20 Aug 1938
  • USS Enterprise crossed the Equator off Brazil. ww2dbase [Enterprise | CPC]
  • Walther von Brauchitsch was awarded the Order of Merit of the Kingdom of Hungary 1st Class. ww2dbase [Walther von Brauchitsch | CPC]
China
  • Japanese 106th Division under Yasuji Okamura and the Japanese 101st Division launched an offensive in Jiangxi Province, China in an attempt to cut off Chinese troops in Nanxun and Wuning Railway. Chinese troops withdrew from Xinzi, Jiangxi Province after sundown, falling back toward Yikou. ww2dbase [Battle of Wuhan | Jiangxi | CPC]
United States
  • Sargo-class submarine Saury was launched at the Electric Boat Company, Groton, Connecticut, United States. The boat was sponsored by Mrs. Mary E. Casbarian who, as a civilian employee of the Navy, was responsible for arranging the sponsorships of all Navy ships in the region. In this case, she, herself, was the sponsor. ww2dbase [Electric Boat Company | Saury | Groton, Connecticut | DS]

20 Aug 1938 Interactive Map

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Please help us spread the word:

 Reddit
 Bluesky
 Mastodon

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds

Search WW2DB
Famous WW2 Quote
"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win the war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country!"

George Patton, 31 May 1944


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!