Video: 'The Unknown War - The Battle for Moscow - 04/05' (Soviets counterattack at 1:43)

(Friday, December 5, 1941, 3:00 a.m. Moscow Standard Time; during the Battle of Moscow, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — With German forces on the doorstep of Moscow, the Soviet Red Army launched a massive counter-offensive early this morning on the Kalinin Front, effectively putting Operation Typhoon (the attack on Moscow) and Operation Barbarossa (the German invasion of the Soviet Union) to an end. Continue reading Soviet Red Army launches massive counter-offensive, halts German drive on Moscow 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1941) →

(Monday, December 1, 1941; six days before the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor) — Japanese Emperor Hirohito approved a “war against United States, Great Britain and Holland” today during an Imperial Conference to commence with a surprise attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at its main forward base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Continue reading Japanese Emperor Hirohito approves war against U.S., Britain and Holland 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (1941) →

Video: 'War Comes to America, 8/8: America Attacked' (Hull note' delivered at 3:24)

(Wednesday, November 26, 1941, evening EST; 11 days before the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor) — U.S. Secretary of State Cordell Hull presented Japanese Ambassador Kichisaburo Nomura and special Japanese envoy Saburo Kurusu with the Hull note, setting forth U.S. demands for “lasting and extensive peace throughout the Pacific area.” Continue reading U.S. demands complete Japanese withdrawal from China and French Indochina 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 26 1941) →

Video: 'Japanese task force leaves for Pearl Harbor November 26, 1941 This Day in History'

(Wednesday, November 26, 1941, 6:00 a.m. Japan Standard Time; 11 days before the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor) — An aircraft carrier strike force (Kido Butai or “Mobile Unit/Force”) departed Hitokappu Bay on Kasatka (now Iterup) Island in the Kuril Islands in northern Japan this morning en route to a position northwest of Hawaii, intending to to launch its 408 aircraft to attack Pearl Harbor if negotiations with the United States do not reach a successful conclusion. Continue reading Japanese task force secretly departs Hitokappu Bay to attack Pearl Harbor, Hawaii if negotiations with U.S. fail 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 26 1941) →

Video: 'Road To Life: How Leningrad Held Out Against The Odds | WWII In Numbers | War Stories'

(Saturday, November 22, 1941; during the Siege of Leningrad, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — The Road of Life, an ice road supply route built on top of Lake Ladoga’s frozen surface that saved over a million lives in the besieged city of Leningrad during World War II, began to operate as a convoy of 60 trucks with 33 tons of flour under Major V. A. Porchunov arrived tonight on the western shore. Continue reading ‘Road of Life’ ice route across Lake Ladoga to besieged Leningrad opens 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 22 1941) →

Video: '117 - Surprise Attack On Rommel! - Operation Crusader Begins - WW2 - November 21, 1941' (Nov. 18, 1941, at 5:51)

(Tuesday, November 18, 1941, at around 6:00 a.m. Central European Time; during Operation Crusader, part of the Western Desert Campaign in the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II) — The British Eighth Army (with Commonwealth, Indian and Allied contingents), commanded by General Alan Cunningham, launched a surprise attack today against the Axis forces (German and Italian) in North Africa commanded by Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel. Continue reading Operation Crusader begins as British launch offensive to relieve Tobruk, Libya 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 18 1941) →

Video: '1941 October Revolution Parade [HD Color]'

(Friday, November 7, 1941, 8:00 a.m. Moscow Standard Time; during World War II) — With German forces within 45 miles of the Soviet capital in the the Battle of Moscow, the 1941 October Revolution Parade — featuring a rare public appearance by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin — took place today on the 24th anniversary of the October Revolution. Continue reading ‘Death to the German invaders!’: Stalin rallies Soviet soldiers as Nazis close in on Moscow 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 7 1941) →

Video: 'The World at War: On Our Way: U.S.A. - 1939-1942 (7 of 26)' (Oct. 31, 1941, at 15:00)'

(Friday, October 31, 1941, about 5:34 a.m. local time; 37 days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) — While escorting Allied convoy HX 156 in the North Atlantic, the American destroyer USS Reuben James was sunk by the German submarine U-552 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp this morning in the North Atlantic near Iceland, with the loss of 100 of 144 crew. Continue reading 100 Americans killed as Germans torpedo USS Reuben James in North Atlantic 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1941) →