1942, 13 August - World War II: North Africa
With the death of Lieutenant General William 'Strafer' Gott, who was given the command of the Eight Army on 3 August, in an air crash Churchill's plans to split Middle East Command into two parts (Persia and Iraq under General Sir Claude Auchinleck, and Egypt, Syria, and Palestine under General Sir Harold Alexander) is dropped and overall command given to Alexander. Gott's command of the Eighth Army is given to Lieutenant General Bernard Law Montgomery.
1957, 13 August
President Habib Ali Bourguiba refuses to halt the sale of arms to Algerian rebels.
1960, 13 August
Oubangi-Shari achieves independence as the Central African Republic (CAR) with David Dacko, the cousin of the former Prime Minister Barthélémy Boganda (who died mysteriously during the presidential election campaign), as president.
1966, 13 August
President Habib Ali Bourguiba bans the wearing of mini-skirts in Tunisia.
1968, 13 August
Count Carl Gustav von Rosen, a Swedish pilot, defies Nigerian air defences by flying supplies in to Biafran rebels.
1984, 13 August
Morocco and Libya form a federation.
