August 5 in history — What Happened Today in History

In Afghanistan, Maoists undertake the Bala Hissar uprising against the Leninist government.

Watergate scandal: President Richard Nixon, under orders of the US Supreme Court, releases the "Smoking Gun" tape, recorded on June 23, 1972, clearly revealing his actions in covering up and interfering investigations into the break-in. His political support vanishes completely.

Mars 6 is launched from the USSR.

The first Pacific Islands Forum (then known as the "South Pacific Forum") is held in Wellington, New Zealand, with the aim of enhancing cooperation between the independent countries of the Pacific Ocean.

The Lonesome Cowboys police raid occurs in Atlanta, Georgia, leading to the creation of the Georgia Gay Liberation Front.

A group of red guards at Experimental High in Beijing, including Deng Rong and Liu Pingping, daughters of Deng Xiaoping and Liu Shaoqi respectively, beat the deputy vice principal, Bian Zhongyun, to death with sticks after accusing her of counter-revolutionary revisionism, producing one of the first fatalities of the Cultural Revolution.

The Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 begins as Pakistani soldiers cross the Line of Control dressed as locals.

Vietnam War: Operation Pierce Arrow: American aircraft from carriers USS Ticonderoga and USS Constellation bomb North Vietnam in retaliation for strikes against U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Cold War: The United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union sign the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

Apartheid: Nelson Mandela is jailed. He would not be released until 1990.

American actress Marilyn Monroe is found dead at her home from a drug overdose.

Burkina Faso, then known as Upper Volta, becomes independent from France.

American Bandstand, a show dedicated to the teenage "baby-boomers" by playing the songs and showing popular dances of the time, debuts on the ABC television network.

In Ecuador, an earthquake destroys 50 towns and kills more than 6,000.

In Montana, 12 smokejumper firefighters and a US Forest Service fire guard are killed in the Mann Gulch Fire.

World War II: At least 1,104 Japanese POWs in Australia attempt to escape from a camp at Cowra, New South Wales; 545 temporarily succeed but are later either killed, commit suicide, or are recaptured.

World War II: Polish insurgents liberate a German labor camp (Gęsiówka) in Warsaw, freeing 348 Jewish prisoners.

World War II: The Nazis begin a week-long massacre of between 40,000 and 50,000 civilians and prisoners of war in Wola, Poland.

World War II: The Soviet Union formally annexes Latvia.

The Thirteen Roses: Thirteen female members of the Unified Socialist Youth are executed by Francoist forces in Madrid, Spain.

Judge and Nazi Party member Werner Best drafts the Boxheim Documents, which described a violent takeover of the government by the NSDAP.

Harry Houdini performs his greatest feat, spending 91 minutes underwater in a sealed tank before escaping.

Plaid Cymru is formed with the aim of disseminating knowledge of the Welsh language that is at the time in danger of dying out.

World War I: Battle of Romani: Allied forces, under the command of Archibald Murray, defeat an attacking Ottoman army under the command of Friedrich Freiherr Kress von Kressenstein, securing the Suez Canal and beginning the Ottoman retreat from the Sinai Peninsula.

World War I: The German minelayer SS Königin Luise lays a minefield about 40 miles (64 km) off the Thames Estuary (Lowestoft). She is intercepted and sunk by the British light-cruiser HMS Amphion.

World War I: The guns of Point Nepean fort at Port Phillip Heads in Victoria (Australia) fire across the bows of the Norddeutscher Lloyd steamer SS Pfalz which is attempting to leave the Port of Melbourne in ignorance of the declaration of war and she is detained; this is said to be the first Allied shot of the War.

In Cleveland, Ohio, the first electric traffic light is installed.

Persian Constitutional Revolution: Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar, King of Iran, agrees to convert the government to a constitutional monarchy.

Cho Seung-youn, South Korean singer-songwriter and rapper

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Danish footballer

Natalia García, Spanish rhythmic gymnast

Esteban Gutiérrez, Mexican race car driver

Wi Ha-joon, South Korean actor

Konrad Hurrell, Tongan rugby league player

Daniëlle van de Donk, Dutch footballer

Andreas Weimann, Austrian footballer

Ryan Bertrand, English footballer

Mathieu Manset, French footballer

Michael Jamieson, Scottish-English swimmer

Federica Pellegrini, Italian swimmer

Orce Gjorgjievski, Macedonian politician

Vladimir Orlov, Russian author (born 1936)

Chapman Pincher, Indian-English historian, journalist, and author (born 1914)

Jesse Leonard Steinfeld, American physician and academic, 11th Surgeon General of the United States (born 1927)

Ruth Asawa, American sculptor and educator (born 1926)

Shawn Burr, Canadian-American ice hockey player (born 1966)

Willie Dunn, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer (born 1942)

Roy Rubin, American basketball player and coach (born 1925)

May Song Vang, American activist (born 1951)

Rob Wyda, American commander and judge (born 1959)

Erwin Axer, Polish director and screenwriter (born 1917)

Michel Daerden, Belgian lawyer and politician (born 1949)

Fred Matua, American football player (born 1984)

Martin E. Segal, Russian-American businessman, co-founded Film Society of Lincoln Center (born 1916)