1882, 13 September
Battle of Tall al Kabir The forces of Colonel Ahmad Urabi, leader of the Egyptian nationalist movement revolting against the European backed rule of the Khedive Tawfiq, are defeated by the British army under the command of Sir Garnet Wolsley.
1940, 13 September - World War II: North Africa
Italian troops cross the Libya-Egypt border with five divisions and 200 tanks and occupy Sollum. The British Western Desert Force withdraws. It is planned that British forces will move back to Mersa Matruh with a delaying action, and then stand and fight.
1979, 13 September
Venda is the third (of four) South African homelands to be granted 'independence' by the Apartheid government. Its independence is not recognised anywhere else in the world except in southern Africa.
