of death:
1914
Pope Pius X (born 1835)
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William Booth
Year of death:
1912
William Booth, English preacher, co-founded The Salvation Army (born 1829)
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Paul Ehrlich
Year of death:
1915
Paul Ehrlich, German physician and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1854)
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Adolf von Baeyer
Year of death:
1917
Adolf von Baeyer, German chemist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1835)
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Gregor MacGregor (sportsman)
Year of death:
1919
Greg MacGregor, Scottish cricketer and rugby player (born 1869)
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Charles Lilley
Year of death:
1897
Charles Lilley, English-Australian politician, 4th Premier of Queensland (born 1827)
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Alexander Wassilko von Serecki
Year of death:
1893
Alexander Wassilko von Serecki, Austrian lawyer and politician (born 1827)
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Shiranui Dakuemon
Year of death:
1854
Shiranui Dakuemon, Japanese sumo wrestler, the 8th Yokozuna (born 1801)
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HOLIDAYS ON AUGUST 20
See which holidays, observances, and special celebrations take place on August 20 around the world.
August 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
Christian feast day: August 20 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)
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Saint Amadour
Christian feast day: Amadour
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Manipuri Language Day
Meitei Language Day, also known as Manipuri Language Day, the day on which Meitei (Manipuri) was included in the scheduled languages' list and made one of the official languages of India.
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Revolution of the King and the People
Revolution of the King and the People (Morocco)
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World Mosquito Day
World Mosquito Day
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Samuel
Christian feast day: Samuel (prophet)
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William Booth
Christian feast day: William and Catherine Booth (Church of England)
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Philibert of Jumièges
Christian feast day: Philibert of Jumièges
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