This week in history

German dictator, Adolf Hitler at the Olympic Games in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. (Getty Images)

August 17th – Aug 23rd

August 19th 14AD
Julius Caesar, first emperor of the Roman Empire dies aged 76years. Born Gaius Octavius Thurinus on Sept 23rd 63BC he ruled from Jan 16th 27BC until his death. During his reign he led his army in two major wars, one with Pompeius and one with Antony. He is credited with forming the first police force, fire fighting force, reforming taxation and establishing a road network.

August 22nd 1485
King Richard III killed in the Battle of Bosworth Field, ending the War of the Roses.
Born Oct 2nd 1452, Richard ruled England from June 22nd 1483 until his death in 1485, aged 32 years. His rise to power is the subject of much controversy, being alleged to have thrown the rightful heir Prince Edward and his brother Prince Richard into the tower of London and seizing the throne.

August 23rd 1839
British occupy Hong Kong. After being thrown out of Macau by the Portugese, at the request of the Chinese government, the British needed a new base for its trade operations. Conflict raged for 3 years between the British and the Chinese and was known as the “First Opium War”. The victor was Britain and the Treaty of Nanking was signed. China opened its ports to foreign trade and ceded Hong Kong to the British Crown. In 1997 Hong Kong’s sovereignty was handed back to China.

August 19th 1934
Adolf Hitler became Fuhrer of Germany. After fighting in WW1, Hitler joined the Nazi Party in 1920, and worked his way up, being appointed Chancellor in 1933 and then Fuhrer in 1934. He led the German army invasion of Poland in 1939 leading to the outbreak of WW11 in Europe. Born April 20th 1889 and commonly believed to have died April 30th 1945 in the last days of the war. His death believed to be suicide by gunshot and cyanide.

August 19th 2005
'Peace Mission 2005' First joint military exercise between Russia and China.
Consisting of approximately 2000 Russian and 8000 Chinese troops, it involved land, sea and air exercises held at Shandong Peninsula, lasting from August 19th to August 25th.