What Happened on August 13?

August 13 is International Lefthanders Day — celebrate lefties! The same date East Germany began the Berlin Wall in 1961, Tenochtitlan fell in 1521, and Disney's Bambi premiered in 1942.

• 1521 — Spanish forces and allies capture Tenochtitlan

  On August 13, 1521, Hernán Cortés and Indigenous allies took the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan after a long siege — reshaping Mexico's history. Read the full story →

• 1942 — Disney's Bambi premieres in New York City

  On August 13, 1942, Walt Disney's animated feature Bambi opened — a woodland story that influenced how films portray nature and animals. Read the full story →

• 1952 — Big Mama Thornton records Hound Dog

  On August 13, 1952, Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton recorded Hound Dog — a blues hit later covered by Elvis Presley. Read the full story →

• 1960 — The Central African Republic becomes independent

  On August 13, 1960, the Central African Republic gained independence from France during Africa's wave of new nations. Read the full story →

• 1961 — East Germany begins sealing the Berlin border

  On August 13, 1961 — "Barbed Wire Sunday" — East German forces closed the border and began building what became the Berlin Wall. Read the full story →

Famous birthdays

Annie Oakley (1860–1926) · Alfred Hitchcock (1899–1980) · Fidel Castro (1926–2016) · Fiona Apple (1977)

Days & observances

International Lefthanders Day · National Filet Mignon Day · Berlin Wall Anniversary Observance · National Bargain Hunting Day