Video: 'Sir Winston Churchill's Fighting Speech To U.S. Congress (1943) | British Pathé'

(Wednesday, May 19, 1943, 12:32 p.m. EWT; during the Third Washington Conference, codenamed Trident, during World War II)— On his second wartime visit to the U.S. Capitol, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill today gave a cheering, applauding joint session of Congress a generalized preview of plans for American-British aerial attacks that will lay the great cities and munitions centers of Japan in ashes, and other British-American military moves designed to “take more of the weight off Russia in 1943.” Continue reading British Prime Minister Winston Churchill pledges Japan’s ruin, but reaffirms Nazis come first in address before joint session of Congress 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1943) →

Video: '194 - The End of the War in Africa - WW2 - May 14, 1943' (May 9-13, 1943, at 8:57)

(Thursday, May 13, 1943, UK General Alexander cabled PM Churchill at 1:16 p.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST); part of Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre of World War II)— The North African Campaign — fought between the Allies and the Axis Powers since June 10, 1940 — came to an end today after the 1st Italian Army of General Giovanni Messe Messe surrendered at 12:20 p.m. CEST and the last German radio station in Africa closed down at 1:12 p.m. Continue reading Axis forces in North Africa surrender after nearly three years of fighting during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 13 1943) →

Video: 'Alaska vs. Japan - The Battle of Attu'

(Tuesday, May 11, 1943, 8:42 a.m. CAWT; during the Battle of Attu, part of the American Theater of World War II) — An assault force of 12,500 U.S. soldiers landed on the northern and southern ends of Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands today in an attempt to expel occupying Japanese Imperial Army forces led by Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki. Continue reading U.S. forces land on Aleutian island of Attu in attempt to expel occupying Japanese forces 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1943) →

Video: 'The Spy Game That Killed Yamamoto - WW2 - Spies & Ties 17'

(Sunday, April 18, 1943, 9:35 a.m. local time; during Operation Vengeance, part of Solomon Islands campaign, part of the Pacific Theater of World War II) — Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet and mastermind of the sneak attack on the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was killed today as his plane was shot down by U.S. Army fighter pilot Thomas Lanphier, Jr while approaching Bougainville in the Solomon Islands after American code breakers identified his flight plans. Continue reading Isoroku Yamamoto, mastermind of Japanese sneak attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, killed in action 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 18 1943) →

Video: 'What War with the German Army Truly Meant - Battle of Kasserine Pass

(Wednesday, February 24, 1943; during the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, part of the Tunisian Campaign of World War II) — The Battle of Kasserine Pass, a series of battles of the Tunisian campaign of World War II that began Feb. 19, 1943, at Kasserine Pass, a 2-mile-wide gap in the Grand Dorsal chain of the Atlas Mountains in west central Tunisia, ended late today as the pass was reoccupied by the Americans. Continue reading Battle of Kasserine Pass ends after U.S. suffers first major battle defeat of World War II 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 24 1943) →