What Happened on August 8

War Desk

1918 — Amiens Offensive Opens as Allies Strike Decisive Blow

British and French troops smash through German lines in northern France — the Hundred Days begin, aiming to end the war by year's end.

MARSHAL FOCH'S ARMIES struck this morning at dawn, launching the Battle of Amiens that opens the long-awaited Allied counteroffensive. In northern France, British and French divisions, supported by hundreds of tanks and overwhelming artillery, have pierced the German front lines. Their objective is nothing less than the destruction of the enemy's power to resist.

The attack follows the failure of the German spring offensive, which some historians already call a Pyrrhic victory — a costly push that delivered no decisive blow. By August, the Allies regained numerical superiority as American troops poured into the trenches. Now, with the initiative seized, the Hundred Days Offensive aims to drive the Germans back from all ground they took this spring and to smash the Hindenburg Line itself.

Eyewitnesses report Allied artillery crews firing in relentless salvos, their guns pounding enemy positions as infantry advance behind creeping barrages. The offensive is expected to gain momentum in the coming weeks, with the promise of ending the four-year conflict.

From the first reports, the breakthrough appears complete, and the road to victory opens.

• The Battle of Amiens on August 8, 1918, marked the start of the Hundred Days Offensive.
• The German spring offensive failed to deliver a blow that could save Germany from defeat, described by some historians as a Pyrrhic victory.
• By August 1918, the Allies regained numerical advantage with the arrival of American troops and launched a counteroffensive.
• The Hundred Days Offensive resulted in the Germans losing all ground taken in the Spring Offensive and the collapse of the Hindenburg Line.

Arts & Music

1969 — Beatles' Album Cover Shot in a Flash on Abbey

At 11:30 this morning, photographer Iain Macmillan, balanced on a stepladder about 10 feet in the air, captured the cover for the Beatles' next album.

At 11:30 this morning, photographer Iain Macmillan, balanced on a stepladder about 10 feet in the air in the middle of Abbey Road, captured the photograph that will adorn the Beatles' next album. The zebra crossing outside the famous studios was the scene, with a policeman hired to hold back traffic and an early hour chosen to avoid crowds of fans.

Macmillan had received a sketch from Paul McCartney a couple of days earlier, showing precisely where the group should walk and what the picture should look like.

• Macmillan climbed a stepladder about 10 feet in the air in the middle of Abbey Road around 11:30 am on 8 August 1969.
• Paul McCartney gave Macmillan a sketch a couple days before the shoot showing where and what the picture should look like.
• The fifth photo, used for the album cover, is the only one where Paul is smoking and the only one with their legs in perfect formation.
• A policeman was hired to control traffic during the shoot, and the earlier hour was chosen to avoid fans.
• The zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios has become a place of pilgrimage for Beatles fans.

Global Health

2014 — WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak a Global Emergency

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola epidemic in Western Africa a public health emergency of international concern, following the outbreak that began in December 2013.

The World Health Organization declared the Ebola epidemic in Western Africa a public health emergency of international concern today, following the outbreak that began in December 2013.

• The WHO declared the 2026 Ituri Province Ebola epidemic a public health emergency of international concern on 16 May 2026.
• The epidemic is caused by the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, which has complicated response efforts as existing treatments were certified for Zaire ebolavirus.
• There have been 754 confirmed deaths in D.R. Congo and two deaths in Uganda as of the second week of July.
• The outbreak may have started with the funeral of a pastor in Mongbwalu on 4 February, where nearly 50 others died with Ebola-like symptoms.
• On 16 May, the WHO announced eight laboratory-confirmed cases in Ituri, one in Kinshasa, and two in Kampala.

Astronomy

1576 — Tycho Brahe Lays Cornerstone of Uraniborg on Hven

Danish astronomer begins work on his great observatory, a castle of the stars on the island of Hven.

On the island of Hven, in the sound between Denmark and Sweden, the cornerstone of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe's observatory Uraniborg was laid this day.

• The cornerstone of Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe's observatory Uraniborg was laid on the island of Hven.

International Desk

2010 — Gansu Mudslide Death Toll Tops 1,471; Hundreds Missing

Officials order locals to stop searching for survivors or bodies to prevent disease, with 294 still missing after the August 8 mudslide.

China's worst single disaster of the summer floods has now claimed at least 1,471 lives, with 294 people still missing after a massive mudslide tore through Zhouqu County, Gansu Province, at midnight on August 8. Officials have ordered locals to stop searching for survivors or bodies to prevent the spread of disease, even as more than 1,700 evacuated people remain housed in schools. The nation observed a day of mourning on that date, with flags at half-mast and entertainment suspended. The mudslide stands as the most deadly individual disaster of the 2010 China floods.

• The mudslide occurred at midnight on 8 August 2010 in Zhouqu County, Gansu Province, China.
• As of 21 August 2010, the mudslide had killed more than 1,471 people and left 294 missing.
• Officials ordered locals to stop searching for survivors or bodies to prevent the spread of disease.
• Over 1,700 evacuated people were living in schools after the disaster.
• On 15 August 2010, China observed a day of mourning with flags at half-mast and entertainment suspended.

Metro Briefing

2009 — Nine Die in Hudson River Collision of Helicopter, Plane

Tour craft and private airplane crash over Hoboken; probe underway.

In a year already marked by the miracle on the Hudson, the river turned deadly on August 8 when a tour helicopter and a small private airplane collided at 11:53 a.m. near Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken, New Jersey, killing all nine people aboard.

• The collision occurred at 11:53 a.m. over the Hudson River near Frank Sinatra Park in Hoboken, New Jersey.
• The aircraft involved were a tour Eurocopter AS350 Écureuil helicopter and a small private Piper PA-32R airplane.
• The collision site was about 2 miles south of where US Airways Flight 1549 ditched on January 15, 2009.
• The National Transportation Safety Board released a report on August 14, 2009, discussing the collision's circumstances.
• The FAA instituted new Hudson River corridor rules on November 19, 2009, establishing three air traffic zones.

Foreign News

1956 — Belgian Mine Disaster Kills 262, Mostly Italians

Cage mishap starts fire that traps 274 men underground at Bois du Cazier.

For the Italian guest workers of the Bois du Cazier colliery, August 8 began with the 8:10 a.m. shift change, but the hoist was started before a coal wagon was fully loaded into the cage, rupturing electric cables and oil and air pipes. Smoke and carbon monoxide raced through the shafts, trapping 274 men underground; 262 perished.

• The disaster began at 8:10 am when the hoist mechanism was started before a coal wagon was fully loaded into the cage.
• Electric cables ruptured, starting an underground fire that spread smoke and carbon monoxide through the mine.
• 262 miners died of smoke inhalation and carbon monoxide poisoning, while 274 workers were underground at the time.
• The majority of the victims were guest workers from Italy, brought in to address post-war labour shortages in Belgium.
• The moving cage ruptured oil and air pipes, worsening the fire and destroying much of the winch mechanism.

Aviation

1929 — Graf Zeppelin Off on World Flight

Airship leaves Lakehurst; souvenir mail helps pay the way.

A $3.55 stamp will carry a letter around the world and back to Lakehurst, New Jersey, aboard the Graf Zeppelin, which departed today on its round-the-world flight. The giant airship carries an estimated one million pieces of souvenir mail, with proceeds helping defray the expedition’s heavy expenses.

• The Graf Zeppelin departed from Friedrichshafen, Germany on May 30, 1930, and returned on June 6.
• The round-the-world flight of 1929 carried souvenir mail to offset its great cost.
• A U.S. stamped letter flown on the entire round trip from Lakehurst, New Jersey back to Lakehurst required $3.55 in postage.

Burma Desk

1988 — 8888 Uprising Erupts Against Rangoon's One-Party Rule

A general strike and mass protests begin across Burma, with one policeman's shot the only casualty reported.

A general strike began today across Burma, with mass demonstrations against the one-party state of the Burma Socialist Programme Party. The first procession circled this capital, starting what is already being called the 8888 Uprising.

Only one casualty was reported on 8 August, when a frightened traffic policeman fired into the crowd and fled. Elsewhere, protesters kissed the shoes of soldiers, urging them to join the civilian cause.

The uprising, which began with marches and riots, is expected to end on 18 September after a bloody military coup by the State Law and Order Restoration Council.

• On 8 August 1988, a general strike began with mass demonstrations across Burma, the first procession circling Rangoon.
• Only one casualty was reported on 8 August, when a frightened traffic policeman fired into the crowd and fled.
• Protesters kissed the shoes of soldiers to persuade them to join the civilian protest.
• The uprising ended on 18 September after a bloody military coup by the State Law and Order Restoration Council.
• Thousands of deaths have been attributed to the military during the uprising, while authorities put the figure at around 350 killed.

Maritime News

1914 — Endurance Leaves Plymouth for Antarctic Quest

On 8 August 1914, the Endurance left Plymouth without Shackleton, bound for Buenos Aires.

The ship Endurance slipped from her moorings here on 8 August 1914, setting out on the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Captain Frank Worsley commanded the vessel as she departed, while Sir Ernest Shackleton remained in Britain, finalizing expedition organization and fundraising.

The voyage from Plymouth to Buenos Aires serves as the Endurance's maiden voyage and shakedown. She was rechristened Endurance after the Shackleton family motto, 'Fortitudine vincimus' ('By endurance we conquer').

Observers on the quay noted the ship's sturdy build, designed to withstand the pack ice of the Weddell Sea.

• Endurance sailed from Plymouth on 8 August 1914 under the command of Captain Frank Worsley.
• Shackleton remained in Britain while the ship departed, finalizing expedition organization and fundraising.
• The voyage from Plymouth to Buenos Aires was Endurance's maiden voyage and shakedown.
• The ship was rechristened Endurance after the Shackleton family motto, 'Fortitudine vincimus' ('By endurance we conquer').