Category Archives: World War II

President Truman inspects the ruins of Berlin 70 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

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


Video: 'Potsdam Conference: Big Three: Truman, Stalin & Churchill Meet in Berlin 1945 US US OWI Newsreel' (Truman inspects Berlin ruins at 1:45-2:05)

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 4:57 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), visited Berlin this afternoon to inspect the city’s ruins following the end of World War II in Europe (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:54:56).

President Truman inspects 2nd Armored ‘Hells on Wheels’ Division in Germany 70 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

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


Video: 'Potsdam Conference: Big Three: Truman, Stalin & Churchill Meet in Berlin 1945 US US OWI Newsreel' (Truman inspects Second Armored Division at 3:01)

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 3:40 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), left U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg this afternoon to inspect the ruins of Berlin, stopping to inspect the famous 2nd Armored “Hells on Wheels” Division drawn up along the wide AVUS super-highway between Potsdam and Berlin.

U.S. explodes first experimental atomic bomb in New Mexico 70 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Explosion and smoke cloud of the first Atomic Bomb detonation rising at Alamogord...HD Stock Footage'

(Sunday, July 16, 1945, 5:29:45 a.m. MWT; during World War II) — The Atomic Age began this morning when the United States successfully detonated a plutonium-based test nuclear weapon at the Trinity bomb site near Alamogordo, New Mexico, unleashing an explosion equivalent to that of 19 kilotons of TNT (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:56:01). Continue reading U.S. explodes first experimental atomic bomb in New Mexico 70 years ago this hour (July 16 1945) →

British PM Churchill calls on President Truman in Babelsberg 70 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

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


Video: 'Potsdam Conference: Big Three: Truman, Stalin & Churchill Meet in Berlin 1945 US US OWI Newsreel' (Churchill and Truman at 2:05-2:11)

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 11:00 a.m. CEST; during World War II) — Prime Minister Winston Churchill called on U.S. President Harry S. Truman this morning at U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg, Germany, ahead of the Potsdam Conference with Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945). (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:54:11).

President Truman arrives in Antwerp, Belgium for Potsdam Conference 70 years ago this hour (July 15 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'President Harry Truman of United States arrives in Antwerp and moves to Brussels'...HD Stock Footage'

(Sunday, July 15, 1945, 10:04 a.m. CEST; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman arrived in Antwerp, Belgium, this morning aboard the USS Augusta, bound for Antwerp, Belgium, for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin on July 17, 1945, in Potsdam, occupied Germany (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:52:51). Continue reading President Truman arrives in Antwerp, Belgium for Potsdam Conference 70 years ago this hour (July 15 1945) →

President Truman sets sail for Potsdam Conference 70 years ago this hour (July 7 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Pres. Truman En Route to Conference, 1945/07/19' (July 7-15, 1945, at 0:00-1:33)

(Saturday, July 7, 1945, 7:00 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman departed Newport News, Virginia, this morning aboard the USS Augusta, bound for Antwerp, Belgium, for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin beginning July 17, 1945, in Potsdam, occupied Germany (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:52:51). Continue reading President Truman sets sail for Potsdam Conference 70 years ago this hour (July 7 1945) →

Byrnes promises no policy change as he becomes Secretary of State 70 years ago today (July 3 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 24-The Bomb(February–September 1945)' (July 3, 1945, at 16:55)

(Tuesday, July 3, 1945; during World War II) — Taking the oath of office within twenty-four hours after his nomination as Secretary of State, James F. Byrnes asserted today that there would be no change in basic foreign and peace policies charted by the late U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and no change in State Department personnel until after his return from the Big Three conference in Berlin later this month.

Stimson tells Truman war might end if Japanese were offered a chance to surrender 70 years ago this hour (July 2 1945)

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


Video: 'Peter Jennings - Hiroshima: Why the Bomb was Dropped (1995)' (July 2, 1945, at 43:20)

(Monday, July 2, 1945, 11:00 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — U.S. Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson made one last effort to convince President Harry S. Truman that the war might end if the Japanese were offered a chance to surrender with the Emperor left in place during a meeting today at the White House.