Category Archives: World War II

Bodies of Mussolini, mistress hung upside down in Milan 70 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; 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 70 years ago today (Apr 29 1945)

Hitler marries Eva Braun, dictates last will and testament 70 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, after midnight 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. Hitler then took secretary Traudl Junge to another room and dictated his last will and testament.

Hitler learns Himmler negotiating German surrender to Western Allies 70 years ago today (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, evening 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.

Enraged, Hitler ordered Himmler’s arrest and had Hermann Fegelein (Himmler’s SS representative at Hitler’s HQ in Berlin) shot.

Deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, mistress executed 70 years ago this hour (Apr 28 1945)


Video: 'Benito Mussolini: Biography of Fascist Italy's Dictator'

(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.

Nazi concentration sub-camps Landsberg, Kaufering liberated 70 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 70 years ago today (Apr 27 1945)

Exhausted FDR arrives in Warm Springs for rest, recuperation 70 years ago today (Mar 30 1945)


Video: 'American Experience - FDR (Franklin Roosevelt) - Part 1/2 (PBS Documentary' (Mar. 30, 1945, at 2:08:24)

(Good Friday, March 30, 1945; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt arrived in Warm Springs, Georgia, today suffering from exhaustion.

The great push to end the war was on, and Roosevelt needed to recuperate to lead it and take part in the momentous events afterward. Total rest was his doctor’s recommendation, and for several days he followed the instructions.

Eisenhower declares German army ‘whipped’ 70 years ago today (Mar 27 1945)


Video: 'Generals Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton, Tour Rhine Bridgehead, Remagen Area, Germany, March 26, 1945'

(Tuesday, March 27, 1945; on the Western Front of World War II) — The German Army’s “main defensive line has been broken” and the Germans “as a military force on the Western Front are a whipped army,” Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower declared today.

Iwo Jima officially declared ‘secured’ 70 years ago this hour (Mar 26 1945)


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode-23 Pacific (February 1942 – July 1945)' (Mar. 26, 1945, at 42:00)

(Monday, March 26, 1945, 9:00 a.m. JST; during the Battle of Iwo Jima, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The Japanese island of Iwo Jima was officially declared “secured” this morning, ending five weeks of some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the War in the Pacific of World War II with an American victory and a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands.

Allies launch huge airborne operation on eastern bank of Rhine 70 years ago today (Mar 24 1945)


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 21-Nemesis:Germany(February-May 1945)' (Mar. 24, 1945, at 7:01)

(Saturday, March 24, 1945; on the Western Front of World War II) — The Allies today launched Operation Varsity, landing two airborne divisions on the eastern bank of the Rhine near the village of Hamminkeln and the town of Wesel to secure a foothold across the Rhine River in western Germany as part of Operation Plunder.

Involving more than 16,000 paratroopers and several thousand aircraft, it was the largest airborne operation in history to be conducted on a single day and in one location.


Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary)Episode 19-Pincers(August 1944-March 1945)' (Mar. 24, 1945, at 51:16)