August 8 in Military History — On This Day

Hundred Days Offensive

The war-ending Allied offensive began on August 8 — 'the Black Day of the German Army,' as Ludendorff called it. Using tanks, aircraft, artillery, and infantry in coordinated combined-arms attacks, the Allies broke through German lines repeatedly. Germany's army disintegrated; soldiers surrendered by the hundreds of thousands. On November 11 at 11am, the guns fell silent.

Proved that the deadlock of trench warfare could be broken with proper combined-arms tactics. The Armistice ended four years and three months of war. Germany had not been militarily occupied — a fact that would fuel the 'stab in the back' myth and Hitler's rise. The guns stopped at exactly 11 o'clock on the 11th day of the 11th month.

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⚔️📍 Savo Island, Solomon Islands1942

Battle of Savo Island — Worst U.S. Naval Defeat

Japanese cruisers under Admiral Mikawa surprised and sank four Allied cruisers in 32 minutes during the night action off Savo Island, the worst U.S. Navy defeat in a fair fight in history. The victory left the Marines on Guadalcanal without naval support.

Savo Island exposed critical flaws in Allied naval tactics and left the Guadalcanal garrison dangerously isolated, nearly resulting in the abandonment of the campaign.

Outcome

Japanese victory; 4 Allied cruisers sunk; 1,023 killed

Casualties

1,023