Category Archives: World War II

Dr. Josef ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele reports for duty at Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1943)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Josef Mengele - The Angel of Death Documentary'

(Sunday, May 30, 1943; during the The Holocaust, part of World War II) — German Schutzstaffel (SS) officer Dr. Josef Mengele, also known as the Angel of Death, today became the head doctor of the BIIe sector of Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, which was the family camp for Sinti and Roma prisoners. Continue reading Dr. Josef ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele reports for duty at Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1943) →

FDR, Churchill set Allied cross-Channel landing into northern France for May 1, 1944 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1943)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II

(Wednesday, May 19, 1943, 6:00-7:07 p.m. EWT; during the Third Washington Conference, codenamed Trident, during World War II) — At a meeting of the Combined Chiefs of Staff at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill learned tonight that agreement had been reached for the buildup in England “of sufficient force to secure a bridgehead on the [European] Continent from which further offensive operations could be carried out” and that a cross-Channel operation “had finally been agreed upon.” Continue reading FDR, Churchill set Allied cross-Channel landing into northern France for May 1, 1944 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1943) →

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill pledges Japan’s ruin, but reaffirms Nazis come first in address before joint session of Congress 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1943)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Sir Winston Churchill's Fighting Speech To U.S. Congress (1943) | British Pathé'

(Wednesday, May 19, 1943, 12:32 p.m. EWT; during the Third Washington Conference, codenamed Trident, during World War II)— On his second wartime visit to the U.S. Capitol, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill today gave a cheering, applauding joint session of Congress a generalized preview of plans for American-British aerial attacks that will lay the great cities and munitions centers of Japan in ashes, and other British-American military moves designed to “take more of the weight off Russia in 1943.” Continue reading British Prime Minister Winston Churchill pledges Japan’s ruin, but reaffirms Nazis come first in address before joint session of Congress 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1943) →

Warsaw Ghetto Uprising ends as German forces crush Jewish resistance and blow up Great Synagogue 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1943)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Drowning Germans, Burning Jews - War Against Humanity 061 - May 22, 1943' (May 16, 1943, at 1:17)

(Sunday, May 16, 1943, 8:15 p.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST); during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The nearly month-long Warsaw Ghetto Uprising — the act of Jewish resistance in German-occupied Poland during World War II to oppose Nazi Germany’s final effort to transport the remaining ghetto population to Majdanek and Treblinka death camps — came to an end tonight as German forces crushed the Jewish resistance and blew up the Great Synagogue. Continue reading Warsaw Ghetto Uprising ends as German forces crush Jewish resistance and blow up Great Synagogue 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 16 1943) →

Axis forces in North Africa surrender after nearly three years of fighting during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 13 1943)

1940s, World War II


Video: '194 - The End of the War in Africa - WW2 - May 14, 1943' (May 9-13, 1943, at 8:57)

(Thursday, May 13, 1943, UK General Alexander cabled PM Churchill at 1:16 p.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST); part of Mediterranean and Middle East Theatre of World War II)— The North African Campaign — fought between the Allies and the Axis Powers since June 10, 1940 — came to an end today after the 1st Italian Army of General Giovanni Messe Messe surrendered at 12:20 p.m. CEST and the last German radio station in Africa closed down at 1:12 p.m. Continue reading Axis forces in North Africa surrender after nearly three years of fighting during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 13 1943) →

U.S. forces land on Aleutian island of Attu in attempt to expel occupying Japanese forces 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1943)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Alaska vs. Japan - The Battle of Attu'

(Tuesday, May 11, 1943, 8:42 a.m. CAWT; during the Battle of Attu, part of the American Theater of World War II) — An assault force of 12,500 U.S. soldiers landed on the northern and southern ends of Attu Island in the Aleutian Islands today in an attempt to expel occupying Japanese Imperial Army forces led by Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki. Continue reading U.S. forces land on Aleutian island of Attu in attempt to expel occupying Japanese forces 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 11 1943) →

Nazi Germany’s infamous secret police Gestapo created by Hermann Göring 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 26 1933)

1930s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'The Myth of the Nazi Police State - WW2 Documentary Special'

(Wednesday, April 26, 1933) — Nazi Germany’s infamous secret police, better known as the Gestapo, was formed today by Reichsstatthalter Hermann Göring to control political dissent within the German state of Prussia. Continue reading Nazi Germany’s infamous secret police Gestapo created by Hermann Göring 90 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 26 1933) →

Tens of thousands of Jews in Warsaw Ghetto revolt when Germans try to resume deportations to Treblinka concentration camp 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 19 1943)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Would You Risk Everything to Fight the Nazis? - War Against Humanity 057 - April 24, 1943' (Apr. 19, 1943, at 8:40)

(Monday, April 19, 1943, 8:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST), on the eve of Passover; during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, part of The Holocaust and World War II) — Tens of thousands of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto began a valiant but ultimately futile battle today against Nazi forces when the Germans tried to resume deportations to the Treblinka concentration camp. Continue reading Tens of thousands of Jews in Warsaw Ghetto revolt when Germans try to resume deportations to Treblinka concentration camp 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 19 1943) →

Isoroku Yamamoto, mastermind of Japanese sneak attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, killed in action 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 18 1943)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The Spy Game That Killed Yamamoto - WW2 - Spies & Ties 17'

(Sunday, April 18, 1943, 9:35 a.m. local time; during Operation Vengeance, part of Solomon Islands campaign, part of the Pacific Theater of World War II) — Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet and mastermind of the sneak attack on the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was killed today as his plane was shot down by U.S. Army fighter pilot Thomas Lanphier, Jr while approaching Bougainville in the Solomon Islands after American code breakers identified his flight plans. Continue reading Isoroku Yamamoto, mastermind of Japanese sneak attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, killed in action 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 18 1943) →

President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1943)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'Roosevelt Unveils Jefferson Memorial (1943)'

(Tuesday, April 13, 1943, 11:45 a.m.-12:35 p.m. EWT) — On the 200th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth and at the height of World War II, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the majestic Jefferson Memorial today in Washington, D.C., as a “shrine to freedom.” Continue reading President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicates Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1943) →