Today in World War II History—Aug. 23, 1940 & 1945 POSTED: Sunday, August 23, 2020 by Sarah Sundin British poster, WWII 80 Years Ago—Aug. 23, 1940: RAF cuts pilot training period from 1 month to 2 weeks. 75 Years Ago—Aug. 23, 1945: Britain ratifies United Nations Charter. Soviet troops land on and secure Paramushiro in the Kurile Islands.