Berlin Wall
August 13, 1961
East German Communists begin building a wall through the city to prevent the flow of people seeking the freedoms of the West. The wall cut off West Berlin from virtually all of surrounding East Germany and East Berlin until government officials opened it in 1989.
World War II – V-J Day
August 14, 1945
Japan surrenders ending the war. “V-J” stands for “Victory over Japan.” Japan would sign formal surrender terms two weeks later aboard the USS Missouri.
Woodstock
August 15, 1969
The music festival near Bethel, New York begins. More than 400,000 people attended the event billed as “An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music.”
It was held at Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm near White Lake in Bethel, New York, 43 miles (70 km) southwest of Woodstock.