September 8: The day London was first hit by a German rocket in World War II

On September 8, 1944, London was hit for the first time by a German V-2 rocket. The attack followed the first V-2 strike on Paris two nights earlier and marked the beginning of six months of terror and destruction.

The rockets had a range of about 400 kilometers and traveled at supersonic speeds, causing extensive damage. There were no warnings or signals to alert residents to imminent attacks. Nazi Germany launched about 4,000 V-2 rockets against London and Paris. The Allies' only advantage came from Germany's limited production capacity and severe fuel shortages caused by the blockade. By 1945, about 900 rockets were being assembled each month.

The date also marks other events. In 1495, Radu cel Mare began his reign in Wallachia, a period described as peaceful and relatively prosperous. He maintained diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire, Hungary, the Transylvanian Saxons and Moldavia, and supported religious and cultural life. In 1508, the monk Macarie printed the Liturgy Book, the first book printed in Wallachia.

September 8 also marks the birth of Romanian comedy actor Nae Lăzărescu in 1941 and the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, after a reign of more than 70 years. Lăzărescu formed a comedy partnership with Vasile Muraru and appeared in films and stage productions before his death in 2013.