What Day Is August 13? The Berlin Wall Goes Up
August 13 is the 225th day of the year. On the night of August 12-13, 1961, East German troops began sealing the border with West Berlin; barbed wire became the Berlin Wall. In 1521, Hernán Cortés captured Tenochtitlan, ending the Aztec Empire.
About August 13
August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (226th in a leap year). There are 140 days remaining until the end of the year.
The significance of August 13
Shortly after midnight on August 13, 1961, East German troops began laying barbed wire across the city of Berlin. Within days it became concrete. The Berlin Wall divided families for 28 years, separated the city into two separate political worlds, and became the defining image of the Cold War. When it came down on November 9, 1989, people from both sides tore at it with hammers. In 1521, Hernán Cortés completed the siege of Tenochtitlan after roughly 80 days of fighting. The city’s capture ended the Aztec Empire. On its ruins, the Spanish built Mexico City, which remains one of the largest cities in the world.
Get this day by email
We'll remind you of August 13 every year.
On This Day in History
- 1521Spanish forces under Hernán Cortés captured Tenochtitlan after an 80-day siege, ending the Aztec Empire. Emperor Cuauhtémoc was taken prisoner.
- 1961East German troops began sealing the border with West Berlin in the early hours of August 13, laying barbed wire that within days became the Berlin Wall. It stood until November 9, 1989.
Baby Names for This Day
August 13 is tied to the Berlin Wall and the fall of Tenochtitlan. Names connected to freedom, walls, and Aztec history:
- BerlinUnisex
The city divided by the Wall on this day in 1961; reunited in 1989. A rare but striking name.
- AxelBoy
Common in East and West Germany; many families on both sides of the Wall shared this name.
- CuauhtémocBoy
The last Aztec emperor, captured on August 13, 1521; his name means 'descending eagle' in Nahuatl.
- MontezumaBoy
The Aztec ruler who reigned before the Spanish arrived; his name lives on in place names across Mexico.
- MayaGirl
The broader Mesoamerican civilization context; Maya is one of the most widespread names today.
- LenaGirl
One of the most popular names in the former East Germany; a reminder that ordinary people lived on both sides of the Wall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day is August 13?add
August 13 is the day the Berlin Wall construction began (1961) and Tenochtitlan fell to Hernán Cortés (1521). The 225th day of the year.
What number day of the year is August 13?add
August 13 is the 225th day of the year, or the 226th in a leap year, with 140 days remaining.
What zodiac sign is August 13?add
August 13 is Leo, which runs from July 23 to August 22.