August 1991

Sunday 04:

1991 The Greek cruise ship Oceanos sinks off the coast of South Africa.

Tuesday 06:

Doi Takako, chair of the Social Democratic Party (Japan), becomes Japan's first female speaker of the House of Representatives.

Thursday 08:

Collapse of Warsaw radio mast, the tallest construction ever built

Sunday 11:

1991- The three original Nicktoons, Doug, Rugrats, and The Ren and Stimpy Show make their debuts on the Nickelodeon cable channel.

Saturday 17:

Wade Frankum starts his killing spree in Strathfield, Australia, an event that was later dubbed the Strathfield Massacre.

Sunday 18:

Collapse of the Soviet Union: Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is put under house arrest while on holiday in the Crimea.

Tuesday 20:

Collapse of the Soviet Union: More than 100,000 people rally outside the Soviet Union's parliament building protesting the coup that deposed President Mikhail Gorbachev. Estonia reclaimed its indenpendence and seceded from the Soviet Union. Estonia had been occupied by the Soviets for more than 50 years.

Wednesday 21:

Coup attempt against Mikhail Gorbachev collapses.

Saturday 24:

Ukraine declares itself independent from the Soviet Union.

Sunday 25:

Belarus declares independence from the Soviet Union

Tuesday 27:

Moldova declares independence from the USSR.

Wednesday 28:

A drunk motorman speeds into the Union Square station on the No. 4 line in New York City. The train derails on the curve, killing six passengers and injuring dozens.

Thursday 29:

Supreme Soviet suspends all activities of the Soviet Communist Party.

Friday 30:

Azerbaijan declares independence from the USSR.

Saturday 31:

Kyrgyzstan declares its independence from the Soviet Union.