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Germans torpedo British liner RMS Lusitania, killing 1198, including 128 Americans 110 years ago this hour (May 7 1915)

1910s, World War I


Video: 'Terror At Sea Sinking Of The Lusitania Documentary' (May 6, 1915, at 35:51)

(Friday, May 7, 1915, 2:10-2:28 p.m. GMT; during World War I) — In an incident that turned international opinion against Germany, the German U-boat U-20 torpedoed and sank the British liner RMS Lusitania, traveling from New York to Liverpool, off the southern coast of Ireland today, killing 1,198 people, including 128 Americans, out of the nearly 2,000 on board. Continue reading Germans torpedo British liner RMS Lusitania, killing 1198, including 128 Americans 110 years ago this hour (May 7 1915) →

Viet Cong celebrate takeover of South Vietnam in Saigon 50 years ago today (May 7 1975)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War 12of13 Surrender' (May 7, 1975, at 44:24)

(Wednesday, May 7, 1975, during the Cold War) — On the same day that the Viet Cong celebrated its takeover of South Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, U.S. President Gerald R. Ford formally declared an end to the “Vietnam era,” ending wartime veteran’s benefits for new military recruits.

Nazi Germany signs unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War II in Europe 80 years ago this hour (May 7 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Capitulation Allemande à Reims Rheims German Surrender'

(Monday, May 7, 1945, 2:41 a.m. Central European Summer Time; on the Western Front of World War II) — Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France, today at a little red schoolhouse that is the headquarters of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, effective May 9, 1945, at 12:01 a.m. CEST/May 8, 1945, 6:01 p.m. Eastern War Time. Continue reading Nazi Germany signs unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War II in Europe 80 years ago this hour (May 7 1945) →

British liner RMS Lusitania warned of German submarine activity 110 years ago this hour (May 6 1915)

1910s, World War I


Video: 'Terror At Sea Sinking Of The Lusitania Documentary' (May 6, 1915, at 21:10)

(Thursday, May 6, 1915, 7:50 p.m. GMT; during World War I) — Captain William Thomas Turner of the British liner RMS Lusitania, approaching the Irish Sea on a journey from New York to Liverpool with nearly 2,000 aboard, was given a warning message twice tonight and took what he felt were prudent precautions. Continue reading British liner RMS Lusitania warned of German submarine activity 110 years ago this hour (May 6 1915) →

Babe Ruth hits his first major-league home run 110 years ago this afternoon (May 6 1915)

1910s


Video: 'May 6th 1915: Babe Ruth Hits His First Home Run'

(Thursday, May 6, 1915; during World War I) — Rookie pitcher Babe Ruth, 20, hit the first of his 714 major-league home runs today as a player for the Boston Red Sox in the top of the third inning off Yankee right-hander Jack Warhop at the the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan, New York. Continue reading Babe Ruth hits his first major-league home run 110 years ago this afternoon (May 6 1915) →

Works Progress Administration begins operating 90 years ago today (May 6 1935)

1930s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'WPA (Works Progress Administration) - 1937'

(Monday, May 6, 1935; during the Great Depression) — The Works Progress Administration began operating under an executive order signed today by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Nazi concentration camp Ebensee liberated 80 years ago today (May 6 1945)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Liberating Ebensee Concentration Camp | May 1945'

(Sunday, May 6, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Ebensee concentration camp, established to build tunnels for armaments storage near the town of Ebensee, Austria, as part of the Mauthausen network, was liberated today by American forces. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Ebensee liberated 80 years ago today (May 6 1945) →

America’s first train robbery occurs near North Bend, Ohio 160 years ago this hour (May 5 1865)

1860s, American Civil War


Video: 'Almanac America's first train robbery'

(Friday, May 5, 1865, sometime after 8:00 p.m. local time; during the American Civil War) — In what’s believed to be America’s first train robbery, a band of criminals derailed a St. Louis-bound train near North Bend, Ohio tonight and proceeded to rob the passengers and loot safes on board before getting away.

‘Damn Yankees’ opens on Broadway 70 years ago this hour (May 5 1955)

1950s, Broadway


Video: 'Damn Yankees (1955 Original Broadway Cast Recording)' (15 clips)

(Thursday, May 5, 1955, 7:45 p.m. EDT) — Damn Yankees, a musical based on the novel The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant by Douglass Wallop, opened tonight on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre at 226 West 46th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City, New York. Continue reading ‘Damn Yankees’ opens on Broadway 70 years ago this hour (May 5 1955) →

Schoolteacher John T. Scopes charged with teaching theory of evolution 100 years ago today (May 5 1925)

1920s


Video: 'Scopes Battles the Butler Act: The Fight for Evolution Theory - Decades TV Network'

(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. Continue reading Schoolteacher John T. Scopes charged with teaching theory of evolution 100 years ago today (May 5 1925) →