1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,599 Speaker 1: Hey y'all, Eve's here. We're doubling up today with two 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: events in history, one from me and one from former 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,960 Speaker 1: host Tracy V. Wilson. On with the show Welcome to 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,479 Speaker 1: this day in History Class from how Stuff Works dot 5 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,480 Speaker 1: Com and from the desk of Stuff You Missed in 6 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: History Class. It's the show where we explore the past 7 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,240 Speaker 1: one day at a time with a quick look at 8 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: what happened today in history. Hello, and welcome to the podcast. 9 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: I'm Tracy V. Wilson, and it's August eight. The Battle 10 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: of Amen started on this day in nineteen eighteen, which 11 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 1: was the start of the last hundred days of World 12 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: War One. A lot of World War One before this 13 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: point was a stalemate along the Western Front. That stalemate 14 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: had dragged on since nineteen fourteen. Both sides had dug 15 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: into these systems of trenches to try to give soldiers 16 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: protection against the devastating weapons of machine guns and artillery. 17 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: The trenches did protect the troops from the machine guns, 18 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: but it all oment that once they were dug in, 19 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 1: they couldn't go anywhere. They were sacrificing their mobility for 20 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: their safety. So to try to move the line and 21 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: to gain territory. In this kind of a war, you 22 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 1: had to assault the other sides trench across no band's land, 23 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: which was the gap in between the trenches. Common tactic 24 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: was to use a creeping barrage. This was artillery that 25 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: was supposed to fall just ahead of the advancing infantry 26 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 1: to provide some cover to clear out the enemy. But 27 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: a lot of times this didn't go as planned. The 28 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 1: artillery would get too far ahead it would basically serve 29 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: as a warning, or it would start too early and 30 00:01:40,480 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: warn the other side of what was coming. Or it 31 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: would tear up the ground so much that the soldiers 32 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: couldn't get through effectively. Sometimes it fell short and it 33 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: killed the advancing soldiers before they got to where they 34 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: were going. In the Battle of Amien, though, it combined 35 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: all of the available military to acknologies that the Allies 36 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: had into one coordinated assault that was not primarily a 37 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:10,119 Speaker 1: creeping barrage and infantry advance. It built off an Allied 38 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: success and an earlier battle that had taken place on 39 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 1: July fourth that had been planned out by Lieutenant General 40 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: John Monash of Australia. Monash had been a civil engineer. 41 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: He was not a career military man, and that fresh 42 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 1: way of looking at things has been credited with the 43 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: way that he approached this battle. He used fake troop movements, 44 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: bogus radio transmissions, artillery, smoke shells, air support, and tanks. Altogether. 45 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: The tanks plowed through the Germans barbed wire and they 46 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:46,119 Speaker 1: delivered supplies from behind the advancing infantry. The infantry later 47 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: said it was the best supplied they had ever been 48 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 1: in a battle. Some of the aircraft that they chose 49 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: for this mission were old ones. They picked these on 50 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: purpose because their engines were so loud that it would 51 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: cover up the sound of the tanks. The Battle of 52 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: Amma was much the same. It attacked a bulging point 53 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: in the German lines outside the city of Amen, which 54 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: was a critical communication and railway hub. This attack brought 55 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 1: together all of the military technologies that they had. Was 56 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: air support, There was artillery, tanks, infantry. Canadian and Australian 57 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,799 Speaker 1: troops formed the spearhead for the advance onto the German lines. 58 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: In a war that had really been dominated by battles 59 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: that dragged on for months and saw massive casualties in 60 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: exchange for at most a few meters of land, gained 61 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: They advanced eight miles or thirteen kilometers just on the 62 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: first day. They liberated more than a hundred towns and villages. 63 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: They also captured a gun that had been used to 64 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: shell the city of Emmy from a very long way away. 65 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: Apart from the military success for the Allies, this attack 66 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: revealed the terrible morale of the German army at this point. 67 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 1: Quartermaster or General Eric Ludendorf called this quote the black 68 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: day of the German army in the history of the war. 69 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 1: Twelve thousand German soldiers were taken captive, and there were 70 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:16,600 Speaker 1: huge numbers of reported surrenders. This win for the Allies 71 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 1: launched the last hundred days of pushing the German army 72 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: back towards Germany and what came to be known as 73 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: the Hundred Days Offensive. It ultimately led to the November eleventh, 74 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: nineteen eighteen Armistice and later the Treaty of Versailles that 75 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: formerly ended the war. Thanks to Teri Harrison for her 76 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 1: audio skills on this podcast, and you could learn more 77 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 1: about this battle on the August six episode of Stuffy 78 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: miss in History Class, which includes more about the aftermath 79 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: and how this was also part of the lead up 80 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: to World War Two. You can subscribe to This Day 81 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: in History Class on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and wherever 82 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: else you get your podcasts. Tune in tomorrow for the 83 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: best of Wives, the best of women, who was anything 84 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: but helpless. Hi. Everyone, Welcome to This Day in History Class, 85 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: where we uncover the remnants of history every day. The 86 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 1: day was August eighth, nineteen eight in me and Mar, 87 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: then known as Burma. Nationwide strikes and protests sparked weeks 88 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: of more protests that ended in September with a violent crackdown. 89 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: The day's events became known as the eight eight eight uprisings. 90 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: In nineteen sixty two, General nay Win seized power in 91 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: the military coup. For more than a decade following the coup, 92 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: the country was under martial law. The government's ideology was 93 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 1: the so called Burmese way to socialism, and it turned 94 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: a strong economy into a weak one and increased the 95 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: country's isolation, and it sent people into poverty. Corruption and 96 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:14,760 Speaker 1: police brutality were also big issues under the regime. In 97 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: nineteen eight seven, the government declared several large denominations of 98 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: me and Mark currency worthless, and a lot of people 99 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 1: lost their savings. Civil unrest was escalating in opposition to 100 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: the government and its repressive policies. Students, disaffected soldiers, workers, 101 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: and Buddhist monks began staging demonstrations. Police often responded to 102 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: the protests with force, as was the case on March sixteenth, 103 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: nineteen eight, when riot police attacked students, killing dozens and 104 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:52,480 Speaker 1: arresting hundreds of people in an incident that became known 105 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 1: as Red Bridge. The government then closed all schools and universities, 106 00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 1: which were later reopened. On July, nay Win resigned as 107 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: head of the Burma Socialist Program Party after months of 108 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: growing protests. He promised a move toward multi party democracy, 109 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 1: but he appointed Saying Louen as his successor. Lewen, a 110 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: general known as the Butcher of Rangoon, declared martial law. 111 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 1: Newspapers were openly anti government. Neighborhoods set up defenses against 112 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 1: the army, and movement towards a massive general strike gained steam. 113 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 1: A general strike was planned for August eight, reportedly because 114 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: the date was auspicious. On that day, hundreds of thousands 115 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:45,720 Speaker 1: of people participated in general strikes around the country. The 116 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: protests were initially peaceful, but as they spread, the army 117 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: was ordered to shoot to kill. Still, people continued to 118 00:07:54,520 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: gather for protests. Lewin resigned on August twelve. A week later, 119 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: Dr Maong Mang replaced him as president. Own San Succi, 120 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 1: now known as a politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner, 121 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: gave her first major public speech at a rally on 122 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: August and Rangoon. As the demonstrations continued, so did the violence. 123 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: On September, General Sawmong led a coup and a junta 124 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: called the State Law and Order Restoration Council or s 125 00:08:27,000 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: l o r C took over. As the government ruled 126 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 1: with terror and killed many demonstrators. Many people fled to 127 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: the borders or to Thailand, or went into exile. The 128 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: s l o r C allowed political parties to register, 129 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:47,319 Speaker 1: and the National League for Democracy emerged, with Succhi as 130 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: the general secretary, but she and other n l D 131 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,640 Speaker 1: members were rounded up and she was put on house arrest, 132 00:08:54,720 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: which she remained on on and off until. Throughout all 133 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 1: the nineteen nine demonstrations, thousands of protesters have been arrested 134 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: or killed, though officials estimated the death toll at only 135 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 1: three d and fifty people. An election was held in 136 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: and the National League for Democracy won most of the 137 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: seats in the government, but the s l O r 138 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:25,080 Speaker 1: C refused to recognize those results and continued to rule. 139 00:09:26,440 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: Some people took up arms and planned to overthrow the junta, 140 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: but military rule and political and ethnic conflict continued in 141 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: the following years. I'm Eve Stepcoat and hopefully you know 142 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: a little more about history today than you did yesterday. 143 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: We love it if you left us a comment on Twitter, 144 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: Instagram or Facebook. At t d i h C podcast, 145 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: thanks again for listening, and I hope you come back 146 00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: tomorrow for more delicious morsels of history. For more podcasts 147 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: from I Heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 148 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.