US Navy Blimp moored at her mast at Pisa airfield in August 1945. The US Navy's Blimp Mine-Spotting Detachment supported the Royal Navy's 12th Minesweeping Flotilla, which was involved in clearing the sea lanes of enemy mines using surrendered enemy naval charts. 📸 IWM (A 30189)

Indian riflemen guard an oil refinery belonging to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company on Abadan Island in the River Shatt-el-Arab in August 1941, during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran (Operation COUNTENANCE). 📸 John Keating / IWM (E 5329)

A gas decontamination party from the 167th Field Ambulance dress in protective clothing during a training exercise near Canterbury on 10 August 1940. 📸 Arthur Puttnam / IWM (H 2960)

Two soldiers of the 8th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) examining a captured German Maschinengewehr 08/15 near Malard Wood on 8 August 1918, the first day of the Battle of Amiens. 📸 IWM (Q 6920)

8 August 1944: The Junkers Ju 287 jet bomber made its first flight. It was developed to equip the Luftwaffe with a bomber capable of evading interception by outpacing enemy fighters. The swept-forward wing design was designed to enhance lift at lower airspeeds. Only two prototypes were completed.

An armoured car of the 1st or 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade operating as part of Brigadier-General Raymond Brutinel's Canadian Independent Force, during an advance east of Amiens on 8 August 1918, the opening of the Hundred Days Offensive (8 August - 11 November).

A British Mark V (male) tank (B56, 9003) of the 2nd Battalion, Tank Corps crossing a ditch at the side of a road at Lamotte-en-Santerre on 8 August 1918, during the Battle of Amiens. The 2nd Battalion, Tank Corps had supported Australian forces in capturing the village that day. 📸 IWM (Q 68975)

On 7 August 1794, US President George Washington invoked the Militia Acts of 1792 to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania. Washington announced the calling out of 13,000 militia with "the deepest regret" and ordered insurgents in western Pennsylvania to disperse by 1 September.

British troops bathing near Aveluy Wood on 7 August 1916, during the Battle of the Somme. Soldiers who were not assigned to frontline duties were afforded the chance to take a warm bath and change into clean clothes. The baths were typically communal areas and were often set up in breweries.

The departure of the 1/5th (The Sutherland and Caithness) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, from Wick railway station on 6 August 1914, heading for training in Bedford. Captain David Sutherland is seen giving orders in front of the first railway carriage. 📸 IWM (HU 94294)

1st Battalion, Irish Guards preparing to leave Wellington Barracks on 6 August 1914. On 13 August, the Battalion arrived at Le Havre as part of 4th (Guards) Brigade, 2nd Division, of the British Expeditionary Force. They would first see action at the Battle of Mons on 23 August. 📸 IWM (Q 66157)

Anton von Werner's 'Assault on the heights of Spicheren' depicts the Prussian assault on the elevated French positions during the Battle of Spicheren on 6 August 1870. The French inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking Prussian troops with the Chassepot rifle.

Belgian troops defending a suburb of Herstal, north-east of Liège, on 5 August 1914, the first day of the Battle of Liège. The city would surrender to General Erich Ludendorff on 7 August. The ring of forts surrounding the city would continue to hold out, with the last fort falling on 16 August.

HMS INDOMITABLE photographed from HMS INFLEXIBLE while they were shadowing the German battlecruiser GOEBEN and the light cruiser BRESLAU off Sicily on 4 August 1914. 📸 IWM (SP 2879)

4 August 1914: Following the expiry of its ultimatum to the Belgian government, Germany declared war and began the invasion of Belgium. The initial objective was the capture of the heavily defended city of Liege with its major rail and road crossings on the Meuse River.

4 August 1914: Following the German invasion of Belgium and the German government's summary rejection to guarantee Belgian neutrality, Britain declared war on Germany at 11 pm. Earlier in the day, the British government had issued orders for general mobilisation to commence.

"Few are wounded by the mitrailleuse. If it hits you, you're dead" - Bavarian Major Gustav Fleschuez after witnessing the French weapon in action at the Battle of Wissembourg on 4 August 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War.

Anton von Werner's 1888 painting of Crown Prince Frederick Wilhelm, commander of the German 3rd Army, paying his respects to French general Charles Abel Douay, who was killed at the Battle of Wissembourg on 4 August 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War.

"The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime" - British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, 3 August 1914

SS KONIGIN LUISE at Emden on 3 August 1914, after being taken over by the Kaiserliche Marine as an auxiliary minelayer. The vessel was camouflaged to resemble the steamers of the Great Eastern Railway that sailed between Harwich and the Hook of Holland. 📸 IWM (Q 48391)

3 August 1914: With Germany poised to attack Belgium and France, the British government issued orders for the Territorial Force to be mobilised. The following day, general mobilisation was ordered. Throughout July, the army had been preparing for mobilisation as the crisis in Europe deepened.

The French general mobilisation order, which was issued on 2 August 1914.

Machine Gun Section of the 12th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment, with a Maxim gun outside the Polytechnic, Regent Street, London, on the way to Territorial Camp on 2 August 1914. 📸 IMW (Q 71254)

Prussian soldiers of the 7th Company, 40th (Hohenzollern) Fusiliers opening fire on French troops advancing into the town of Saarbrücken on 2 August 1870 in the first major engagement of the Franco-Prussian War.

2 August 1914: German forces marched in and took control of Luxembourg as a preliminary to the invasion of Belgium and France, violating the 1867 Treaty of London. The German government issued a 12-hour ultimatum to neutral Belgium to allow German troops passage into France.

B-24 Liberators flying at low level as they pass through the target area during the Ploesti Raid on 1 August 1943. The B-24 bombers had taken off from Libya to strike the Romanian oil production facilities in an effort to curtail Axis petroleum, oil, and lubrication output.

1 August 1914: The British Admiralty issued orders for the full mobilisation of the Royal Navy's Home Fleets. This was followed by instructions to take up supply and hospital ships and colliers and oilers. The next day, orders would be sent out for the mobilisation of the Naval Reserve.

1 August 1914: Following Russia's full military mobilisation in support of its ally Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia, and the German Army commenced its mobilisation against Russia and its ally France. Neutral Switzerland also began to mobilise its army to secure its borders.

Men of a British Pioneer Battalion in light railway trucks and others moving towards the front line at Brielen on 31 July 1917 during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, the opening attack of the Third Battle of Ypres. 📸 Lieutenant John Warwick Brooke / IWM (Q 5712)

Soldiers of the 7th Battalion, The Green Howards, during an anti-invasion exercise among the dunes at Sandbanks, near Poole in Dorset, on 31 July 1940. Along with the 6th Battalion, they formed part of 69th Infantry Brigade. 📸 Edward Malindine / IWM (H 2669)