(Thursday, May 5, 1955; during the Cold War) — The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) became a sovereign state today when the United States, France, and Great Britain end their military occupation, which had begun with the end of World War II in 1945.
With Konrad Adenauer as chancellor (pictured above reading a paper), West Germany was given the right to rearm and become a full-fledged member of the western alliance against the Soviet Union.
Video: 'When Japan Bombed Oregon in WWII'
(Saturday, May 5, 1945; part of the American Theater of World War II) — A Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in southern Oregon today, killing Elsie Mitchell, the 26-year-old pregnant wife of a minister, and five of their Sunday school students (aged 11–14) in the only fatal attack of its kind during World War II.
Video: 'Nazi concentration camp in Mauthausen, Austria. HD Stock Footage'
(Saturday, May 5, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, a large group of German concentration camps that were built around the villages of Mauthausen and Gusen in Upper Austria, roughly 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the city of Linz, was liberated today by American forces. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Mauthausen-Gusen liberated 70 years ago today (May 5 1945)
Video: 'Monkey Trial Case Documentary' (May 5, 1925, at 11:57)
(Tuesday, May 5, 1925) — Schoolteacher John T. Scopes, 24, was charged today for violating Tennessee’s Butler Act, which prohibited the teaching of evolution in Tennessee schools. He would be tried in a case known as the Scopes Trial.
Video: 'Reagan at Bitburg May 5 1985) (Complete)' (coverage begins at 8:30 a.m. EDT)
(Sunday, May 5, 1985, 3:33 p.m. CEST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan presided over a wreath-laying today at the base of a brick cemetery tower looming over the graves of nearly 2,000 German soldiers, including 49 SS troops.
Alluding to the controversy aroused by his visit to the cemetery, Reagan voiced regret in remarks at an American air base afterward that “old wounds have been reopened.”
Video: 'WW2: The Liberation of Holland' (Holland liberated at 41:33)
(Saturday, May 5, 1945, 8:00 a.m. CEST; on the Western Front of World War II) — Canadian and British troops liberated the Netherlands and Denmark this morning as a German surrender went into effect. Continue reading Denmark, the Netherlands liberated 70 years ago this hour (May 5 1945)
Video: 'Ken Burns The Civil War: Episode 9 The Better Angels of Our Nature (1865) |Ken Burns Docum' (May 4, 1865 at 24:35)
(Thursday, May 4, 1865, 1:00 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest today in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, following a 180-city, seven-state train journey from Washington, where he had been assassinated.
Lincoln’s son Willie, who died at age 11 from typhoid fever in 1862 and had originally been buried in Washington while Lincoln was serving as president, was interred next to his father in the family plot.
(Saturday, May 4, 1985) — “Obsession” by Animotion peaked at #6 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
(Saturday, May 4, 1985) — “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” by Don Henley peaked at #9 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week.
Video: 'KZ Neuengamme Concentration Camp (Short Film)'
(Friday, May 4, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Neuengamme concentration camp, a subcamp of Sachsenhausen concentration camp located near the village of Neuengamme in the Bergedorf district of Hamburg, Germany, was liberated today by British forces. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Neuengamme liberated 70 years ago today (May 4 1945)
