Anniversaries and commemorations come and go daily. Most of us, even the best historians, miss most occasions. If we think of history as events then we are faced with a continually showering in the grains of sand. Nevertheless, we do pick out certain patterns in the remembrance of historical dates. The blog here reminds us of some dates where the local, state, national, and global perspectives entwine.
What Time is It? It is flow of a sandstorm that will on each day compress somewhere into a structure – sandstone, selected and only remembered in the longue durée.
On 2 September 1870, Franco-Prussian War 1870.Battle of Sedan: Prussian forces defeat the French armies, and take Emperor Napoleon III and 100,000 of his soldiers prisoner at Sedan.
On Sunday, 2 September 1945, WWII ends: Japanese general Tomoyuki Yamashita surrenders to Filipino and American forces at Kiangan, Ifugao.
On Sunday, 2 September 1945, The final official Japanese Instrument of Surrender is accepted by the Supreme Allied Commander, General Douglas MacArthur, and Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz for the United States, and delegates from the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, China, and others from a Japanese delegation led by Mamoru Shigemitsu, on board the American battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
On Sunday, 2 September 1945, General Douglas MacArthur is given the title of Supreme Commander Allied Powers, and is also tasked with the occupation of Japan.
On Sunday, 2 September 1945, Democratic Republic of Viet Nam is officially established, by Ho Chi Minh.
On Friday, 2 September 1960, The first elections of the Parliament of the Central Tibetan Administration are held. The Tibetan community observes this date as Democracy Day.
On Tuesday, 2 September 1980, Ford Europe launches the Escort MK3, a new front-wheel drive hatchback.
On Sunday, 2 September 1990, died Robert Holmes à Court (born 1937), businessman
On Sunday, 2 September 1990, Cold War: Transnistria declares its independence from the Moldavian SSR; however, the declaration is not recognized by any government.
On Saturday, 2 September 1995, The Sturt Football Club completes the longest winless season in the history of major Australian football leagues, with a record of 0-22 and a minimum losing margin of 24 points.
On Saturday, 2 September 2000, Essendon (19.21.135) defeats Melbourne (11.9.75) to win the 104th VFL/AFL premiership. It is the last occasion until 2010 that the grand final has been an all-Melbourne affair and the last occasion until 2008 that the grand final has been an all-Victorian affair.
Images Citations in Composite: ID 17208541 © Anhong | Dreamstime.com; ID 35001957 © DiversityStudio1 | Dreamstime.com; ID 156394527 © Gerd Zahn | Dreamstime.com
Neville Buch
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