Category Archives: World War II

Germans surrender Berlin to Soviet forces 80 years ago this hour (May 2 1945)


Video: 'Downfall: The Battle of Berlin 1945 (Documentary)' (May 2, 1945, at 19:53)

(Wednesday, May 2, 1945, 6:00 a.m. CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — Berlin, greatest city of the European Continent, fell today to the Russians as German General Helmuth Weidling finally surrendered with his staff and 70,000 German troops laid down their arms. Continue reading Germans surrender Berlin to Soviet forces 80 years ago this hour (May 2 1945)

Germans announce Adolf Hitler is dead 80 years ago this hour (May 1 1945)


Video: 'WWII Triumph and Despair' (May 1, 1945, at 24:36)

(Tuesday, May 1, 1945, 9:43 p.m. CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — The radio station Reichssender Hamburg interrupted their normal program tonight to announce that an important broadcast would soon be made. Continue reading Germans announce Adolf Hitler is dead 80 years ago this hour (May 1 1945)

Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun commit suicide in their Berlin bunker 80 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1945)

Video: '296B - The Death of Adolf Hitler - WW2 - April 30, 1945'

(Monday, April 30, 1945, 3:30 p.m. CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — As Soviet troops approached his Berlin bunker, Adolf Hitler committed suicide today along with his wife of one day, Eva Braun. Continue reading Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun commit suicide in their Berlin bunker 80 years ago this hour (Apr 30 1945)

Nazi concentration camp Dachau liberated 80 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1945)


Video: 'Liberating Dachau 1945'

(Sunday, April 29, 1945, approximately 11:30 a.m. CEST; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The remaining 3,000 inmates, including 1,400 women, at the Nazi concentration camp Dachau, located on the grounds of an abandoned munitions factory southeast of the medieval town of Dachau, about 16 km (10 mi) northwest of Munich, were liberated today by American troops. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Dachau liberated 80 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1945)

Bodies of Mussolini, mistress hung upside down in Milan 80 years ago today (Apr 29 1945)


Video: 'Angry mob and bodies of Barrocu, Terussi, Gelormini, Benito Mussolini, Petacci, P...HD Stock Footage'

(Sunday, April 29, 1945, approximately 9:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during World War II) — The bodies of former Italian fascist dictator (and strong ally of German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler) Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, were hoisted up on to the metal girder framework of a half-built Standard Oil service station today in Milan, and hung upside down on meat hooks. Continue reading Bodies of Mussolini, mistress hung upside down in Milan 80 years ago today (Apr 29 1945)

Hitler marries Eva Braun, dictates last will and testament 80 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1945)

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (Apr. 29, 1945, at 43:20)

(Sunday, April 29, 1945, approximately 12:30 a.m. CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — German dictator Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun today in a small civil ceremony within the Führerbunker, an air-raid shelter located near the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. Continue reading Hitler marries Eva Braun, dictates last will and testament 80 years ago this hour (Apr 29 1945)

Hitler learns Himmler negotiating German surrender to Western Allies 80 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1945)

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (Apr. 28, 1945, at 34:13)

(Saturday, April 28, 1945, approximately 7:00 p.m. CEST; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — German fascist dictator Adolf Hitler learned today (from a BBC report originating from Reuters) that Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, who had left Berlin on April 20, 1945, was trying to discuss surrender terms with the Western Allies through Count Folke Bernadotte. Continue reading Hitler learns Himmler negotiating German surrender to Western Allies 80 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1945)

Deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, mistress executed 80 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1945)


Video: 'The Final Moments Of Benito Mussolini'

(Saturday, April 28, 1945, 4:10 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — Deposed Italian fascist dictator (and strong ally of German Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler) Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, were summarily executed today near Lake Como by Italian partisans as they attempted to flee the country. Continue reading Deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, mistress executed 80 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1945)

Nazi concentration sub-camps Landsberg, Kaufering liberated 80 years ago today (Apr 27 1945)


Video: 'A US soldier talks with liberated prisoners at a Nazi concentration camp in Lands...HD Stock Footage'

(Friday, April 27, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The remaining 3,000 inmates, including 1,400 women, at the Nazi concentration camp Landsberg, a sub-camp of the Dachau concentration camp located in southwest Bavaria, Germany, about 65 kilometers west of Munich, was liberated today by the 12th Armored Division of the United States Army. Continue reading Nazi concentration sub-camps Landsberg, Kaufering liberated 80 years ago today (Apr 27 1945)

Vichy leader Philippe Petain arrested after crossing into France from Switzerland 80 years ago this hour (Apr 26 1945)


Video: 'Marshal Petain’s Fall From Grace | Historical Documentary | Lucasfilm'

(Thursday, April 26, 1945, 8:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time; during World War II) — Marshal Henri Philippe Petain, the former head of the collaborationist regime of Vichy France during World War II, was arrested tonight when he returned to French territory after crossing the Swiss frontier at La Ferriere sous Joigne.