On this day

1961: Berliners wake to divided city
Troops in East Germany have sealed the border between East and West Berlin, shutting off the escape route for thousands of refugees from the East.
Barbed wire fences up to six feet (1.83 metres) high were put up during the night, and Berliners woke this morning to find themselves living in a divided city.

Train services between the two sectors of the city have been cut, and all road traffic across the border has been stopped.


They are and remain our German brothers and sisters.

Konrad Adenauer, West German Chancellor

Thousands of angry demonstrators quickly gathered on the West Berlin side of the divide. At one crossing point, protesters tried to trample down the barbed wire, only to be driven back by guards with bayonets.

The West German Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, appealed for calm, saying in a broadcast to the nation this evening: "Now, as always, we are closely bound to the Germans of the Russian zone and East Berlin.

"They are and remain our German brothers and sisters. The Federal Government remains firmly committed to the goal of German unity."

There has been outrage from the international community at the abrupt decision to cut off one side of the city from the other.

A Foreign Office spokesman in London said the restrictions were contrary to the four-power status of Berlin, and therefore illegal.

The American Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, called it a "flagrant violation" of East-West agreements, and said there would be a vigorous protest to Russia.

The tide of people fleeing East Germany has grown to a flood in recent days, as the Soviet Union has taken an increasingly hard line over breaking away from the three Allied powers and forming a separate peace treaty with East Germany over Berlin.

Nearly 12,500 people left East Germany this week - over 2,000 more than the previous week.

The East German government has been taking desperate measures to stem the flow. Yesterday, border guards were intercepting trains near Berlin and interrogating passengers. Those who arrived in Berlin said only one in 10 was allowed through.

There had been rumours of a decisive crackdown on refugees since the East German parliament met yesterday and approved new, unspecified measures against them.

The rumours provoked an even more frantic exodus. Just before the borders were closed, the numbers more than doubled, with some 3,000 East Germans fleeing to the West in just 24 hours.


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East German soldiers put up the Wall while most Berliners were asleep


Berlin shuts off the east-west borders






In Context
Within days troops began replacing the barbed wire with concrete blocks, and the wall became a permanent structure.
The concrete section eventually reached nearly 12 feet (3.6m) high and 66 miles (106km) long. There was a further 41 miles (66.5km) of wire fencing, as well as more than 300 watch towers.

Nearly 200 people died trying to cross the wall, and another 200 were injured.

As the Iron Curtain over Eastern Europe began to lift in 1989, thousands of East Germans found another escape route, via Hungary and Austria.

On 7 November 1989, the Communist government of East Germany resigned, and two days later a jubilant crowd tore down the Berlin Wall piece by piece.

The following year, East and West Germany were finally reunited.

The two architects of the Berlin Wall, East German leaders Erich Honecker and Egon Krenz, faced criminal charges over their actions.

Honecker escaped conviction due to ill health and died in exile in 1994. Egon Krenz was convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to six-and-a-half years in jail. He was released early in December 2003 following an appeal.


Stories From 13 Aug
1961: Berliners wake to divided city
1966: China announces Cultural Revolution
1977: Violent clashes at NF march
1985: Heart-lung transplant makes history
1991: Prince quits in museum design row

1969: British troops sent into Northern Ireland
The British Government has sent troops into Northern Ireland in what it says is a "limited operation" to restore law and order.
It follows three days and two nights of violence in the mainly-Catholic Bogside area of Londonderry. Trouble has also erupted in Belfast and other towns across Northern Ireland.

It also comes after a speech by the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic, Jack Lynch, regarded by many as "outrageous interference" in which he called for a United Nations peacekeeping force to be sent to the province.

He also called for Anglo-Irish talks on the future of Northern Ireland.

Exhausted police

The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Major James Chichester-Clark, responded by saying neighbourly relations with the Republic were at an end and that British troops were being called in.

The British Home Secretary James Callaghan was in a plane on his way to talks with Prime Minister Harold Wilson in Cornwall when he received a radio-telephone call asking for troops to be deployed.

Shortly after 1700 hours local time, 300 troops from the 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, occupied the centre of Londonderry, replacing the exhausted police officers who had been patrolling the cordons around the Bogside.

They have been on standby for the past couple of days.

The arrival of the British troops was greeted with cheering and singing from behind the barricades in the Roman Catholic area of Londonderry.

They were chanting: "We've won, we've won. We've brought down the government."

The trouble began three days ago during the annual Apprentice Boys march, which marks the 13 boy supporters of William of Orange who defended Londonderry against the forces of the Catholic King James II in 1688.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary were forced to use tear gas - for the first time in their history - to try to bring the rioting under control.

But tensions mounted with the mobilisation of the B Specials. The special constables, who are armed and mostly part-time, were supposed to help the RUC restore order - but they are regarded with deep suspicion by the Roman Catholics.

On the streets of Belfast, the appearance of the B Specials led to an escalation in the violence while the special constables reportedly stood by and watched,


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The British Government says troops are being deployed to restore law and order





In Context
The army's warm welcome was short-lived, as was the British Government's intention to pull out the troops within days.
It soon became clear the violence was not going to end.

As more British troops were deployed in Northern Ireland, fresh questions were raised about the role of Westminster.

Although the army in Northern Ireland came under the control of the Secretary of State for Defence in London many Catholics saw it as a tool of the Unionist Government in Stormont.

The violence increased, internment was introduced in August 1971 and on 24 March 1972 the British Prime Minister Edward Heath suspended Stormont and direct rule was reimposed.

It was not until the Downing Street Declaration of 1993 that there appeared to be any real prospect of peace.

After the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 terms were reached to reduce the number of troops in Northern Ireland.

In November 2004 there were 11,000 British soldiers in Northern Ireland - down from a peak figure of about 30,000 in the mid 1970s.

It is planned to reduce the force by a further 6,000 by the summer of 2006.


Stories From 14 Aug
1969: British troops sent into Northern Ireland
1980: Shipyard Poles strike for their rights
2000: Rescuers race to save stricken Kursk
1979: Freak storm hits yacht race
1941: Secret meetings seal US-Britain alliance
2001: Setback for NI peace process
2003: Lights go out across NE America
1979: Disgraced ex-MP released from jail

1040 - King Duncan of Scotland was murdered by Macbeth, who then became king and ruled for 17 years.

1852 - The first public lavatory was opened, on London's Fleet Street.

1880 – Construction of Cologne Cathedral, the most famous landmark in Cologne, Germany, is completed.

1893 - France became the first country to introduce vehicle registration plates.

1900 – A joint European-Japanese-United States force (Eight-Nation Alliance) occupies Beijing, in a campaign to end the bloody Boxer Rebellion in China.

1941 – World War II – Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt sign the Atlantic Charter of war stating postwar aims.

1945 - World War II: Following the dropping of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan surrendered to the Allies, ending World War II.

1947 – Pakistan gains Independence from the British Indian Empire and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.

1974 – Turkish invasion of Cyprus: 140,000 to 200,000 Greek Cypriots are forced out of their homes by the Turkish army and become refugees.

1994 – Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, also known as "Carlos the Jackal," is captured.

1945: Allied nations celebrate VJ Day
Japan has surrendered to the Allies after almost six years of war.
There is joy and celebration around the world and 15 August has been declared Victory in Japan day.

The end of war will be marked by two-day holidays in the UK, the USA and Australia.

After days of rumour and speculation, US President Harry S Truman broke the good news at a press conference at the White House at 1900 yesterday.

He said the Japanese Government had agreed to comply in full with the Potsdam declaration which demands the unconditional surrender of Japan.


No more fighting, interrupted nights, bombs. Peace had come.

People's War memories »

Supreme Commander General Douglas MacArthur will receive the official Japanese surrender, arrangements for which are now under way.

Later, in an address to a crowd that had gathered outside the White House President Truman said: "This is the day we have been waiting for since Pearl Harbor. This is the day when Fascism finally dies, as we always knew it would."

But he warned that the task of creating a lasting peace still lay ahead.

At midnight, the British Prime Minister Clement Atlee confirmed the news in a broadcast saying, "The last of our enemies is laid low."

He expressed gratitude to Britain's allies, in the Dominions of Australia and New Zealand, India, Burma, all countries occupied by Japan and to the USSR. But special thanks went to the United States "without whose prodigious efforts the war in the East would still have many years to run".

The day coincides with the state opening of Parliament which took on an air of a victory parade.

Thousands braved the rain to watch King George VI and the queen driven down the Mall in an open carriage.

Later tonight, the King addressed the nation and the Empire in broadcast from his study at Buckingham Palace at 2100.

"Our hearts are full to overflowing, as are your own. Yet there is not one of us who has experienced this terrible war who does not realise that we shall feel its inevitable consequences long after we have all forgotten our rejoicings today."

The Royal Family greeted cheering crowds from the Palace balcony. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret later mingled with the crowds outside the Palace.

Historic buildings all over London are floodlit and throngs of people have crowded onto the streets of every town and city shouting, singing, dancing, lighting bonfires and letting off fireworks.

But there were no celebrations in Japan - in his first ever radio broadcast, Emperor Hirohito blamed the use of "a new and most cruel bomb" used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki for Japan's surrender.

"Should we continue to fight, it would not only result in the ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation but would lead also to the total extinction of human civilisation."


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Thousands are rejoicing at the end of war


British Prime Minister Clement Attlee announces Japan's surrender






In Context
The Allies had delivered Japan an ultimatum to surrender on 28 July 1945.
When this was ignored, the US dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima on 6 August and Nagasaki on 9 August, the day Soviet forces invaded Manchuria.

The Allies celebrated victory over Japan on 15 August 1945, although the Japanese administration under General Koiso Kuniaki did not officially surrender with a signed document until 2 September.

Both dates are known as VJ Day.


Stories From 15 Aug
1945: Allied nations celebrate VJ Day
1998: Dozens die in Omagh bombing
1965: Los Angeles riot toll keeps rising
2005: Settlers protest at Gaza pullout
1971: 'V-sign' costs rider victory
1985: Virgin voyage ends in disaster
1950: Princess gives birth to second child

1057 - King Macbeth of Scotland was slain by Malcolm Canmore, whose father, King Duncan I, was murdered by Macbeth 17 years earlier.

1842 - The first regular British detective force was formed as a division of the Metropolitan Police, under the joint command of Inspector Pearce and Inspector John Haynes. In 1878 it became known as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

1843 – The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, Hawaii is dedicated. Now the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, it is the oldest Roman Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States.

1914 - The American-built Panama Canal was inaugurated with the passage of the U.S. vessel Ancon, a cargo and passenger ship.

1939 - The Cunard liner Queen Mary recaptured the Blue Riband from the SS Normandie, crossing the Atlantic in 3 days, 22 hours and 40 minutes.

1947 – India gains Independence from the British Indian Empire and joins the Commonwealth of Nations.

1969 – The Woodstock Music and Art Festival opens.

1977 – The Big Ear, a radio telescope operated by Ohio State University as part of the SETI project, receives a radio signal from deep space; the event is named the "Wow! signal" from the notation made by a volunteer on the project.

Births:
1929 – Fritz Von Erich, American professional wrestler (d. 1997)
1939 – Sir Trevor Mcdonald, Trinidadian-born British television newsreader
1950 – Jeff Thomson, Australian cricketer
1953 – James "J.T." Taylor, American singer (Kool & The Gang)
1954 – George Galloway, British politician
1954 – James Cameron, Canadian film director
1958 – Madonna, American singer and actress
1959 – Laura Innes, American actress
1962 – Steve Carell, American actor and comedian
1967 – Ulrika Jonsson, Swedish television personality
1970 – Saif Ali Khan, Indian actor
1971 – Stefan Klos, German footballer
1972 – Stan Lazaridis, Australian footballer
1972 – Emily Robison, American country singer (Dixie Chicks)
1972 – Frankie Boyle, Scottish comedian
1974 – Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Guyanese cricketer
1979 – Paul Gallacher, Scottish football player
1980 – Vanessa Carlton, American singer/songwriter
1980 – Emerson, Brazilian footballer
1981 – Roque Santa Cruz, Paraguayan footballer
1981 – Taylor Rain, American pornographic actress
1982 – Cam Gigandet, American actor
1982 – Joleon Lescott, English footballer
1988 – Rumer Willis, American actress
1991 – Evanna Lynch, Irish actress (Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter films)

1977: Rock and roll 'king' Presley dies
Elvis Presley, whose singing and style revolutionized popular music in the 1950s, has died.
Presley, 42, was discovered slumped in a bathroom at his mansion in Memphis, Tennessee on Tuesday.

He was rushed to the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis but was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Tennessee state pathologist, Dr. Jerry Francisco, said a post mortem examination of the singer's body had revealed he died of cardiac arrhythmia - a form of heart attack.

"The precise cause has not yet been determined for the cardiac arrhythmia," Dr Francisco said.

"It may take several days to several weeks to determine that specific cause and in some cases it never is determined."

The three-hour examination uncovered no sign of any other diseases or any drug abuse, Dr Francisco added.

Declining health

Presley was divorced from his wife Priscilla in 1973 but it was rumoured that he had recently become engaged to Ginger Alden, 20.

She was reportedly spotted wearing a $50,000 (£20,315) diamond engagement ring from Presley.

Ms Alden and other members of his entourage were at Graceland when he collapsed.

There had been indications of Elvis Presley's declining health for some time.

Earlier this year the singer had cancelled several performances in Louisiana and returned to Memphis suffering what his doctors termed "exhaustion".

No arrangements have been announced yet for his funeral which is scheduled for Friday.


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The singer was found collapsed at his home


A tribute to Elvis Presely




In Context
Thousands gathered to file past Elvis Presley's body which lay in state at his mansion, Graceland, the day after his death.
Although it was officially stated that he died of heart failure there has always been speculation that an overdose of cocaine and barbiturates also played a part.

Since his divorce from Priscilla in 1973 he had relied heavily on prescription drugs and was known to be a junk-food addict, gaining a considerable amount of weight.

During his lifetime he sold over 300 million albums and made 33 films.

His death has been lucrative for the "Elvis industry".

In 2001 he came top in US magazine Forbes' poll of "Richest Deceased Celebrities".

It put Elvis estate's earnings in 2000 at $35m (£23m) - $15m (£10m) of it from Graceland admission fees.

Richest Dead Celebrities
1 Elvis Presley: $35 million
2 Charles Schulz: $20 million
3 John Lennon: $20 million
4 Theodor Geisel: $17 million
5 Jimi Hendrix: $10 million /CPS:FACT>
6 Bob Marley: $10 million
7 Andy Warhol: $8 million
8 J.R.R. Tolkien: $7 million
9 Frank Sinatra $6 million
10 Jerry Garcia : $5 million
Source: Forbes magazine 2001



Stories From 16 Aug
1952: Flood devastates Devon village
2004: Dozens stranded in Cornish floods
1977: Rock and roll 'king' Presley dies
1984: DeLorean cleared of drugs charges
2003: 'War criminal' Idi Amin dies
2001: Diana butler charged with theft

1513 - King Henry VIII of England and his troops defeated the French in the Battle of the Spurs, at Guinigatte, NW France.

1858 - U.S. President James Buchanan and Britain's Queen Victoria exchanged messages inaugurating the first transatlantic telegraph line.

1930 - The first British Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games) were held at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

1960 – Cyprus gains its independence from the United Kingdom.

1962 - Unhappy with Pete Best's role in The Beatles, Brian Epstein and the other three members decided to sack him. He played his last gig the following night at The Cavern, Liverpool.

1984 - John De Lorean was acquitted in Los Angeles of charges that he conspired to import 100 kg of cocaine, and used the proceeds to save his financially-troubled Northern Ireland sports car company.

1989 – A solar flare from the Sun creates a geomagnetic storm that affects micro chips, leading to a halt of all trading on Toronto's stock market.

1796 - English ships, under the command of Admiral George Keith Elphinstone, were responsible for trapping the Dutch Fleet in Saldanha Bay, South Africa, paving the way for South Africa becoming part of the British Empire.

1836 - Under the Registration Act, the compulsory registration of births, deaths and marriages was introduced in Britain.

1903 - The first Pulitzer Prize was awarded, as Joseph Pulitzer made a million-dollar donation to Columbia University.

1908 – Fantasmagorie, the first animated cartoon, created by Émile Cohl, is shown in Paris.

1945 – Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaim the independence of Indonesia, igniting the Indonesian National Revolution against the Dutch Empire.

1958 - Britain announced plans to continue nuclear testing on Christmas Island.

1999 – A 7.4-magnitude earthquake strikes İzmit, Turkey, killing more than 17,000 and injuring 44,000.

Births:

1942 – Judith Keppel, first British winner of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
1952 – Patrick Swayze, American actor (d. 2009)
1969 – Edward Norton, American actor
1969 – Christian Slater, American actor
1973 – Victoria Coren, British writer, presenter and poker player
1978 – Andy Samberg, American comedian
1983 – Cameron White, Australian cricketer
1983 – Kris Boyd, Scottish footballer
1983 – Mika, Lebanese/British musician
1984 – Robert Huth, German footballer