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Major Events of August 2008: 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 2008 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of August 2008: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Aug 2008 South Ossetian Forces Attack Georgian Villages: Russian-supported forces from the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia attacked Georgian villages, breaking the 1992 cease-fire agreement and escalating regional tensions.
  • 02 Aug 2008 Deadly K2 Mountain Climbing Tragedy: A catastrophic mountaineering incident occurred on K2 in the Himalayas, resulting in the deaths of two international climbers during an icefall. Six additional expedition members also perished, marking one of the deadliest days in modern high-altitude climbing history.
  • 03 Aug 2008 Death of Alexander Solzhenitsyn: Alexander Solzhenitsyn, renowned Russian author, dissident, and Nobel Prize laureate, passed away at the age of 89. Known for his powerful critiques of the Soviet regime and works like 'The Gulag Archipelago', he was a pivotal figure in exposing the human rights abuses of the Soviet system.
  • 04 Aug 2008 Deadly K2 Mountain Climbing Tragedy: A tragic mountaineering incident occurred on K2 in the Himalayas, where eleven climbers from an international expedition lost their lives after ice fell on a portion of the climbing route, highlighting the extreme dangers of high-altitude mountaineering.
  • 05 Aug 2008 Rwanda Accuses French Officials of Genocide Involvement: Rwanda officially accused French officials, including former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and late President François Mitterrand, of involvement in the 1994 Rwanda Genocide. The accusation calls for these officials to be put on trial for their alleged role in the tragic events.
  • 06 Aug 2008 First Military War Crimes Trial Post-9/11: Salim Hamdan, the former driver of Osama bin Laden, was convicted of supporting terrorist acts in the United States. This trial was historically significant as the first military war crimes prosecution of a terror suspect following the September 11, 2001 attacks, marking a pivotal moment in the post-9/11 legal landscape.
  • 07 Aug 2008 Georgia's Military Action in South Ossetia: Georgia launches a military operation to regain control of South Ossetia, a region that has maintained de facto independence since 1992, escalating tensions in the Caucasus region.
  • 08 Aug 2008 2008 South Ossetia War Begins: Russian and Georgian military forces clash in the breakaway South Ossetia region, marking the start of a significant geopolitical conflict. Russian troops entered South Ossetia to counter a Georgian offensive against the province, escalating tensions in the Caucasus region.
  • 09 Aug 2008 2008 South Ossetia War: A significant military conflict between Russia and Georgia erupted in South Ossetia, resulting in extensive casualties and international tension. The conflict involved Russian military intervention in the disputed Georgian region, with both sides suffering significant losses.
  • 10 Aug 2008 2008 South Ossetian War: The Russo-Georgian conflict escalated with Russian forces compelling Georgian troops to withdraw from Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia. An unnamed US official accused Russia of launching ballistic missiles against Georgia, describing the response as 'far disproportionate to any threat'.
  • 11 Aug 2008 Cyber Warfare Against Georgia: Russia initiated a cyberwar against Georgia, demonstrating a new dimension of modern conflict involving digital and technological warfare.
  • 12 Aug 2008 Michael Phelps Wins Olympic Gold and Sets World Record: Michael Phelps achieved a historic milestone by winning the Olympic gold medal in the 200-metre freestyle swimming event, becoming only the fifth person to win nine career Olympic gold medals. His performance was exceptional, setting a new world record time of 1:42.96.
  • 13 Aug 2008 U.S. Prepares Military Aid for Georgia: President George W. Bush announced that the United States would deploy military aircraft and naval forces to aid Georgia during the ongoing conflict with Russia.
  • 14 Aug 2008 2008 South Ossetia War Developments: Russia declares support for potential referendums in breakaway republics Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Amnesty International reports on the Georgian Army's assault on Tskhinvali, documenting 14 hours of bombardment resulting in significant civilian casualties and infrastructure destruction.
  • 15 Aug 2008 Michael Phelps Sets Olympic Swimming Record: At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, American swimmer Michael Phelps achieved a remarkable milestone by winning his sixth gold medal and setting a world record in the 200 metres individual medley. Simultaneously, teammate Ryan Lochte won gold in the men's 200-metre backstroke with a world-record time of 1:53.94.
  • 16 Aug 2008 Historic Olympic Performances in Beijing: At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, multiple world records were set. Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won the men's 100 metres in a world record time of 9.69 seconds, establishing himself as the fastest man in the world. American swimmer Michael Phelps equaled Mark Spitz's legendary record by winning seven gold medals in a single Olympic Games, specifically winning the 100m butterfly. Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry won the women's 200 backstroke in a world record time, while Britain's Rebecca Adlington broke the world record in the women's 800 freestyle.
  • 17 Aug 2008 Michael Phelps Wins 8 Olympic Gold Medals: American swimmer Michael Phelps made history by becoming the first athlete to win eight gold medals in a single Olympic Games, breaking Mark Spitz's 1972 record. His extraordinary performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympics included five individual gold medals and three relay gold medals, showcasing unprecedented swimming excellence.
  • 18 Aug 2008 Sweden Cuts Ties with Russia over Georgia Invasion: Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt condemned Russia's invasion of Georgia, canceling all military and exercise ties. He declared the Russian actions 'unacceptable and a crime under international law', signaling a significant diplomatic rift.
  • 19 Aug 2008 2008 South Ossetia War Developments: Ongoing conflict between Russia and Georgia in the South Ossetia region, with significant international diplomatic tensions and military movements.
  • 20 Aug 2008 Human Rights Watch Report on South Ossetia Conflict: Human Rights Watch released a report alleging human rights violations by both Russia and Georgia during the South Ossetia conflict. The report detailed the Georgian ground offensive, which included bombardment of Tskhinvali using Grad rocket systems and tanks, resulting in significant civilian casualties and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure.
  • 21 Aug 2008 2008 Wah Bombing in Pakistan: Two devastating suicide bombings occurred in Wah Cantonment, a military-industrial area, killing at least 76 people and injuring 110. The attack targeted a sensitive military installation, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in Pakistan.
  • 22 Aug 2008 Usain Bolt's Olympic Triumph: Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt secured his third gold medal and world record at the Beijing Olympic Games, winning the men's 4x100m relay with a record time of 37.10 seconds.
  • 23 Aug 2008 2008 South Ossetia War: Ongoing conflict between Russia and Georgia in the South Ossetia region, marking a significant geopolitical tension with potential international implications.
  • 24 Aug 2008 2008 Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony: The 2008 Summer Olympics concluded in Beijing, China, with the Olympic flag being ceremonially handed to London mayor Boris Johnson for the upcoming 2012 Games. The games were a massive undertaking, with an official cost of US$2.2 billion for the event and an additional US$40 billion invested in infrastructure and environmental preparation. China achieved a historic milestone by winning 51 gold medals, topping the medal table for the first time.
  • 25 Aug 2008 NNSA Eliminates Highly Enriched Uranium: The National Nuclear Security Administration successfully eliminated 100 metric tons of highly enriched uranium, equivalent to thousands of potential nuclear weapons, representing a major non-proliferation achievement.
  • 26 Aug 2008 Russia Recognizes Georgian Separatist Republics: Russia unilaterally recognizes the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, a controversial move that escalated tensions with Georgia and the international community.
  • 27 Aug 2008 Barack Obama Nominated as Democratic Presidential Candidate: Senator Barack Obama is officially nominated as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, marking a historic moment as the first African American major party nominee.
  • 28 Aug 2008 Barack Obama's Historic Presidential Nomination: Illinois Senator Barack Obama becomes the first African American to be nominated for President by a major political party, accepting the Democratic Party's nomination at INVESCO Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, in a groundbreaking moment for U.S. political history.
  • 29 Aug 2008 McCain Announces Sarah Palin as Running Mate: Senator John McCain selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate during an announcement in Dayton, Ohio, a decision that would significantly impact the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
  • 30 Aug 2008 2008 South Ossetia War: The 2008 South Ossetia War was a significant geopolitical conflict between Russia and Georgia, with Russia announcing South Ossetia's integration into the 'One United Russian State', marking a pivotal moment in regional tensions.
  • 31 Aug 2008 New Orleans Mandatory Evacuation: Mayor Ray Nagin issued a mandatory evacuation order for New Orleans in anticipation of Hurricane Gustav, demonstrating proactive disaster management following the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina.