Category Archives: World War II

Yanks pour into Messina, completing conquest of Sicily during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 17 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)

U.S. Navy Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 rammed and sunk by Japanese destroyer 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1943)


Video: 'American Experience: JFK & the PT 109'

(Monday, August 2, 1943, 2:27 a.m. local time; part of the the Solomon Islands campaign of the Pacific theater of World War II) — The U.S. Navy patrol torpedo boat PT-109, with a crew of 13 commanded by Lieutenant (j.g.) John F. Kennedy, future United States president, was traveling this morning through the Blackett Strait in the Solomon Islands, when it was rammed and sunk by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri. Continue reading U.S. Navy Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 rammed and sunk by Japanese destroyer 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1943)

18,474 people killed as Allied planes bomb Hamburg, Germany 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 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)

Fascist dictator and Hitler ally Benito Mussolini dismissed as Italian premier, placed under arrest 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 25 1943)


Video: '205 - Mussolini Falls from Power - WW2 - July 30, 1943' (fall of the Fascist regime in Italy at 2:23)

(Sunday, July 25, 1943, Mussolini was arrested at 5:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time; during the fall of the Fascist regime in Italy and Allied invasion of Sicily, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Benito Mussolini was dismissed and placed under arrested today as Prime Minister of Italy, along with the other Fascist Party members of his cabinet, bringing an end to a dictatorship of more than 17 years. Continue reading Fascist dictator and Hitler ally Benito Mussolini dismissed as Italian premier, placed under arrest 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 25 1943)

Allies bomb Rome for first time as Mussolini meets with Hitler in Feltre during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 19 1943)


Video: 'Precision bombing of Railroad yards in Rome, Italy by over 500 Allied bombers dur...HD Stock Footage'

(Monday, July 19, 1943, 11:13 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Bombing of Rome in World War II, part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome) — Allied airplanes bombed the ancient city of Rome for the first time today when 690 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft flew over Rome and dropped 9,125 bombs on the city. Continue reading Allies bomb Rome for first time as Mussolini meets with Hitler in Feltre during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 19 1943)

Allied invasion of Sicily during World War II begins 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 10 1943)


Video: 'Invasion Of Sicily - First Pictures (1943)'

(Saturday, July 10, 1943, just after midnight Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Sicily, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, a major campaign of World War II in which the Allied forces invaded the island of Sicily and took it from the Axis powers (Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany), began early this morning as two American and two British attacks by airborne troops were carried out. Continue reading Allied invasion of Sicily during World War II begins 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 10 1943)

Largest tank battle in history begins at Kursk, Russia during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 5 1943)


Video: '202 - Kursk, When Titans Clash - July 9, 1943' (July 5, 1943, at 7:21)

(Monday, July 5, 1943, 5:00 a.m. Moscow Standard Time; during the Battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front of World War II) — The Battle of Kursk, a major World War II Eastern Front large-scale engagement between the forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union near Kursk in southwestern Russia, began early today as the Germans launched Operation Citadel, an offensive which had the objective of pinching off the Kursk salient with attacks on the base of the salient from north and south simultaneously. Continue reading Largest tank battle in history begins at Kursk, Russia during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 5 1943)

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill declares victory in Battle of the Atlantic, citing ‘total defeat’ of German U-boats since April 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1943)


Video: 'World War II: Winston Churchill speech on receiving freedom of City of London (1943)'

(Wednesday, June 30, 1943, during the Battle of the Atlantic, part of World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said in a speech at Guildhall in London today that the Allies had achieved a “total defeat” of the German U-boat attack in May and June, sinking more than 30 in May alone, and that Great Britain would fight until Japan submits or “bite the dust.” Continue reading British Prime Minister Winston Churchill declares victory in Battle of the Atlantic, citing ‘total defeat’ of German U-boats since April 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1943)

Zoot Suit Riots involving American servicemen and young Latino and Mexican Americans begin in Los Angeles 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 3 1943)


Video: 'How Anti-Mexican Racism in L.A. Caused the Zoot Suit Riots | History'

(Thursday, June 3, 1943, evening PWT; during the Zoot Suit Riots and World War II) — The Zoot Suit Riots, a series of riots that took place from June 3–8, 1943, in Los Angeles, California, United States, involving American servicemen stationed in Southern California and young Latino and Mexican American city residents, began tonight. Continue reading Zoot Suit Riots involving American servicemen and young Latino and Mexican Americans begin in Los Angeles 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 3 1943)

Dr. Josef ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele reports for duty at Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1943)


Video: 'Josef Mengele - The Angel of Death Documentary'

(Sunday, May 30, 1943; during the The Holocaust, part of World War II) — German Schutzstaffel (SS) officer Dr. Josef Mengele, also known as the Angel of Death, today became the head doctor of the BIIe sector of Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, which was the family camp for Sinti and Roma prisoners. Continue reading Dr. Josef ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele reports for duty at Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1943)