Category Archives: 1940s

U.S. President Harry S. Truman inspects ruins of Berlin 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)


Video: 'MP76-35 reel 1 - NEW FILM TRANSFER - President Truman’s Trip to the Berlin Conference' (Truman inspects Berlin ruins at 12:30)

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 4:57 p.m. CEST; one day before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), visited Berlin this afternoon to inspect the city’s ruins following the end of World War II in Europe (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:53:59).

President Truman inspects 2nd Armored ‘Hells on Wheels’ Division in Germany 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)


Video: 'President Truman reviews troops of the 2nd Armored Division, along a section of t...HD Stock Footage'

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 3:40 p.m. CEST; one day before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), left U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg this afternoon to inspect the ruins of Berlin,stopping to inspect the famous 2nd Armored “Hells on Wheels” Division drawn up along the wide AVUS super-highway between Potsdam and Berlin.

Atomic Age begins! U.S. explodes first experimental atomic bomb in New Mexico 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)


Video: 'Explosion and smoke cloud of the first Atomic Bomb detonation rising at Alamogord...HD Stock Footage'

(Sunday, July 16, 1945, 5:29:45 a.m. Mountain War Time; during World War II) — The Atomic Age began this morning when the United States successfully detonated a plutonium-based test nuclear weapon at the Trinity bomb site near Alamogordo, New Mexico, unleashing an explosion equivalent to that of 19 kilotons of TNT (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:55:04). Continue reading Atomic Age begins! U.S. explodes first experimental atomic bomb in New Mexico 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

British PM Winston Churchill calls on U.S. President Harry S. Truman in Babelsberg 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)


Video: 'MP76-35 reel 1 - NEW FILM TRANSFER - President Truman’s Trip to the Berlin Conference' (Truman and Churchill at 19:24)

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 11:00 a.m. CEST; one day before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — Prime Minister Winston Churchill called on U.S. President Harry S. Truman this morning at U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg, Germany, ahead of the Potsdam Conference with Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945). (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:53:14).

President Truman arrives in Antwerp, Belgium for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 15 1945)


Video: 'President Harry Truman of United States arrives in Antwerp and moves to Brussels'...HD Stock Footage'

(Sunday, July 15, 1945, Truman stepped down the gangway of Augusta at 11:10 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman arrived in Antwerp, Belgium, this morning aboard the USS Augusta, bound for Antwerp, Belgium, for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin on July 17, 1945, in Potsdam, occupied Germany. Continue reading President Truman arrives in Antwerp, Belgium for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 15 1945)

U.S. President Harry S. Truman sets sail for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 7 1945)

Video: 'MP72-36, reel 1 - Film Log of Harry S. Truman’s Historical Trip to Berlin, July 1945 - Reel 1 of 2'

(Saturday, July 7, 1945, 7:00 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman departed Newport News, Virginia, this morning aboard the USS Augusta, bound for Antwerp, Belgium, for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin beginning July 17, 1945, in Potsdam, occupied Germany (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:52:51). Continue reading U.S. President Harry S. Truman sets sail for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 7 1945)

U.S. President Harry S. Truman establishes Medal of Freedom 80 years ago today (July 6 1945)


Video: 'The History of the Medal of Freedom: Honoring America's Greatest'

(Friday, July 6, 1945; during World War II) — The Presidential Medal of Freedom, intended to honor civilians whose actions aided in the war efforts of the U.S. and its allies, was created by President Harry S. Truman today through an executive order.

Byrnes promises no policy change as he becomes Truman’s Secretary of State 80 years ago this hour (July 3 1945)

Video: 'The World At War Episode 24 HD - The Bomb (February – September 1945)' (July 3, 1945, at 16:55)

(Tuesday, July 3, 1945, 11:00 a.m. EDT; during World War II)Taking the oath of office within twenty-four hours after his nomination as Secretary of State, James F. Byrnes asserted today that there would be no change in basic foreign and peace policies charted by the late U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and no change in State Department personnel until after his return from the Big Three conference in Berlin later this month.

Stimson tells Truman war might end if Japanese were offered a chance to surrender 80 years ago this hour (July 2 1945)


Video: 'Peter Jennings - Hiroshima: Why the Bomb was Dropped (1995)' (July 2, 1945, at 43:20)

(Monday, July 2, 1945, 11:00 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson made one last effort to convince President Harry S. Truman that the war might end if the Japanese were offered a chance to surrender with the Emperor left in place during a meeting today at the White House.