Video: 'The World at War: Tough Old Gut: Italy - November 1942-June 1944 (13 of 26)' (Sep. 12, 1943, at 22:18)

(Sunday, September 12, 1943, 2:05 p.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Benito Mussolini, the recently deposed Italian dictator who was imprisoned at the Campo Imperiale Hotel in the Abruzzi Mountains, “escaped” this afternoon during the Gran Sasso raid, led by Hauptsturmführer Otto Skorzeny. Continue reading Nazi raiders ‘rescue’ deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from Hotel Campo Imperatore 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 12 1943) →

Video: '211 - The Allies' Latest Victory - WW2 - September 10, 1943' (Allied invasion of Italy at 2:45)

(Thursday, September 9, 1943, 3:20 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — The second and main phase of the Allied invasion of Italy, Operation Avalanche, commenced today, as the U.S. Army VI Corps and the British Army X Corps stormed the beaches at the Gulf of Salerno, and encountered heavy resistance from German forces. Continue reading Allied forces land on Italian mainland at Salerno and Taranto during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1943) →

Video: '211 - The Allies' Latest Victory - WW2 - September 10, 1943' (Sept. 8, 1943, at 1:08)

(Wednesday, September 8, 1943, 5:30 p.m. Central European Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Italy has signed an unconditional armistice with the Allies, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the commander in chief of Allied forces in the Mediterranean, announced today in a broadcast from Allied Headquarters in Algiers, “effective this instant.” Continue reading General Dwight D. Eisenhower announces Italy’s surrender during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 8 1943) →

Video: '210 - The War is Four Years Old this week - WW2 - September 3, 1943' (Sep. 3, 1943, at 0:35)

(Friday, September 3, 1943, 4:30 Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Mainland Italy was invaded by Allied forces today for the first time during World War II, as the British Eighth Army’s XIII Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey and composed of the 1st Canadian and British 5th Infantry Divisions, launched Operation Baytown under General Bernard Montgomery’s direction. Continue reading Allied forces invade mainland Italy at Reggio di Calabria during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1943) →

Video: 'Allied Forces Enter Messina - 1943 | Today In History | 17 Aug 17'

(Tuesday, August 17, 1943, at about 10:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Sicily, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — The U.S. 7th Army, commanded by General George S. Patton, one of the most revered, skilled and yet controversial figures in American military lore, secured the liberation of Sicily, reaching the port city of Messina this morning just hours before the British 8th Army, led by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. Continue reading Yanks pour into Messina, completing conquest of Sicily during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 17 1943) →

Video: 'Hamburg’s Citizens Burnt Alive - War Against Humanity 071 - July 31, 1943' (July 27, 1943, at 15:35)

(Tuesday, July 27, 1943, shortly before midnight Central European Summer Time; during the Allied bombing of Hamburg during World War II, codenamed Operation Gomorrah, part of the European Theater of World War II) — In the greatest single-day loss of life in wartime, up to then, more than 30,000 residents of the German port city of Hamburg were killed tonight when British bombers carried out Operation Gomorrha. Continue reading 18,474 people killed as Allied planes bomb Hamburg, Germany 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1943) →