Monthly Archives: April 2025

Germans launch first-full scale use of deadly chemicals in warfare 110 years ago this hour (Apr 22 1915)

1910s, World War I


Video: 'Gas On The Western Front - Baptism of Fire for Canada I THE GREAT WAR Week 39' (Apr. 22, 1915 at 1:20)

(Thursday, April 22, 1915, around 5:00 p.m. Central European Time; part of the Western Front of World War I) — The first full-scale use of deadly chemicals in warfare took place today as German forces unleashed chlorine gas against Allied troops at the start of the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium during World War I; thousands of soldiers are believed to have died. Continue reading Germans launch first-full scale use of deadly chemicals in warfare 110 years ago this hour (Apr 22 1915) →

Hitler falls into tearful rage when General Steiner fails to move 80 years ago this afternoon (Apr 22 1945)

1940s, World War II

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (Apr. 22, 1945, at 29:48)

(Sunday, April 22, 1945, early afternoon CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — At his afternoon situation conference today, German dictator Adolf Hitler was told units commanded by Waffen-SS General Felix Steiner had not moved after being ordered to attack the northern flank of the encircling Soviet salient. Continue reading Hitler falls into tearful rage when General Steiner fails to move 80 years ago this afternoon (Apr 22 1945) →

Nazi concentration camp Sachsenhausen liberated 80 years ago today (Apr 22 1945)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Hitler's SS in Sachsenhausen... One of the worst Nazi concentration camps'

(Sunday, April 22, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The remaining 3,000 inmates, including 1,400 women, at the Nazi concentration camp Sachsenhausen in Oranienburg, Germany, (35 km north of the center of Berlin) used primarily for political prisoners, were liberated today by the Red Army and the Polish Army’s 2nd Infantry Division. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Sachsenhausen liberated 80 years ago today (Apr 22 1945) →

The Beach Boys appear on ABC-TV’s ‘Shindig!’ 60 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1965)

1960s, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s


Video: 'The Beach Boys -- Shindig! -- 1965/04/21 -- Full Live Appearance -- [ remastered, 60FPS 4K ]'

(Wednesday, April 21, 1965, 8:30-9:30 p.m. EST) — The Beach Boys made their second appearance on ABC’s Shindig! program tonight, performing six songs (taped Mar. 29, 1965 in Los Angeles), including “Do You Wanna Dance,” “Fun Fun Fun,” “Long Tall Texan,” “Please Let Me Wonder,” “Help Me Rhonda” and “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring.”

‘Inherit the Wind’ debuts on Broadway 70 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1955)

1950s, Broadway


Plot summary, “Inherit the Wind” by Jerome Lawrence, Robert E. Lee in 5 Minutes - Book Review

(Thursday, April 21, 1955, 8:00 p.m. EST) — The Jerome Lawrence-Robert Lee play Inherit the Wind, a story that fictionalizes the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial as a means to discuss the then-contemporary McCarthy trials, opened tonight on Broadway at the National Theatre at 208 West 41st Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York.

Former Beatle George Harrison begins recording sixth solo studio album 50 years ago today (Apr 21 1975)

1970s, Popular Music 1970s, The Beatles 1970s


Video: 'Tired of Midnight Blue'

(Monday, April 21, 1975) — Former Beatle George Harrison returned to the studio today, beginning recording sessions for his sixth solo album, Extra Texture (Read All About It), at A&M Studios in Los Angeles. Continue reading Former Beatle George Harrison begins recording sixth solo studio album 50 years ago today (Apr 21 1975) →

Lincoln’s body departs Washington 160 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1865)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (Lincoln's casket departs at 21:16)

(Friday, April 21, 1865, 8:00 a.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — The remains U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and his deceased son, William Wallace Lincoln, left Washington, D.C., today for the 1,654 mile journey to Springfield, Illinois, for burial. Continue reading Lincoln’s body departs Washington 160 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1865) →

South Vietnamese President Thieu resigns as Communist forces close in on Saigon 50 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 21, 1975, at 40:32)

(Monday, April 21, 1975, 8:40 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — With Communist forces closing in, South Vietnam’s President Nguyen Van Thieu denouncing the United States as untrustworthy, resigned tonight after 10 years in office. Continue reading South Vietnamese President Thieu resigns as Communist forces close in on Saigon 50 years ago this hour (Apr 21 1975) →

Xuan Loc falls to North Vietnamese communist troops 50 years ago today (Apr 21 1975)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 21, 1975, at 39:59)

(Monday, April 21, 1975; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — The Battle of Xuan Loc, the last major battle of the Vietnam War in which South Vietnamese army committed almost all their remaining mobile forces under General Le Minh Dao to the defense of Xuan Loc, ended today with a North Vietnamese strategic victory.

Soviet tanks reach the outskirts of Berlin 80 years ago today (Apr 21 1945)

1940s, World War II

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (Apr. 21, 1945, at 28:15)

(Saturday, April 21, 1945; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — Soviet tanks thundered into the northeastern suburbs of Berlin today, breaching the Nazi capital’s final outer defenses in a meticulously planned offensive aimed at delivering the death blow to Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Continue reading Soviet tanks reach the outskirts of Berlin 80 years ago today (Apr 21 1945) →