Major Events of August 1980: 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 1980 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of August 1980: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Aug 1980 First Female Democratically Elected Head of State: Vigdís Finnbogadóttir is elected President of Iceland, making history as the world's first democratically elected female head of state. Her election marks a significant milestone in gender equality and political representation.
02 Aug 1980 Bologna Train Station Terrorist Bombing: On August 2, 1980, a devastating terrorist bombing occurred at the Bologna Centrale railway station in Italy, resulting in 85 fatalities and over 200 injuries. The attack was carried out by right-wing extremists from the Armed Revolutionary Nuclei Group, marking one of the deadliest terrorist incidents in modern Italian history. The bomb exploded in the first-class and second-class waiting rooms, causing significant structural damage and collapsing the station's roof onto a train preparing to depart for Basel, Switzerland.
03 Aug 1980 22nd Olympic Games Close in Moscow: The XXII Summer Olympic Games concluded at the Grand Arena of the Central Lenin Stadium in Moscow, USSR. This Olympics was notably marked by significant political tension, with 18 out of 81 participating national teams marching with the Olympic flag instead of their national flags to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
04 Aug 1980 Susan G. Komen's Legacy Begins: Susan G. Komen, a 36-year-old American model, passed away from breast cancer. In a profound act of love and commitment, her sister Nancy Goodman Brinker founded the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in her memory, which would become a pivotal organization in breast cancer research and awareness.
05 Aug 1980 Serial Killers Begin Murder Spree in Chile: Jorge Sagrado Pizarro and Carlos Topp Collins initiated a horrific series of 10 murders over 16 months in Viña del Mar, Chile. Their first victim was Enrique Gajardo Casales, an electrician, marking the beginning of a terrifying criminal period.
06 Aug 1980 Tragic Hotel Fire in Bundoran: A devastating fire at the Central Hotel in the Irish seaside resort of Bundoran, County Donegal, resulted in the tragic loss of ten lives, including five adults and five children.
07 Aug 1980 Solidarity Movement Begins in Poland: Lech Wałęsa leads the first of several strikes at the Gdańsk Shipyard, marking a pivotal moment in Poland's resistance against communist rule. These strikes would become a catalyst for the Solidarity movement, a crucial turning point in Eastern European political history.
08 Aug 1980 Central Hotel Fire in Bundoran, Ireland: A tragic fire at the Central Hotel in the seaside resort of Bundoran, County Donegal, resulted in the deaths of five adults and five children. This devastating incident highlighted the importance of fire safety in public accommodations.
09 Aug 1980 Mohammad-Ali Rajai Nominated as Iranian Prime Minister: Mohammad-Ali Rajai was nominated as the new Prime Minister of Iran, becoming the first to hold the position in almost nine months. He was selected as the second choice of President Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, during a period of significant political transition following the Iranian Revolution.
10 Aug 1980 Hurricane Allen Strikes Texas: Hurricane Allen, the most powerful hurricane in the Caribbean at the time, made landfall in Brownsville, Texas, causing significant damage and disruption.
11 Aug 1980 Mohammed Ali Rajai Appointed Iranian Premier: Mohammed Ali Rajai was appointed as the Prime Minister of Iran, marking a critical moment in the country's post-revolutionary political landscape during a period of significant geopolitical tension.
12 Aug 1980 Nicaragua's National Literary Crusade Concludes: On August 12, 1980, Nicaragua celebrated the successful completion of its National Literary Crusade, a remarkable educational initiative that dramatically reduced national illiteracy rates from 50% to just 12% over a five-month period. This campaign represented a significant achievement in expanding educational access and literacy in the country.
13 Aug 1980 Political Upheaval in Suriname: On August 13, 1980, President Johan Ferrier was forcibly removed from power in a significant political transition. This event marked a critical moment in Surinamese political history, signaling potential changes in the country's governance and leadership structure.
14 Aug 1980 Gdańsk Workers Strike: A massive strike involving 17,000 workers erupted at the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk, Poland, marking a pivotal moment in the country's labor movement and resistance against communist rule.
15 Aug 1980 UK Number 1 Hit: 'The Winner Takes It All' by Abba: On August 15, 1980, 'The Winner Takes It All' by Swedish pop group Abba was the top song in the United Kingdom. This track was part of their album 'Super Trouper' and highlighted Abba's global musical influence during this period.
16 Aug 1980 Azaria Chamberlain Disappearance: Nine-week-old Azaria Chamberlain disappeared from a campsite near Uluru (then called Ayers Rock) in Australia, with her mother claiming a dingo had taken the baby. This case became one of Australia's most famous and controversial legal and media stories, sparking intense public debate about justice and wilderness dangers.
17 Aug 1980 Azaria Chamberlain Disappearance: Baby Azaria Chamberlain vanishes from a campsite near Uluru (Ayers Rock) in a mysterious and tragic incident that would become one of the most publicized and controversial criminal cases in Australian history. The child's parents, Lindy and Michael Chamberlain, claimed a dingo had taken their nine-week-old daughter, a statement initially met with skepticism but later proven true.
18 Aug 1980 Deng Xiaoping's Leadership Reform Speech: Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping delivered a pivotal speech titled 'On the Reform of the Party and State Leadership System' to the Chinese Communist Party. This address was a critical moment in China's political transformation, signaling significant structural reforms in governance and party leadership.
19 Aug 1980 WHO Smallpox Eradication Project Begins: The World Health Organization (WHO) launches its Smallpox Eradication Project in India, a critical global health initiative aimed at completely eliminating one of humanity's most devastating diseases.
20 Aug 1980 Reinhold Messner's Historic Solo Everest Climb: Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner achieved a groundbreaking feat by becoming the first person to summit Mount Everest alone, demonstrating extraordinary mountaineering skill and endurance in one of the world's most challenging environments.
21 Aug 1980 Founding of PETA: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), one of the world's largest animal rights organizations, was founded by Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco. The organization would go on to become a prominent global advocate for animal welfare, using high-profile campaigns and media strategies to raise awareness about animal rights and promote ethical treatment of animals.
22 Aug 1980 Chicago White Sox Sale Blocked by American League Owners: On August 22, 1980, Bill Veeck attempted to sell the Chicago White Sox to Eddie DeBartolo Sr for $20 million. However, the sale was unexpectedly blocked by American League owners, preventing the transaction from being completed. This incident highlighted the significant control league owners had over team ownership transfers during this era.
23 Aug 1980 Oakland A's Ownership Transfer: On August 23, 1980, Charles O. Finley sold the Oakland Athletics baseball team to Walter Haas Jr., the owner of Levi Strauss, for $12.7 million. This significant sports business transaction marked a notable moment in Major League Baseball ownership history.
24 Aug 1980 Guatemalan Civil War Atrocity: During the brutal Guatemalan Civil War, 17 laborers were tragically killed, highlighting the ongoing violence and human rights violations in the region.
25 Aug 1980 Zimbabwe Joins United Nations: Zimbabwe officially becomes a member of the United Nations, marking a significant milestone in its post-independence international recognition.
26 Aug 1980 FBI Accidentally Detonates Bomb at Harvey's Resort Hotel: In a dramatic incident at Harvey's Resort Hotel in Stateline, Nevada, the FBI attempted to disarm a bomb planted by John Birges but inadvertently triggered its detonation, causing significant damage to the property and highlighting the complexities of bomb disposal operations.
27 Aug 1980 South Korean Presidential Election of 1980: General Chun Doo-hwan was elected President of South Korea through the National Conference for Unification, following his controversial military coup in May. Running unopposed, Chun consolidated power by manipulating the electoral process and establishing himself as the leader of the Fourth Republic of Korea.
28 Aug 1980 World's First MRI Scan Performed: Scientists at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland successfully conducted the world's first Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, marking a revolutionary breakthrough in medical diagnostic technology. This groundbreaking achievement would transform medical imaging, allowing non-invasive, detailed visualization of internal body structures without using harmful radiation.
29 Aug 1980 Uneventful Day in Global History: While no major global events were recorded on this specific date, August 29, 1980, represents a typical day during the early 1980s. The world was in the midst of the Cold War, with ongoing geopolitical tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. This period was characterized by technological advancements, economic shifts, and significant cultural transformations.
30 Aug 1980 Bologna Railway Station Terrorist Bombing: A devastating terrorist attack occurred at the Bologna Centrale railway station, resulting in 85 fatalities and over 200 injuries. This tragic event was one of the most significant acts of terrorism in Italy during the 'Years of Lead', a period of political violence and social unrest characterized by extremist activities from both far-left and far-right groups.
31 Aug 1980 Formation of Solidarity Trade Union in Poland: The Solidarity trade union was formed in Poland, marking a pivotal moment in the country's labor movement and resistance against communist rule. Led by Lech Wałęsa, this independent trade union would become a significant force in challenging the Soviet-controlled government and ultimately contribute to the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.