August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 151 days remain until the end of the year.
We have some interesting facts & historic events all about August 2nd, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.
Keep reading for more interesting facts about August 2nd in history!
Table of Contents
Global Celebrations
- Coloring Book Day
- National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
- Day of Azerbaijani Cinema
Historic Events
What Happened On This Day – August 2
1998: Second Congo War Begins
The deadliest war in Africa, the war and its aftermath has killed an estimated 5.4 million people. The war started with a mutiny in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and soon involved 9 African nations. It lasted for 5 years.
1990: Invasion of Kuwait begins
In 2 days Iraqi forces had overrun Kuwaiti forces and Saddam Hussein declared Kuwait as the 19th province of Iraq. The invasion lasted for 7 months and ended after a UN-authorized coalition force led by the United States intervened.
1958: The Arab Federation is dissolved
The short-lived federation of Jordan and Iraq was dissolved after King Faisal of Iraq was deposed and assassinated during the 14 July Revolution.
1945: The Potsdam Conference which is convened to negotiate the terms of the end of WW II comes to an end
Representatives from the US, U.K., and Soviet Union participated in the conference.
1870: World’s first underground railway opened
The Tower Subway beneath river Thames in London opened its doors for passengers. The subway was closed within a few months because of bankruptcy. The tunnel is now used for utilities.
1985: Standing on the ruins of Syrian Social Nationalist Party headquarter in Shtura, Beqaa Governate, Lebanon while holding the SSNP flag. Israeli planes destroyed it on 2 August 1985.
1943: General Montgomery stops his car to talk to men of the Royal Engineers working on a road near Catania, Sicily, in August 1943.
1898: Day of Azerbaijani Cinema. By the order of Heydar Aliyev in 2000 dated December 18, August 2 was declared “Day of Azerbaijani Cinema”.
1863: August 1863. Bealeton, Va. Capt. Henry Page, assistant quartermaster, at Army of Potomac headquarters with the horse.
Famous Birthdays
Births On This Day, August 2
1981: Alexander Emelianenko, Russian mixed martial artist
1964: Mary-Louise Parker, American actress
1932: Peter O’Toole, Irish actor
1892: Jack Warner, Canadian/American film producer
1820: John Tyndall, British physicist
Heartbreaking Deaths
Deaths On This Day, August 2
1997: Fela Kuti, Nigerian singer-songwriter, musician, activist
1934: Paul von Hindenburg, Prussian/German field marshal, politician, 2nd President of Germany
1923: Warren G. Harding, American politician, 29th President of the United States
1922: Alexander Graham Bell, Scottish/American engineer, invented the Telephone
1921: Enrico Caruso, Italian tenor
