Category Archives: World War II

Soviets capture Budapest from the Germans 70 years ago today (Feb 13 1945)


Video: 'The soviet invasion of Hungary and the Siege of Budapest 1944-1945 Budapest Ostroma'

(Tuesday, February 13, 1945; during the Siege of Budapest, part of the Budapest Offensive on the Eastern front of World War II) — The Red Army today completed its conquest of Budapest, ending a 50-day siege of the battle-scarred capital of Axis Hungary.

Actress Lauren Bacall sits atop piano while VP Truman plays 70 years ago today (Feb 10 1945)

(Saturday, February 10, 1945; during World War II) — During a luncheon today at the National Press Club, Vice President Harry Truman sat down at the piano to play the “Missouri Waltz” when suddenly 20-year-old actress Lauren Bacall perched herself on top of the piano for some publicity portraits, showing a rather daring amount of leg by 1945 standards (click here for a relevant clip from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:27:35).

U.S. 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne relieved 70 years ago this hour (Dec 26 1944)

http://youtu.be/IbIaI15Mio4?t=33m34s

Video: 'WW2: The Battle of the Bulge' (Dec. 26, 1944, at 33:34)

(Tuesday, December 26, 1944, 5:15 p.m. local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — The embattled U.S. 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne, Belgium, was relieved today by units of the 4th Armored Division. Continue reading U.S. 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne relieved 70 years ago this hour (Dec 26 1944)

American soldiers pinned down on Western Front prepare Christmas dinner 70 years ago this hour (Dec 25 1944)

http://youtu.be/IbIaI15Mio4?t=31m49s

Video: 'WW2: The Battle of the Bulge' (Dec. 25, 1944, at 31:49)

(Monday, December 25, 1944, Christmas Day, noon local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — American soldiers, preparing their Christmas dinners, including heat up C-Rations (tin cans filled with a variety of meats and vegetables), were still pinned down one last full day in Bastogne. Continue reading American soldiers pinned down on Western Front prepare Christmas dinner 70 years ago this hour (Dec 25 1944)

Germans reach high water mark of advance 70 years ago this hour (Dec 24 1944)

Video: 'WW2: The Battle of the Bulge' (Dec. 24, 1944, at 31:00)

(Sunday, December 24, 1944, Christmas Eve, 12:00 noon local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — Allied reconnaissance aircraft discovered the Germans had pressed ahead to within just five miles of the River Meuse, the high water mark of the German advance, but their fuel supply had run dry. Continue reading Germans reach high water mark of advance 70 years ago this hour (Dec 24 1944)

Skies clear for American planes over Bastogne 70 years ago this hour (Dec 23 1944)


Video: 'WW2: The Battle of the Bulge' (Dec. 23, 1944, at 30:23)

(Saturday, December 23, 1944, 9:00 a.m. local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — The skies over Bastogne cleared today just in time for American planes to relieve and support the soldiers pinned down on the ground and and stalling the German offensive. Continue reading Skies clear for American planes over Bastogne 70 years ago this hour (Dec 23 1944)

84 American POWs murdered by Germans in Malmedy massacre 70 years ago this afternoon (Dec 17 1944)


Video: 'Massacre at Malmedy'

(Sunday, December 17, 1944, 1:00 p.m. local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — 84 American prisoners of war were murdered by their German captors this afternoon near Malmedy, Belgium, by members of Kampfgruppe Peiper (part of the 1st SS Panzer Division), a German combat unit.

The massacre, plus others committed by the same unit on the same day and following days, were the subject of the Malmedy massacre trial, part of the Dachau Trials of 1946.

German V-2 rocket falls on packed Woolworths store in London 70 years ago today (Nov 25 1944)

(Saturday, November 25, 1944, 12:26 p.m. BST; during World War II) — A German V-2 rocket fell on a packed Woolworths store today in New Cross Road, South London, killing 168 people (including 15 children), injuring 122 others and razing the building to the ground. The neighbouring London Co-operative Society store was also demolished in the attack.