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Major Events of September 1968: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from September 1968 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of September 1968: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 Sep 1968 Devastating earthquake in Ferdows, Persia: On September 1, 1968, a magnitude 6.4 aftershock struck Ferdows, Iran, destroying the town and causing additional casualties. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 02 Sep 1968 Operation OAU in Nigerian Civil War: Operation OAU was a military operation during the Nigerian Civil War, conducted between September 2 and October 15, 1968. The Nigerian 3 Marine Commando Division launched an offensive against Biafran forces in southeastern Nigeria, aiming to capture key cities including Aba and Umuahia. Despite being outnumbered, Biafran forces managed to retain control of Umuahia and eventually recaptured Aba on October 15. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 04 Sep 1968 Nigerian Troops Capture Aba During Biafran War: On September 4, 1968, Nigerian troops captured the city of Aba during the Biafran War. This event was part of the larger Operation OAU, where Nigerian forces aimed to secure key Biafran territories. Despite initial successes, Biafran forces later recaptured Aba on October 15. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 05 Sep 1968 Nigerian Civil War - Capture of Aba: On September 5, 1968, during the Nigerian Civil War, Nigerian federal troops captured the city of Aba from Biafran forces. This event marked a significant turning point in the conflict, which lasted until 1970. source: bbc.com
  • 06 Sep 1968 Swaziland Independence Day: On September 6, 1968, Swaziland (now Eswatini) gained independence from British colonial rule. This day is celebrated annually as a national holiday in Eswatini, marking its sovereignty. source: britannica.com
  • 07 Sep 1968 Miss America Pageant Protest: On September 7, 1968, approximately 400 feminists and civil rights activists, organized by the New York Radical Women, protested the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. They criticized the pageant for promoting restrictive beauty standards and objectifying women, symbolically crowning a live sheep as 'Miss America' to draw parallels between the pageant and livestock competitions. The protesters also highlighted the lack of racial diversity, as the pageant had never crowned a Black woman. Despite media reports suggesting the burning of bras, no such act occurred during the protest. source: history.com
  • 08 Sep 1968 The Beatles' last live TV performance: On September 8, 1968, The Beatles recorded their final live television performance for the BBC's "Top of the Pops" in London. This performance featured the song "Hey Jude" and marked the end of an era for the band, as they would soon transition to studio recordings exclusively. source: beatlesbible.com
  • 09 Sep 1968 Arthur Ashe's Historic Grand Slam Win: On September 9, 1968, Arthur Ashe won the men's singles title at the U.S. Open, defeating Tom Okker in the final with a score of 14–12, 5–7, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3. This victory made Ashe the first African American man to win a Grand Slam singles title, marking a significant milestone in both tennis history and the civil rights movement. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 10 Sep 1968 Sasha Frere-Jones born in New York City: Sasha Frere-Jones, an American musician, writer, and critic, was born on September 10, 1968, in New York City. He is known for his work as a music critic for The New Yorker and as a member of the band We Are Augustines. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 11 Sep 1968 Albania's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact: On September 11, 1968, Albania's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact was officially recognized, marking a significant shift in the country's foreign policy during the Cold War. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 13 Sep 1968 Emma Sjöberg: Swedish model and actress: Emma Sjöberg, later known as Emma Wiklund, was born on September 13, 1968, in Stockholm, Sweden. She became a prominent fashion model in the 1990s, walking the runway for designers such as Thierry Mugler, Christian Lacroix, and Lanvin. She also appeared in George Michael's 1992 music video for "Too Funky" and played police officer Petra in the "Taxi" film series (1998–2007). source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 14 Sep 1968 USSR's Zond 5 Lunar Mission: On September 14, 1968, the Soviet Union launched Zond 5, the first spacecraft to circle the Moon and return to Earth. The mission carried two tortoises, wine flies, mealworms, plants, seeds, and bacteria, all of which survived the journey. Zond 5's successful flight paved the way for future lunar missions. source: nasa.gov
  • 16 Sep 1968 Arthur Ashe makes historic U.S. Open victory: Arthur Ashe made history on September 16, 1968, by becoming the first African American man to win the U.S. Open. His victory was a significant milestone in sports and civil rights, inspiring many across the nation. source: usopen.org
  • 17 Sep 1968 D'Oliveira affair: Cricket tour cancelled due to racial discrimination: The D'Oliveira affair on September 17, 1968, led to the cancellation of a cricket tour due to racial discrimination issues surrounding the selection of players. This incident highlighted the racial tensions in sports during that era. source: bbc.com
  • 18 Sep 1968 'Funny Girl' film premieres at Criterion Theatre in New York: The film 'Funny Girl' premiered on September 18, 1968, at the Criterion Theatre in New York City, marking Barbra Streisand's first premiere as a movie star. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 20 Sep 1968 Hawaii 5-O television premiere: The iconic police procedural series 'Hawaii 5-O' premiered on CBS, becoming a significant part of American television history. The show focused on an elite police unit in Hawaii and was known for its catchy theme music and memorable catchphrases. source: britannica.com
  • 21 Sep 1968 Soviet Zond 5 lunar mission returns to Earth: The Soviet spacecraft Zond 5 successfully returned to Earth after completing a mission that included a flyby of the Moon. It was the first spacecraft to carry living organisms around the Moon and return them safely. source: nasa.gov
  • 22 Sep 1968 Zond 5 space mission completion: The Zond 5 mission was officially completed as the spacecraft returned to Earth, marking a significant achievement in the Soviet space program. It provided valuable data on the effects of space travel on living organisms. source: nasa.gov
  • 23 Sep 1968 End of Phase III of the Tet Offensive: The Tet Offensive, a major military campaign during the Vietnam War, saw its Phase III conclude on September 23, 1968. This phase involved widespread attacks by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces across South Vietnam. The offensive significantly impacted public perception of the war in the United States. source: archives.gov
  • 24 Sep 1968 Nuclear Testing at Nevada Site: On September 24, 1968, the United States conducted nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site. This testing was part of a series of underground nuclear tests aimed at developing and maintaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal during the Cold War. The tests raised concerns about environmental and health impacts. source: nrc.gov
  • 26 Sep 1968 End of theatre censorship in Britain: On September 26, 1968, the British government officially ended theatre censorship, allowing for greater freedom of expression in the arts. This change marked a significant moment in the cultural landscape of the UK. source: theguardian.com
  • 27 Sep 1968 France blocks UK entry into European Common Market: On September 27, 1968, France vetoed the United Kingdom's application to join the European Common Market. This decision was influenced by concerns over British economic policies and its impact on the community. source: bbc.com
  • 28 Sep 1968 The Beatles' 'Hey Jude' tops charts: The Beatles' single 'Hey Jude' reached the number one position on the charts on September 28, 1968. source: en.wikipedia.org
  • 30 Sep 1968 Supremes release 'Love Child': On September 30, 1968, Diana Ross & the Supremes released 'Love Child,' a song addressing the topic of illegitimacy. The track became the group's 11th number-one single in the United States, selling 500,000 copies in its first week and 2 million by year's end. source: en.wikipedia.org