Major Events of August 1956: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from August 1956 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of August 1956: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Aug 1956 Diplomatic Meeting on Suez Crisis: High-level diplomatic discussions occurred at 10 Downing Street involving UK Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd, U.S. Ambassador Robert D. Murphy, and French Foreign Affairs Minister Christian Pineau. The meeting focused on strategizing a response to Egypt's nationalization of the Suez Canal, a critical international waterway with significant geopolitical implications.
02 Aug 1956 Death of Last Civil War Union Veteran: Albert Woolson, the last surviving Union veteran of the American Civil War, passed away at the remarkable age of 106. His death marked the end of a living connection to one of the most significant conflicts in United States history, symbolizing the closing of a profound chapter in American memory.
03 Aug 1956 Willie Williams Sets 100m World Record: US athlete Willie Williams broke the world record for the Men's 100 meters sprint, achieving an impressive time of 10.1 seconds during a track and field event in Berlin, Germany. This remarkable performance represented a significant milestone in sprint athletics during the mid-1950s.
04 Aug 1956 Elvis Presley Releases 'Hound Dog': Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, released the iconic single 'Hound Dog', a pivotal moment in rock music history that would help define the emerging rock and roll genre.
05 Aug 1956 Juan Manuel Fangio Wins 1956 German Grand Prix: At the legendary Nürburgring circuit, Argentine racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio demonstrates his exceptional skill by winning the 1956 German Grand Prix, further solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of his era.
06 Aug 1956 Eisenhower-Bulganin Disarmament Correspondence: President Eisenhower responded to Soviet Premier Bulganin's June 6 message concerning international disarmament. Their diplomatic exchange, later published in the Department of State Bulletin, represented a significant Cold War-era dialogue about potential nuclear arms reduction.
07 Aug 1956 Elvis Presley's Intimate Fan Encounter in Florida: Elvis Presley performed at the Florida Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida. In a charming moment, teenage fans creatively accessed his dressing room via the fire escape, and the charismatic singer graciously posed for photographs with them.
08 Aug 1956 Marcinelle Mining Disaster: On August 8, 1956, a catastrophic fire and explosion occurred at the Bois du Cazier coal mine in Marcinelle, Belgium, resulting in the tragic death of 262 miners. The disaster was particularly devastating for the Italian immigrant worker community, who comprised more than half of the victims. This event highlighted the dangerous working conditions in mid-20th century coal mining and became a pivotal moment in labor safety discussions.
09 Aug 1956 Historic Women's Anti-Pass March in South Africa: On August 9, 1956, approximately 20,000 women of all races, including mothers carrying babies, marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the discriminatory pass laws. Organized by the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) and led by prominent activists Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu, and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn, the march became a powerful symbol of resistance. The women's iconic freedom song, 'Wathint' abafazi, wathint' imbokodo' (You strike a woman, you strike a rock), resonated as a powerful declaration of women's strength and resilience in the face of systemic oppression.
10 Aug 1956 This Is Tomorrow Exhibition Opens: The groundbreaking art exhibition *This Is Tomorrow*, featuring the ICA Independent Group and inspired by Marshall McLuhan's media theories, opens at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in London, representing an important moment in mid-20th century artistic innovation.
11 Aug 1956 Elvis Presley Releases Iconic Single: Rock and roll legend Elvis Presley released the hit single 'Don't Be Cruel', a pivotal moment in his early musical career that would further cement his status as the 'King of Rock and Roll'. The song became a massive commercial success and helped define the emerging rock music genre.
12 Aug 1956 Romanian Greek-Catholic Church Protest Against Communist Regime: Approximately 5,000 members of the banned Romanian Greek-Catholic Church staged a significant protest outside Cluj-Napoca Piarists' Church, demonstrating the church's resilience against Communist suppression. Fr. Vasile Chindriș delivered a bold sermon criticizing the Communist leadership. In response, authorities arrested all priests involved in the protest, showcasing the regime's harsh response to religious dissent.
13 Aug 1956 1956 Democratic National Convention Nominates Stevenson and Kefauver: The Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago from August 13 to August 17, 1956. During this pivotal political gathering, the party nominated Adlai E. Stevenson for president and Estes Kefauver for vice president. This convention was a significant moment in the 1956 United States presidential election campaign, where the Democratic Party selected its candidates to challenge the incumbent Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
14 Aug 1956 Dutch Coaster Hondsrug Sinks off Danish Coast: On August 14, 1956, the Dutch coastal cargo vessel Hondsrug met a tragic fate approximately 10 nautical miles (19 kilometers) north of Fyn, Denmark. During the maritime incident, the ship sank, resulting in the loss of five out of seven crew members. The precise cause of the sinking remains unclear from the available information, highlighting the inherent risks of maritime transportation during the mid-20th century.
15 Aug 1956 Unremarkable Day in 1956: While no specific significant historical events were documented for August 15, 1956, this date falls within the mid-1950s, a period characterized by post-World War II reconstruction, the early Cold War era, and significant social and technological transformations.
16 Aug 1956 Development of First Successful Polio Vaccine: Dr. Jonas Salk completed the development of the world's first successful polio vaccine, marking a groundbreaking moment in medical history. This vaccine would go on to dramatically reduce the incidence of polio, a devastating disease that had caused widespread paralysis and death, particularly among children.
17 Aug 1956 West German Constitutional Court Bans Communist Party: The Federal Constitutional Court of West Germany (Bundesverfassungsgericht) officially banned the Communist Party of Germany (KPD), marking a significant moment in Cold War-era political suppression. This decision reflected the intense anti-communist sentiment in West Germany during the 1950s and was part of the broader ideological struggle between Western democratic systems and communist movements.
18 Aug 1956 Publication of Lolita: Vladimir Nabokov's controversial and groundbreaking novel 'Lolita' is published in the United States, marking a significant moment in 20th-century literature that would spark extensive critical and cultural discussions about narrative style and taboo subjects.
19 Aug 1956 Fay Crocker Wins LPGA St. Louis Golf Open: Professional golfer Fay Crocker secured a significant victory at the LPGA St. Louis Golf Open, marking an important moment in women's professional golf during the mid-1950s. Her win highlighted the growing prominence of female athletes in competitive sports during an era when women's athletic achievements were often overlooked.
20 Aug 1956 First Commercial Nuclear Power Station Begins Operation: The Calder Hall atomic power station in Cumberland, Great Britain, begins operation, marking a significant milestone in nuclear energy history. The facility generates up to 90,000 kilowatts of electricity and is also capable of producing plutonium, demonstrating the dual-use potential of early nuclear technology.
21 Aug 1956 US Navy Aircraft Shot Down by Chinese Fighter Planes: In a tense Cold War incident, fighter planes from the People's Republic of China shot down a U.S. Navy reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Taiwan Strait during a night mission. All 16 crew members aboard were killed, escalating tensions between the United States and China.
22 Aug 1956 US Navy Aircraft Shot Down Over Taiwan Strait: In a tense Cold War incident, Chinese fighter planes intercept and shoot down a U.S. Navy reconnaissance aircraft over the Taiwan Strait, resulting in the tragic loss of all 16 crew members. This event highlights the escalating tensions between the United States and the People's Republic of China during the mid-1950s.
23 Aug 1956 Eisenhower Nominated for Second Presidential Term: At the 1956 Republican National Convention in San Francisco, United States, incumbent President Dwight D. Eisenhower is nominated for re-election. Richard M. Nixon is confirmed as his running mate, setting the stage for the presidential election later that year.
24 Aug 1956 Historic Transcontinental Helicopter Flight: A groundbreaking moment in aviation history occurred when the first non-stop transcontinental helicopter flight successfully arrived in Washington, D.C., demonstrating significant advancements in helicopter technology and long-distance aerial transportation.
25 Aug 1956 1956 Republican National Convention Nominates Eisenhower: At the close of the 1956 Republican National Convention in San Francisco, incumbent President Dwight D. Eisenhower was nominated for re-election, with Vice President Richard M. Nixon as his running mate. Notable entertainer Nat King Cole was among the speakers at the convention, adding cultural significance to the political event.
26 Aug 1956 CS Dinamo București Makes European Cup History: CS Dinamo București became the first Romanian football team to participate in the European Cup tournament, defeating Galatasaray Istanbul at the National Stadium in Bucharest, marking a significant milestone in Romanian football history.
27 Aug 1956 World's First Commercial Nuclear Power Station Goes Online: On August 27, 1956, the Calder Hall nuclear power station in the United Kingdom made history by becoming the world's first commercial nuclear power plant to generate electricity on an industrial scale. This groundbreaking event marked a significant milestone in energy production, demonstrating the potential of nuclear power as a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based electricity generation.
29 Aug 1956 French Troop Deployment to Cyprus during Suez Crisis: In response to escalating tensions in the Middle East, the French government strategically routed troops to Cyprus, positioning military forces near the volatile Suez Canal region. This deployment was part of the complex geopolitical maneuvering surrounding the Suez Crisis, which involved tensions between Egypt and Western powers over the nationalization of the Suez Canal.
30 Aug 1956 Racial Segregation Resistance in Mansfield, Texas: On August 30, 1956, a white mob prevented African American students from enrolling at Mansfield High School, demonstrating the intense racial tensions and resistance to school integration during the Civil Rights era. Protesters gathered around the school, using intimidation and threats of violence to block Black students from accessing education.
31 Aug 1956 States Reorganisation Act Receives Presidential Assent: On August 31, 1956, the President of India formally approved the States Reorganisation Bill, transforming it into the States Reorganisation Act. This landmark legislation fundamentally reshaped India's administrative geography by reorganizing the country's states based on linguistic boundaries, moving away from the colonial-era provincial structures. The act was a critical step in post-independence nation-building, recognizing linguistic and cultural diversity while creating more administratively coherent state units.