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Major Events of September 1968: 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 September 1968 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of September 1968: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 1968 Birth of Mohammed Atta, 9/11 Terrorist: Mohammed Atta was born, who would later become one of the primary hijackers involved in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. He was a key leader of the Al-Qaeda terrorist cell responsible for planning and executing the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.
  • 02 Sep 1968 Devastating Ferdows Earthquake: A catastrophic earthquake struck Ferdows in Persia (modern-day Iran), resulting in approximately 2,000 fatalities. The seismic event caused widespread destruction and significant loss of life in the region.
  • 03 Sep 1968 Raymond Coulthard Born: Raymond Coulthard, a notable English actor, was born on September 3, 1968. He would later become known for his work in television, film, and stage productions, contributing to the British entertainment industry.
  • 04 Sep 1968 Nigerian Troops Capture Aba During Biafran War: During the Nigerian Civil War, Nigerian federal troops successfully captured the strategic town of Aba in Biafra on September 4, 1968. This military operation was part of the broader conflict aimed at suppressing the Biafran secession and maintaining Nigeria's territorial integrity.
  • 05 Sep 1968 Pan Am Flight Hijacking Tragedy in Karachi: A devastating hijacking incident resulted in the deaths of 21 passengers aboard a Pan Am jet in Karachi, Pakistan, highlighting the escalating global terrorism challenges of the late 1960s.
  • 06 Sep 1968 Swaziland Independence Day: Swaziland officially gains independence from British colonial rule, marking a significant milestone in the nation's history. This momentous event transforms the country from a British protectorate to a sovereign state, establishing its own governance and national identity.
  • 07 Sep 1968 Led Zeppelin's Historic Live Debut: Led Zeppelin, initially billed as The New Yardbirds, made their first live performance at the Egegard School 'Teen Club' in Gladsaxe, Denmark. The band, consisting of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham, would go on to become one of the most influential rock bands in history.
  • 08 Sep 1968 The Beatles' Last Live TV Performance: The Beatles perform their final live television appearance on the David Frost show, featuring their hit song 'Hey Jude'. This performance marks a significant moment in the band's history, symbolizing their transition from live performances to studio recordings.
  • 09 Sep 1968 Arthur Ashe's Historic Grand Slam Win: Arthur Ashe became the first Black man to win a Grand Slam tennis tournament by winning the US Open, breaking racial barriers in professional tennis and marking a pivotal moment in sports history.
  • 10 Sep 1968 Guy Ritchie Born: British film director Guy Ritchie was born on September 10, 1968, in Hatfield, England. Known for his stylized crime films like 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' and 'Snatch', he has also directed major Hollywood productions including Sherlock Holmes and live-action Disney films.
  • 11 Sep 1968 Albania's Warsaw Pact Withdrawal: In a significant geopolitical move on September 11, 1968, Albania officially withdrew from the Warsaw Pact. This decision came in direct response to the Warsaw Pact's recent invasion of Czechoslovakia, signaling Albania's disagreement with Soviet military interventionism and marking a notable moment of diplomatic defiance during the Cold War era.
  • 12 Sep 1968 Albania Withdraws from Warsaw Pact: On September 12, 1968, Albania officially announced its withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, a collective defense treaty between the Soviet Union and other Eastern European communist states. This decision marked a significant diplomatic break from Soviet influence and demonstrated Albania's increasing political independence during the Cold War era.
  • 13 Sep 1968 Albania Leaves Warsaw Pact: During the Cold War, Albania officially withdrew from the Warsaw Pact, a significant political and military alliance led by the Soviet Union. This move signaled Albania's increasing diplomatic independence and growing tensions with Soviet-controlled Eastern Bloc countries.
  • 14 Sep 1968 USSR's Zond 5 Lunar Mission: The Soviet Union launched Zond 5, a groundbreaking spacecraft that became the first to successfully circumnavigate the Moon and return to Earth, marking a significant milestone in the Space Race.
  • 15 Sep 1968 Soviet Zond 5 Lunar Mission: The Soviet Union launched the Zond 5 spacecraft, marking the first successful lunar fly-around mission with a planned Earth reentry. The spacecraft carried biological specimens including turtles, worms, and plant seeds, which survived the journey and re-entry on September 21.
  • 16 Sep 1968 Arthur Ashe Makes Historic U.S. Open Victory: Arthur Ashe becomes the first African American man to win a Grand Slam tennis tournament by winning the U.S. Open, breaking significant racial barriers in professional tennis and marking a pivotal moment in sports history.
  • 17 Sep 1968 D'Oliveira Affair: Cricket Tour Cancelled Due to Racial Discrimination: The Marylebone Cricket Club's tour of South Africa was cancelled after South African authorities refused to accept Basil D'Oliveira, a Cape Coloured player, highlighting the deep-rooted racial segregation and discrimination in sports during the apartheid era.
  • 18 Sep 1968 Funny Girl Film Premiere: The iconic biopic "Funny Girl" premiered, directed by William Wyler and starring Barbra Streisand and Omar Sharif. The film chronicles the life of comedienne Fanny Brice and would become a significant cultural milestone.
  • 19 Sep 1968 Mickey Mantle Hits Historic 535th Home Run: Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hit his 535th home run, surpassing baseball legend Jimmie Foxx and further cementing his status as one of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history.
  • 20 Sep 1968 Hawaii 5-O Television Premiere: "Hawaii 5-O" debuts on CBS, launching a groundbreaking crime drama series that would become a television landmark. The show would go on to set a record as the longest-running crime show in television history until "Law & Order" surpassed it in 2003, showcasing the enduring appeal of the police procedural genre.
  • 21 Sep 1968 Soviet Zond 5 Lunar Mission Returns to Earth: The Soviet Union's Zond 5 unmanned lunar flyby mission successfully returned to Earth, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. This groundbreaking mission was the first to carry a biological payload and complete a circumlunar flight, with two tortoises surviving the six-day journey and landing in the Indian Ocean.
  • 22 Sep 1968 Abu Simbel Temples Reopened: The historic Abu Simbel temples in Egypt were reopened to the public, four years after an extraordinary UNESCO-led relocation project to save them from flooding caused by the Aswan High Dam construction.
  • 23 Sep 1968 End of Phase III of the Tet Offensive: The Tet Offensive, a major military campaign during the Vietnam War, concluded its third phase. This significant military operation involved coordinated attacks by the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong against South Vietnamese and U.S. forces, marking a critical turning point in the conflict.
  • 24 Sep 1968 60 Minutes Television Debut: The iconic news magazine program '60 Minutes' premieres on CBS-TV, introducing a groundbreaking format of investigative journalism and in-depth reporting that would become a landmark in television news.
  • 26 Sep 1968 End of Theatre Censorship in Britain: A significant milestone in British cultural freedom occurs with the official end of theatre censorship, allowing playwrights and theatrical productions greater artistic expression and removing long-standing restrictions on dramatic content.
  • 27 Sep 1968 France Blocks UK Entry into European Common Market: In a significant diplomatic moment, France refused the United Kingdom's application to join the European Common Market, reflecting the complex geopolitical tensions of the late 1960s and the challenges of European economic integration.
  • 28 Sep 1968 The Beatles' "Hey Jude" Tops Charts: The Beatles' single "Hey Jude" reaches number 1 on the music charts and maintains the top position for an impressive 9 weeks, demonstrating the band's immense popularity during the late 1960s.
  • 29 Sep 1968 Greek Military Referendum Expands Junta's Power: A controversial referendum in Greece further consolidated the power of the military junta, marking a significant moment in the country's political suppression during the military dictatorship period.
  • 30 Sep 1968 Boeing 747 Public Debut: The Boeing 747 jet airliner was rolled out and publicly unveiled at the Boeing Everett Factory, marking a revolutionary moment in commercial aviation history. This wide-body aircraft would transform long-distance air travel and become an iconic symbol of modern transportation technology.