Category Archives: World War II

Gross-Rosen concentration camp in Germany liberated by Red Army 80 years ago today (Feb 14 1945)


Video: 'One reason why this camp was considered the most horrible | Gross-Rosen'

(Wednesday, February 14, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Gross-Rosen concentration camp, a Nazi German network of Nazi concentration camps built and operated in the village of Gross-Rosen not far from the border with occupied Poland, was captured today by the Red Army. Continue reading Gross-Rosen concentration camp in Germany liberated by Red Army 80 years ago today (Feb 14 1945)

Allied planes begin massive bombardment of Dresden, Germany 80 years ago this hour (Feb 13 1945)

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Video: 'Dresden Bombed To Atoms: World War II (1945) | British Pathé'

(Tuesday, February 13, 1945, 10:14 p.m. CET; during the Bombing of Dresden, part of strategic bombing during World War II) — Royal Air Force bombers were dispatched to Dresden, Germany, tonight to attack the city with a massive aerial bombardment. Continue reading Allied planes begin massive bombardment of Dresden, Germany 80 years ago this hour (Feb 13 1945)

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin sign Yalta Agreement 80 years ago this hour (Feb 11 1945)


Video: 'Yalta, the Twilight of the Big Three'

(Sunday, February 11, 1945, 3:45 p.m. local time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin today signed the Yalta Agreement, in which Stalin agreed to declare war against Imperial Japan following Nazi Germany’s capitulation. Continue reading Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin sign Yalta Agreement 80 years ago this hour (Feb 11 1945)

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin pose for cameras at Yalta conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 9 1945)


Video: 'Yalta, the Twilight of the Big Three' (Feb. 9, 1945, at 50:23)

(Friday, February 9, 1945, 4:00 p.m. Moscow Standard Time; during World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and Premier Joseph Stalin posed for still and motion pictures today in the courtyard of Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea during the eight-day Yalta Conference to discuss and plan the postwar world. Continue reading Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin pose for cameras at Yalta conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 9 1945)

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin convene at Yalta for pivotal wartime conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 4 1945)


Video: '4th February 1945: Yalta Conference begins, attended by Roosevelt, Churchill & Stalin: the Big Three'

(Sunday, February 4, 1945, 5:10 p.m. Moscow Standard Time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met today in the Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea for the eight-day Yalta Conference to discuss and plan the postwar world. Continue reading Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin convene at Yalta for pivotal wartime conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 4 1945)

FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)


Video: '1945 Newsreel: The Yalta Conference begins' (Feb. 3, 1945, at 0:59)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 12:10 p.m. local time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt landed today at Saki airfield on the west coast of the Crimea, about 20 minutes ahead of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The two men reviewed an honor guard and then continued via jeep to Livadia Palace near Yalta, USSR, where they arrived about six hours later for a week-long conference to plan the postwar world. Continue reading FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)

Battle of Manila begins during World War II 80 years ago today (Feb 3 1945)


Video: 'The World At War: Pacific 3/5' (Feb. 1945, at 2:01)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 6:35 p.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Manila, part of the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) in the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The Battle of Manila, the Allied campaign to liberate the capital city of the Philippines, began today as elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division under Maj. Gen. Verne D. Mudge pushed into the northern outskirts of Manila and seized a vital bridge across the Tullahan River, which separated them from the city proper, and quickly captured Malacanang Palace.

First U.S. soldier since Civil War executed for desertion 80 years ago this hour (Jan 31 1945)


Video: 'The HORRIFIC Execution Of Eddie Slovik - The American Shot For Desertion In WW2'

(Wednesday, January 31, 1945, 10:04 a.m. local time; during World War II) — Pvt. Eddie Slovik, 24, today became the first U.S. soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion as he was shot by an American firing squad in France near the village of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.

Hitler marks 12th anniversary in power with final public speech 80 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1945)


Video: 'Hitler last speech January 30 1945'

(Tuesday, January 30, 1945, recorded earlier for broadcast at 10:00 p.m. Central European Time; during World War II) — Adolf Hitler marked the 12th anniversary of his appointment as Germany’s chancellor with his last public speech in which he called on Germans to keep resisting until victory.

Raid at Cabanatuan liberates 500+ Allied POWs 80 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1945)


Video: 'Rescuing the Most Doomed American Soldiers of WW2 - The Great Raid'

(Tuesday, January 30, 1945, 7:40 p.m. local time; in the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — 552 Allied captives held at the Japanese prison camp in Cabanatuan in the Philippines were liberated today by U.S. Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrilla fighters.