Category Archives: World War II

German pastor, theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer executed by Nazis 80 years ago this hour (Apr 9 1945)


Video: 'Defying Hitler: The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer'

(Monday, April 9, 1945, at dawn, Central European Summer Time; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 39, was executed by hanging today by the Nazis at the Flossenburg concentration camp for allegedly being associated with the plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.

Eleanor Roosevelt writes to FDR, ‘I am so glad you are gaining’ 80 years ago today (Apr 8 1945)


Video: 'American Experience FDR Parts 3 and 4' (Apr. 8, 1945, at 2:10:20)

(Sunday, April 8, 1945; during World War II) — First lady Eleanor Roosevelt, in Hyde Park, New York, today wrote a letter to her husband, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was recuperating from exhaustion in Warm Springs, Georgia: “I am so glad you are gaining. You sounded cheerful for the first time last night, and I hope you weigh 170 pounds when you return. Devotedly, E.R.”

Admiral Kantaro Suzuki becomes Japanese prime minister 80 years ago today (Apr 7 1945)


Video: 'The World At War: The Bomb 2/5' (Apr. 7, 1945, at 2:36)

(Saturday, April 7, 1945; during World War II) — Seven days into the Battle of Okinawa, the growing peace party of Japan secured the appointment of a new cabinet today led by Admiral Kantaro Suzuki following the resignation of Prime Minister Kuniaki Koiso.

Japanese battleship Yamato sunk by Allied forces 80 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1945)

Video: 'The Lost Evidence Of WWII Episode 17 Okinawa' (Apr. 7, 1945, at 16:24)

(Saturday, April 7, 1945, 12:41-2:23 p.m. JST; during the Battle of Okinawa, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — American planes today intercepted and effectively destroyed a Japanese fleet, which included the battleship Yamato, that was headed to Okinawa on a suicide mission. Continue reading Japanese battleship Yamato sunk by Allied forces 80 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1945)

Japanese launch kamikaze attacks on Americans off Okinawa 80 years ago this hour (Apr 6 1945)

Video: 'The Lost Evidence Of WWII Episode 17 Okinawa' (Apr. 6, 1945, at 12:38)

(Friday, April 6, 1945, 3:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Okinawa, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — Starting today (through the end of the battle on June 22, 1945), the Japanese flew 1,465 kamikaze aircraft in large-scale attacks from Kyushu, 185 individual kamikaze sorties from Kyushu, and 250 individual kamikaze sorties from Formosa. Continue reading Japanese launch kamikaze attacks on Americans off Okinawa 80 years ago this hour (Apr 6 1945)

U.S. Army liberates Nazi concentration camp for first time 80 years ago today (Apr 4 1945)


Video: 'Corpses found at the liberation of the Ohrdruf concentration camp'

(Wednesday, April 4, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Ohrdruf concentration camp, a Nazi forced labor and concentration camp located near Ohrdruf, south of Gotha, in Thuringia, Germany (part of the Buchenwald concentration camp network), was liberated today by the 4th Armored Division and the 89th Infantry Division. Continue reading U.S. Army liberates Nazi concentration camp for first time 80 years ago today (Apr 4 1945)

President Franklin D. Roosevelt attends Easter services in Warm Springs 80 years ago today (Apr 1 1945)


Video: 'American Experience - SO7E02 - FDR Parts 3 and 4 (October 12, 1994)' (Apr. 1, 1945, at 2:09:21)

(Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt attended Easter services today in Warm Springs, Georgia, with a noticeable tremor in his movements. Continue reading President Franklin D. Roosevelt attends Easter services in Warm Springs 80 years ago today (Apr 1 1945)

American forces launch amphibious invasion of Okinawa 80 years ago this hour (Apr 1 1945)


Video: 'J.Pacific Lost Evidence Okinawa World War II' (5 videos; Apr. 1, 1945, at 7:34 during first video)

(Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, 8:15 a.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Okinawa, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The U.S. Tenth Army this morning launched the amphibious invasion of Okinawa, main island of the Ryukyus, 362 miles from the Japanese home islands. Continue reading American forces launch amphibious invasion of Okinawa 80 years ago this hour (Apr 1 1945)

Japanese dive bomber attacks USS Franklin off Japan 80 years ago this hour (Mar 19 1945)


Video: 'Uss Franklin (1945)'

(Monday, March 19, 1945, 7:05 a.m. JST; part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — 724 people were killed today when a Japanese dive bomber attacked the carrier USS Franklin off Japan; the ship, however, was saved.