Video: 'Peter Jennings - Hiroshima: Why the Bomb was Dropped (1995)' (July 25, 1945, at 54:18)
(Wednesday, July 25, 1945, 5:15-7:30 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman today gave control of the atomic bombs to the military, which ordered that they be used as soon as the Potsdam Conference was over (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:07:28).
Video: 'Peter Jennings - Hiroshima: Why the Bomb was Dropped (1995)' (July 24, 1945, at 52:15)
(Tuesday, July 24, 1945, 5:15-7:30 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — At some point during a session of the Potsdam Conference tonight, U.S. President Harry S. Truman rose from his chair and walked slowly around the table to have a private word with Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, casually mentioning that “we had a new weapon of unusual destructive force,” Truman later wrote. Continue reading Truman drops hint to Stalin about atomic bomb 70 years ago this hour (July 24 1945)
Video: 'Guilty : The Trial of Petain'
(Monday, July 23, 1945; during World War II) — French Marshal Henri Petain, who had headed the pro-Axis Vichy government during World War II, went on trial today, charged with treason.
Video: 'the manhattan project trinity test'
(Saturday, July 21, 1945, 3:45 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman received a description of the July 16, 1945, test of the atomic bomb today while at the Potsdam Conference, becoming fully aware of its awesome power for the first time (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:03:26). Continue reading President Truman briefed on atomic bomb test 70 years ago this hour (July 21 1945)
(Thursday, July 19, 1945, 8:30 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — In the spirit of their war-inspired partnership, President Harry S. Truman threw a party tonight for Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin at U.S. headquarters in Potsdam, occupied Germany during the Potsdam Conference, flying in two young American GI’s to entertain: pianist Eugene List and violinist Stuart Canin (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:01:32).
Video: 'Anne Frank (The Whole Story)' (July 18, 1945, at 2:53:02)
(Wednesday, July 18, 1945; during World War II) — Otto Frank, who had returned to Amsterdam on June 3, 1945, having been liberated Jan. 27, 1945, at the Auschwitz concentration camp, confirmed today (via a Red Cross list, then confirmation from Lin Brilleslijper, a fellow inmate of the Frank girls at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp) that his daughters, Margot and Anne, had died in the Holocaust some time in February/March 1945. Continue reading Otto Frank confirms his daughters Margot, Anne are dead 70 years ago today (July 18 1945)
Video: 'Potsdam Conference: Big Three: Truman, Stalin & Churchill Meet in Berlin 1945 US US OWI Newsreel' (Potsdam Conference begins at 2:23-3:01)
(Tuesday, July 17, 1945, 5:10 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — The Potsdam Conference, convened to decide how to administer punishment to the defeated Nazi Germany and plan the final stages of the Pacific Theater of World War II, was called to order this afternoon at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:58:54). Continue reading Potsdam Conference of Truman, Churchill and Stalin called to order 70 years ago this hour (July 17 1945)
Video: 'Potsdam Conference: Big Three: Truman, Stalin & Churchill Meet in Berlin 1945 US US OWI Newsreel' (Stalin and Truman at 2:11-2:23)
(Tuesday, July 17, 1945, 12:00 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — Soviet leader Joseph Stalin called on U.S. President Harry S. Truman today at U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg, Germany, ahead of the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945). (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:57:01).
Video: 'Potsdam Conference: Big Three: Truman, Stalin & Churchill Meet in Berlin 1945 US US OWI Newsreel' (Truman inspects Berlin ruins at 1:45-2:05)
(Monday, July 16, 1945, 4:57 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), visited Berlin this afternoon to inspect the city’s ruins following the end of World War II in Europe (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:54:56).
Video: 'Potsdam Conference: Big Three: Truman, Stalin & Churchill Meet in Berlin 1945 US US OWI Newsreel' (Truman inspects Second Armored Division at 3:01)
(Monday, July 16, 1945, 3:40 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), left U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg this afternoon to inspect the ruins of Berlin, stopping to inspect the famous 2nd Armored “Hells on Wheels” Division drawn up along the wide AVUS super-highway between Potsdam and Berlin.
