Category Archives: World War II

Sétif and Guelma massacre begins in Algeria as French authorities clash with protesters 80 years ago this hour (May 8 1945)


Video: 'Algeria's first National Remembrance Day for the Setif Massacre'

(Tuesday, May 8, 1945, approximately 8:00 a.m. Western European Summer Time; part of the aftermath of World War II) — The Sétif and Guelma massacre began today in Algeria as French authorities clashed with protesters celebrating the surrender of Nazi Germany and calling for freedom from colonial rule; tens of thousands of Algerians are believed to have died in weeks of violence.

New York greets Nazi Germany’s surrender with cheers and caution as city awaits official V-E Day 80 years ago today (May 7 1945)

(Monday, May 7, 1945; during World War II) — New York City’s millions reacted in two sharply contrasting ways today to the news of the unconditional surrender of the German armies. Continue reading New York greets Nazi Germany’s surrender with cheers and caution as city awaits official V-E Day 80 years ago today (May 7 1945)

Nazi Germany signs unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War II in Europe 80 years ago this hour (May 7 1945)


Video: 'Capitulation Allemande à Reims Rheims German Surrender'

(Monday, May 7, 1945, 2:41 a.m. Central European Summer Time; on the Western Front of World War II) — Germany signed an unconditional surrender at Allied headquarters in Rheims, France, today at a little red schoolhouse that is the headquarters of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, effective May 9, 1945, at 12:01 a.m. CEST/May 8, 1945, 6:01 p.m. Eastern War Time. Continue reading Nazi Germany signs unconditional surrender, marking the end of World War II in Europe 80 years ago this hour (May 7 1945)

Nazi concentration camp Ebensee liberated 80 years ago today (May 6 1945)


Video: 'Liberating Ebensee Concentration Camp | May 1945'

(Sunday, May 6, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Ebensee concentration camp, established to build tunnels for armaments storage near the town of Ebensee, Austria, as part of the Mauthausen network, was liberated today by American forces. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Ebensee liberated 80 years ago today (May 6 1945)

Japanese balloon bomb kills pregnant woman, five children in Oregon in only fatal WWII attack on U.S. mainland 80 years ago today (May 5 1945)


Video: 'The Balloon Bombs That Floated Across The Pacific'

(Saturday, May 5, 1945, approximately 10:30 a.m. PWT; part of the American Theater of World War II) — A pregnant woman and five children were killed today when a Japanese balloon bomb exploded in the remote woods of southern Oregon, marking what officials believe to be the only fatal attack on the U.S. mainland during World War II. Continue reading Japanese balloon bomb kills pregnant woman, five children in Oregon in only fatal WWII attack on U.S. mainland 80 years ago today (May 5 1945)

Nazi concentration camp Mauthausen-Gusen liberated 80 years ago this hour (May 5 1945)


Video: 'Nazi concentration camp in Mauthausen, Austria. HD Stock Footage'

(Saturday, May 5, 1945, approximately 5:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, a large group of German concentration camps that were built around the villages of Mauthausen and Gusen in Upper Austria, roughly 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the city of Linz, was liberated today by American forces. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Mauthausen-Gusen liberated 80 years ago this hour (May 5 1945)

German forces in the Netherlands, northwest Germany, and Denmark surrender 80 years ago this hour (May 4 1945)


Video: 'Germans Surrender to Montgomery (1945)'

(Friday, May 4, 1945, 6:30 p.m. CEST; on the Western Front of World War II) — German forces in northwestern Europe laid down their arms today following the formal surrender to British Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery at his headquarters on Lüneburg Heath. Continue reading German forces in the Netherlands, northwest Germany, and Denmark surrender 80 years ago this hour (May 4 1945)

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)