Category Archives: 1940s

FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: '1945 Newsreel: The Yalta Conference begins' (Feb. 3, 1945, at 0:59)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 12:10 p.m. local time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt landed today at Saki airfield on the west coast of the Crimea, about 20 minutes ahead of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The two men reviewed an honor guard and then continued via jeep to Livadia Palace near Yalta, USSR, where they arrived about six hours later for a week-long conference to plan the postwar world. Continue reading FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945) →

Battle of Manila begins during World War II 80 years ago today (Feb 3 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The World At War: Pacific 3/5' (Feb. 1945, at 2:01)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 6:35 p.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Manila, part of the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) in the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The Battle of Manila, the Allied campaign to liberate the capital city of the Philippines, began today as elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division under Maj. Gen. Verne D. Mudge pushed into the northern outskirts of Manila and seized a vital bridge across the Tullahan River, which separated them from the city proper, and quickly captured Malacanang Palace.

First U.S. soldier since Civil War executed for desertion 80 years ago this hour (Jan 31 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The HORRIFIC Execution Of Eddie Slovik - The American Shot For Desertion In WW2'

(Wednesday, January 31, 1945, 10:04 a.m. local time; during World War II) — Pvt. Eddie Slovik, 24, today became the first U.S. soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion as he was shot by an American firing squad in France near the village of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.

Hitler marks 12th anniversary in power with final public speech 80 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Hitler last speech January 30 1945'

(Tuesday, January 30, 1945, recorded earlier for broadcast at 10:00 p.m. Central European Time; during World War II) — Adolf Hitler marked the 12th anniversary of his appointment as Germany’s chancellor with his last public speech in which he called on Germans to keep resisting until victory.

Raid at Cabanatuan liberates 500+ Allied POWs 80 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Rescuing the Most Doomed American Soldiers of WW2 - The Great Raid'

(Tuesday, January 30, 1945, 7:40 p.m. local time; in the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — 552 Allied captives held at the Japanese prison camp in Cabanatuan in the Philippines were liberated today by U.S. Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrilla fighters.

Germans return to start line, ending Battle of the Bulge 80 years ago this hour (Jan 28 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The Battle of the Bulge: World War II's Deadliest Battle' (Jan. 28, 1945, at 1:19:05)

(Sunday, January 28, 1945, 7:00 p.m. local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — The Battle of the Bulge, a major German offensive campaign launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg on the Western Front toward the end of World War II in Europe, ended today when the Americans, who suffered 19,246 killed, forced the Germans back to their start line.

Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland liberated by Soviets 80 years ago this hour (Jan 27 1945)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'The Liberation Of Auschwitz - Bringing Freedom To The Death Camp'

(Saturday, January 27, 1945, at around 3:00 p.m. local time; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — 7,500 prisoners (including Otto Frank, the father of diarist Anne Frank) at Auschwitz, a network of German Nazi concentration camps and extermination camps near the German-occupied Polish town of Oswiecim, were liberated this afternoon as soldiers of the 60th Army of the 1st Ukrainian Front marched into the camp, ten days after 58,000 detainees were evacuated under guard, largely on foot. Continue reading Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland liberated by Soviets 80 years ago this hour (Jan 27 1945) →

FDR sworn in for unprecedented fourth term as U.S. President, Truman as 34th VP 80 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1945)

1940s, The Holocaust, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1945 Presidential Inauguration'

(Saturday, January 20 1945, a few minutes after noon EWT) — Franklin Delano Roosevelt, nearing his sixty-third birthday, stood today at the White House bareheaded and without an outside coat, despite raw, wintry weather, to become the nation’s first fourth-term President. Continue reading FDR sworn in for unprecedented fourth term as U.S. President, Truman as 34th VP 80 years ago this hour (Jan 20 1945) →

Marshal Zhukov’s tanks enter Germany proper 80 years ago today (Jan 20 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The World At War 1973 WW2 EP 19 From Bluray: Battle of the Bulge' (Jan. 20, 1945, at 45:47)

(Saturday, January 20, 1945; during the Vistula–Oder Offensive, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — Soviet Marshal Georgy Zhukov’s tanks today entered Germany proper for the first time, a mere 100 miles from Berlin.