Today is Tuesday, Aug. 13, the 226th day of 2024. There are 140 days left in the year. Today in history: On Aug. 13, 1961, on what would become known as Barbed Wire Sunday, East Germany sealed the border between Berlin’s eastern and western sectors before building a wall that would divide the city for the next 28 years. Also on this date: In 1521, Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez captured Tenochtitlan (teh-natch-teet-LAHN’), present-day Mexico City, from the Aztecs. Related Articles Today in History: August 12, Charlottesville car attack Today in History: August 11, first prisoners reach Alcatraz Today in History: August 10, derecho rakes the Midwest Today in History: August 9, U.S.