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Anne Frank transferred to transit camp Westerbork 70 years ago today (Aug 8 1944)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Anne Frank - The Whole Story (2001) 2/2' (Aug. 8, 1944, at 42:59)

(Tuesday, August 8, 1944, early morning CET; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — 15-year-old diarist Anne Frank, her family, the van Pel family and dentist Fritz Pfeffer, the eight people in discovered hiding in the “Secret Annex” were removed from their cells at Huis van Bewaring (House of Detention), an overcrowded prison on the Weteringschans, and taken by tram to the Centraal train station in Amsterdam today and transported in an ordinary passenger train to transit camp Westerbork.

Congress gives President Johnson broad powers to wage war in North Vietnam 50 years ago today (Aug 7 1964)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - LBJ Goes to War [3/11]' (Aug. 7, 1964, at 16:08)

(Friday, August 7, 1964; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The House of Representatives and the Senate approved today the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Lyndon B. Johnson broad powers in dealing with reported North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. forces click here watch a clip from ‘The Presidents: LBJ’ at 1:38:48).

American First Lady Ellen Wilson dies 100 years ago this hour (Aug 6 1914)

1910s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Woodrow Wilson Part 1 of 2' (Ellen's death at 1:14:08)

(Thursday, August 6, 1914, 5:00 p.m. ) — American First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson, the 54-year-old wife of President Woodrow Wilson, died this afternoon in the White House of Bright’s disease.

First American flier shot down, captured by North Vietnam 50 years ago today (Aug 5 1964)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - America's Enemy [5/11]' (Alvarez at 15:07)

(Wednesday, August 5, 1964; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. Navy pilot Everett Alvarez Jr. became the first American flier to be shot down and captured by North Vietnam today; he was held prisoner until February 1973.

Farragut leads Union victory at Battle of Mobile Bay Alabama 150 years ago this hour (Aug 5 1864)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Stamp unveiled for 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay'

(Saturday, August 5, 1864, 6:47 a.m. local time; during the Battle of Mobile Bay, part of the American Civil War) — Union Admiral David G. Farragut led a Union flotilla through Confederate defenses today in the Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama, sealing one of the last major Southern ports.

‘Rear Window’ premieres in New York City 60 years ago tonight (Aug 4 1954)

1950s, Movies 1950s


Video: 'Rear Window' trailer

(Wednesday, August 4, 1954) — Rear Window, a suspense thriller film about a photographer with a broken leg who uncovers a murder while spying on the neighbors in a nearby apartment building, premiered tonight at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, the film starred James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey, Thelma Ritter and Raymond Burr.

FBI finds three bodies of missing civil rights workers 50 years ago this hour (Aug 4 1964)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'The True Story of Mississippi Burning' (Aug. 4, 1964, at 32:29)

(Tuesday, August 4, 1964, just after 3:00 p.m. local time; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–68)) — Bodies believed to be those of three civil rights workers (Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney) missing since June 21, 1964, were found buried in an earthen dam early tonight near Philadelphia, Mississippi. Continue reading FBI finds three bodies of missing civil rights workers 50 years ago this hour (Aug 4 1964) →

Communist PT boats allegedly renew raids at Gulf of Tonkin 50 years ago this hour (Aug 4 1964)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - LBJ Goes to War [3/11]' (Gulf of Tonkin incident, Aug. 4, 1964, at 12:35)

(Tuesday, August 4, 1964, 10:30 p.m. North Vietnamese time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The Defense Department announced tonight that North Vietnamese PT boats made a “deliberate attack” today on two United States destroyers patrolling international waters in the Gulf of Tonkin off North Vietnam. Continue reading Communist PT boats allegedly renew raids at Gulf of Tonkin 50 years ago this hour (Aug 4 1964) →

Germany declares war on France 100 years ago this afternoon (Aug 3 1914)

1910s, World War I


Video: 'The Great War - S01E02 - For Such a Stupid Reason Too' (Aug. 3, 1914, at 33:33, Germany declares war on France at 35:47)

(Monday, August 3, 1914, afternoon local time; during World War I) — Two days after declaring war on Russia, Germany declared war on France and prepared moved into Belgium today, moving ahead with a long-held strategy, conceived by the former chief of staff of the German army, Alfred von Schlieffen, for a two-front war against France and Russia.