Category Archives: 1940s

Soviets liberate Chelmno extermination camp in Poland 80 years ago today (Jan 20 1945)


Video: 'Chelmno Extermination Camp English Version'

(Saturday, January 20, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II)Chelmno, a Nazi German extermination camp situated 31 miles from Lodz near the Polish village of Chelmno nad Nerem, was liberated today by the Soviets, two days after operations had ceased. Continue reading Soviets liberate Chelmno extermination camp in Poland 80 years ago today (Jan 20 1945)

Patton congratulates commanders on ‘Bulge’ victory 80 years ago today (Jan 17 1945)


Video: 'The Battle of the Bulge: World War II's Deadliest Battle' (Jan. 17, 1945, at 1:09:33)

(Wednesday, January 17, 1945; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — “The day after Houffalize was taken, Patton congratulated his corps commanders on their victory at the Battle of the Bulge, but whatever the papers said, this fight was not over…”

Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg disappears in Hungary while in Soviet custody 80 years ago today (Jan 17 1945)


Video: 'The Story of Raoul Wallenberg | Righteous Among the Nations | Yad Vashem'

(Wednesday, January 17, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, credited with saving tens of thousands of Jews, disappeared today in Hungary while in Soviet custody.

Warsaw liberated by Soviet, Polish forces 80 years ago this hour (Jan 17 1945)


Video: 'Week 282 - The Red Army Overruns Poland! - WW2 - January 20, 1945' (Warsaw liberated at 3:36)

(Wednesday, January 17, 1945, German forces cleared from the city by noon Central European Time; during the Vistula–Oder Offensive, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — Russian and Polish troops today captured devastated Warsaw to free its last survivors of five years of Nazi tyranny as the Red Army’s greatest offensive surged twenty-four miles across western Poland, taking Czestochowa and reaching within fourteen miles of the German border.

Americans, British link up at Houffalize during Battle of the Bulge 80 years ago today (Jan 16 1945)


Video: 'The Battle of the Bulge: World War II's Deadliest Battle' (Jan. 16, 1945, at 1:08:29)

(Tuesday, January 16, 1945; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — The 11th Armored Division, which was a part of the Third US Army, joined forces with the 2nd Armored Division and the 84th Infantry Division of the First Army today at Houffalize, Belgium, about 20 miles east northeast of St. Hubert. Continue reading Americans, British link up at Houffalize during Battle of the Bulge 80 years ago today (Jan 16 1945)

Roger Rutland, First Sergeant, 106th Infantry, describes American offensive 80 years ago today (Jan 13 1945)


Video: 'The Battle of the Bulge: World War II's Deadliest Battle' (Jan. 13, 1945, at 1:06:54)

(Saturday, January 13, 1945; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — “On January 13th, we were almost to this little town of Coulis and the artillery started coming in. I had at least 15 of my new men …”

Soviets launch Vistula–Oder Offensive against Germans 80 years ago this hour (Jan 12 1945)


Video: 'Week 281 - Soviet and American Massive Attacks - January 13, 1945' (Jan. 12, 1945, at 10:37)

(Friday, January 12, 1945, 04:35 local time; during the Vistula–Oder Offensive, part of the Eastern front of World War II) — Soviet forces began a major, successful offensive today against the Germans in Eastern Europe.

General Bradley publicly reveals Allied rift 80 years ago today (Jan 9 1945)


Video: 'The Battle of the Bulge: World War II's Deadliest Battle' (Jan. 9, 1945, at 58:09)

(Tuesday, January 9, 1945; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery “demanded permanent control of all American ground troops. Ike was sick of the field marshal and threatened to have him fired. On the 9th of January, an angry [American General Omar] Bradley made the dispute public.”

American forces began landing on the shores of Lingayen Gulf 80 years ago this hour (Jan 9 1945)


Video: 'American Forces led by General MacArthur land at the Lingayen Gulf and advance to...HD Stock Footage'

(Tuesday, January 9, 1945, 9:30 a.m. local time; during the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — About 68,000 men under General Walter Krueger of the U.S. 6th Army began landing today on the shores of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines as the Battle of Luzon got underway, resulting in an Allied victory over Imperial Japanese forces.

Hitler authorizes limited German withdrawal from Ardennes 80 years ago today (Jan 8 1945)


Video: 'The Battle of the Bulge: World War II's Deadliest Battle' (Jan. 8, 1945, at 53:40)

(Monday, January 8, 1945; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler today authorized the withdrawal of troops from the village of Houffalize about ten miles from Bastogne, signalling the beginning of the German retreat from the Ardennes.