Category Archives: 1940s

Nazi concentration camp Neuengamme liberated 80 years ago today (May 4 1945)


Video: 'KZ Neuengamme Concentration Camp (Short Film)'

(Friday, May 4, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Neuengamme concentration camp, a subcamp of Sachsenhausen concentration camp located near the village of Neuengamme in the Bergedorf district of Hamburg, Germany, was liberated today by British forces. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Neuengamme liberated 80 years ago today (May 4 1945)

Allied forces recapture Rangoon from the Japanese 80 years ago this hour (May 3 1945)


Video: 'Manila And Rangoon - Japanese Surrender (1945)' (Rangoon surrender at 0:51)

(Sunday, May 3, 1945, 4:00 p.m. Burma Standard Time; part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — Allied forces recaptured Rangoon (Yangon) in Burma from the Japanese today.

Fascist extermination camp Jasenovac fully liberated 80 years ago around this date (May 2 1945)


Video: 'The Concentration Camp That Scared Even The Nazis: Jasenovac Concentration Camp'

(early May 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The main camp of the extermination camp Jasenovac, established in Slavonia by the authorities of the German puppet Independent State of Croatia (NDH), was fully liberated today by Yugoslav Partisans. Continue reading Fascist extermination camp Jasenovac fully liberated 80 years ago around this date (May 2 1945)

Nazi concentration camp Wöbbelin liberated 80 years ago this hour (May 2 1945)


Video: 'The Liberation of The Wöbbelin Concentration Camp - May 2, 1945'

(Wednesday, May 2, 1945, approximately 1:00-2:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Wöbbelin concentration camp, a subcamp of the Neuengamme concentration camp near the city of Ludwigslust, Germany, was liberated today by American forces. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Wöbbelin liberated 80 years ago this hour (May 2 1945)

Germans surrender Berlin to Soviet forces 80 years ago this hour (May 2 1945)


Video: 'Downfall: The Battle of Berlin 1945 (Documentary)' (May 2, 1945, at 19:53)

(Wednesday, May 2, 1945, 6:00 a.m. CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — Berlin, greatest city of the European Continent, fell today to the Russians as German General Helmuth Weidling finally surrendered with his staff and 70,000 German troops laid down their arms. Continue reading Germans surrender Berlin to Soviet forces 80 years ago this hour (May 2 1945)

Germans announce Adolf Hitler is dead 80 years ago this hour (May 1 1945)


Video: 'WWII Triumph and Despair' (May 1, 1945, at 24:36)

(Tuesday, May 1, 1945, 9:43 p.m. CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — The radio station Reichssender Hamburg interrupted their normal program tonight to announce that an important broadcast would soon be made. Continue reading Germans announce Adolf Hitler is dead 80 years ago this hour (May 1 1945)

‘Queen for a Day’ debuts on Mutual Radio Network 80 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1945)


Video: 'Queen For a Day Radio Show Jan 23 1951'

(Monday, April 30, 1945, 2:30 p.m. EWT; during World War II)Queen for Today (later Queen for a Day), a radio game show that helped to usher in American listeners’ and viewers’ fascination with big-prize giveaway shows, premiered today on the Mutual Radio Network in New York City.

Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun commit suicide in their Berlin bunker 80 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1945)

Video: '296B - The Death of Adolf Hitler - WW2 - April 30, 1945'

(Monday, April 30, 1945, 3:30 p.m. CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — As Soviet troops approached his Berlin bunker, Adolf Hitler committed suicide today along with his wife of one day, Eva Braun. Continue reading Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun commit suicide in their Berlin bunker 80 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1945)

Nazi concentration camp Dachau liberated 80 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1945)


Video: 'Liberating Dachau 1945'

(Sunday, April 29, 1945, approximately 11:30 a.m. CEST; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The remaining 3,000 inmates, including 1,400 women, at the Nazi concentration camp Dachau, located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory southeast of the medieval town of Dachau, about 16 km (10 mi) northwest of Munich, were liberated today by American troops. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Dachau liberated 80 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1945)

Bodies of Mussolini, mistress hung upside down in Milan 80 years ago today (Apr 29 1945)


Video: 'Angry mob and bodies of Barrocu, Terussi, Gelormini, Benito Mussolini, Petacci, P...HD Stock Footage'

(Sunday, April 29, 1945, approximately 9:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during World War II) — The bodies of former Italian fascist dictator (and strong ally of German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler) Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, were hoisted up on to the metal girder framework of a half-built Standard Oil service station today in Milan, and hung upside down on meat hooks. Continue reading Bodies of Mussolini, mistress hung upside down in Milan 80 years ago today (Apr 29 1945)