All Events

Historical Events on August 31

  • American Civil War

    1864

    During the American Civil War, Union forces led by General William T. Sherman launch an assault on Atlanta.

  • Polish-Soviet War

    1920

    Polish-Soviet War: A decisive Polish victory in the Battle of Komarów.

  • Nazi Germany

    1939

    Nazi Germany mounts a false flag attack on the Gleiwitz radio station, creating an excuse to attack Poland the following day, thus starting World War II in Europe.

  • Chetniks

    1941

    World War II: Serbian paramilitary forces defeat Germans in the Battle of Loznica.

  • Trinidad and Tobago

    1962

    Trinidad and Tobago becomes independent.

  • Soviet Union

    1986

    The Soviet passenger liner Admiral Nakhimov sinks in the Black Sea after colliding with the bulk carrier Pyotr Vasev, killing 423.

  • Lithuania

    1993

    Russia completes removing its troops from Lithuania.

  • Saddam Hussein

    1996

    Saddam Hussein's troops seized Irbil after the Kurdish Masoud Barzani appealed for help to defeat his Kurdish rival PUK.

  • Diana, Princess of Wales

    1997

    Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Fayed and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.

All Births

Famous Birthdays on August 31

All Deaths

Famous Deaths on August 31

30. August

01. September