15 August

August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 138 days remain until the end of the year.

We have some interesting facts & historic events all about August 15^th, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about August 15^th in history!

Global Celebrations

National Relaxation Day
National Lemon Meringue Pie Day
National Acadian Day
National Check The Chip Day
Independence Day in India

Historic Events

What Happened On This Day – August 15

2015: North Korea Introduces Pyongyang Time

The East Asian country introduced the time change to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Japanese occupation of Korea. Before the change, North Korea was UTC+09:00. Since this day, the time in the country is UTC+08:30.

1973: US involvement in Vietnam ends

The Case–Church Amendment passed by the US Congress set August 15 as the deadline for the end of the US military involvement in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Because of this, the US ended all military offensives in Vietnam on this day.

1969: The Woodstock Music & Art Fair opens its doors to participants and spectators

The iconic music festival, popularly known as Woodstock was held in Bethel, New York at the 600-acre farm of farmer Max B. Yasgur. Over 400,000 people attended the festival, which is often thought to be a key moment in the anti-establishment movement that was gaining popularity in the United States.

1960: Congo gains its Independence

The Central African country came under French control in the late 19th century. In the early 20th century, the French consolidated their territories in Central Africa to create the French Equatorial Africa, with Brazzaville as its capital. During the Second World War, when the Nazis occupied France, Brazzaville acted as the temporary capital of Free France. After violent protests and riots, the country became independent with Fulbert Youlou as its first President.

1947: India Becomes Independent From British Rule

British control of the South Asian country began in mid 1800s with the East India Company. The company initially established itself in the subcontinent for trading purposes, and then slowly took control over the princely states that separately ruled the country. A violent rebellion in 1857 prompted the British Crown to take over direct rule of India. The time between then and independence in 1945 was marked by violent and nonviolent movements targeted towards gaining independent rule. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a key figure in the nonviolent civil disobedience movement against the British. Independence came with the country being partitioned into India and Pakistan. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India, while Liaquat Ali Khan became the first Prime Minister of Pakistan.

1945: Soong Mei-ling (wife of Chiang Kai Shek) joyfully looks over the victory headlines upon the surrender of Japan, at her home in New York. August 15, 1945