Video: 'The Potsdam Conference - When the Cold War began'

(Thursday, August 2, 1945, 12:30 a.m. CEST; during Potsdam Conference of World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, Soviet leader Josef Stalin and Britain’s new prime minister, Clement Attlee, concluded the Potsdam conference this morning after approving the final tripartite communique. Continue reading Potsdam Conference concludes 70 years ago this hour (Aug 2 1945) →

(Tuesday, July 31, 1945; during Potsdam Conference of World War II) — The atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy,” which would become the first atomic bomb to be used in warfare, was assembled today and ready for use against Japan the following day (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:08:54).

Video: 'USS Indianapolis - The Darkest Moments of World War II'

(Monday, July 30, 1945, 12:14 a.m. local time; during World War II) — The Portland class heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis, having just delivered components of the atomic bomb to Tinian in the Mariana Islands, was torpedoed today by a Japanese submarine; only 317 out of nearly 1,200 men survived. Continue reading USS Indianapolis torpedoed by Japanese 70 years ago this hour (July 30 1945) →

Video: 'Shaping The Future - U.N. Charter Becomes Reality Aka San Francisco Conference (1945)'

(Saturday, July 28, 1945; during World War II) — The United States Senate today ratified 89-2 the United Nations Security Charter, successor to the League of Nations Covenant which it rejected 26 years ago.

Video: '1945 Airplane Crashes Into The Empire State Building Killing 14'

(Saturday, July 28, 1945, 9:40 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — A twin-engine B-25 U.S. Army bomber, lost in a blinding fog, crashed into the 79th floor of New York’s Empire State Building this morning, killing 14 people including the three occupants of the plane and 11 persons in the building. Continue reading Bomber hits Empire State Building; 14 people killed 70 years ago this hour (July 28 1945) →

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 24-The Bomb(February–September 1945)' (July 28, 1945, at 33:43)

(Saturday, July 28, 1945, 3:00 p.m. JST; during the Potsdam Conference of World War II) — Japanese Prime Minister Suzuki announced this afternoon that Japan would ignore the Potsdam Declaration, issued two days ago by the Allies meeting at the Potsdam Conference calling on Japan to surrender or face “prompt and utter destruction” (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:08:04).