Category Archives: World War II

French Resistance begins cutting German telephone wires 70 years ago this hour (June 5 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 5/7' (June 5, 1944, 8:00 p.m. at 10:12)

(Monday, June 5, 1944, 8:00 p.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/2:00 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 1 day before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — In Chateau des Bordeaux, France, the French Resistance receives orders to implement the “Purple” plan, the sabotaging of the telecommunications networks, in preparation of tomorrow’s D-Day landings.

German soldier in Nantes, France, has no inkling of imminent invasion 70 years ago this hour (June 5 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 5/7' (June 5, 1944, 2:00 p.m. at 7:39)

(Monday, June 5, 1944, 2:00 p.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/8:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 1 day before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — In the relaxed confines of his army repair shop in Nantes, France, a German soldier still has no inkling that the subjugation of France is about to come to an end.

Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen learn D-Day timing 70 years ago this hour (June 5 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 5/7' (June 5, 1944, 7:00 a.m. at 6:26)

(Monday, June 5, 1944, 7:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/1:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 1 day before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — News of that the D-Day invasion will go ahead spreads to Allied commanders, soldiers, sailors and airmen including Cliff Morris at Hampshire, England. Tomorrow, they’ll be sailing for Normandy. Continue reading Allied soldiers, sailors and airmen learn D-Day timing 70 years ago this hour (June 5 1944)

U.S. captures German sub U-505 in south Atlantic 70 years ago this hour (June 4 1944)


Video: 'The Capture of the U-505 German submarine' (June 4, 1944, at 3:03)

(Sunday, June 4, 1944, 11:09 a.m. local time; during World War II) — U-505, a German submarine, was captured today by a U.S. Navy task group in the south Atlantic about 150 nautical miles (278 km; 173 mi) off the coast of Río de Oro; it was the first such capture of an enemy vessel at sea by the U.S. Navy since the War of 1812.

Allied troops remark on ships in preparation of D-Day invasion 70 years ago this hour (June 3 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 4/7' (June 3, 1944, at 5:44)

(Saturday, June 3, 1944, 8:30 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/2:30 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 3 days to the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — Thousands of Allied troops are confined to their ships in southern England in preparation for the D-Day invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe, despite concerns about the weather forecast. Continue reading Allied troops remark on ships in preparation of D-Day invasion 70 years ago this hour (June 3 1944)

Allied convoys head towards southern England coast ahead of D-Day 70 years ago this morning (June 2 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 4/7' (June 2, 1944, at 2:56)

(Friday, June 2, 1944, morning; 4 days before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — A convoy out of Hiltonbury camp in Hampshire, England, and heading for the south coast encounters a herd of cows. Convoys like this are on the move throughout the day.

British Admiral Bertram Ramsay writes home 70 years ago today (June 1 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 3/7' (June 1, 1944, at 6:38)

(Thursday June 1, 1944; 5 days before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — British Admiral Bertram Ramsay writes home to his wife about the impending invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. Continue reading British Admiral Bertram Ramsay writes home 70 years ago today (June 1 1944)

German soldier stationed in Nantes, France writes home 70 years ago this hour (May 31 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 3/7' (May 31, 1944, at 3:29)

(Wednesday, May 31, 1944, 10:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/4:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 6 days before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — A German soldier stationed in Nantes, France, writes a letter home as the Allies prepare for D-Day.

American 82nd Airborne have reached final staging post 70 years ago this hour (May 30 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 2/7' (May 30, 1944, at 12:13)

(Tuesday, May 30, 1944, 9:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/3:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 7 days before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — The American 82nd Airborne have reached their final staging post at Cottesmore airfield in the English Midlands by today for the upcoming invasion of Europe.  Continue reading American 82nd Airborne have reached final staging post 70 years ago this hour (May 30 1944)

Eisenhower deals with strain of planning D-Day 70 years ago this hour (May 29 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 1/7' (May 29, 1944, at 10:01)

(Monday, May 29, 1944, 8:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/2:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 8 days before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander in charge of the D-Day landings, perfects his golf swing, chain smokes and thinks about his family back home while at his headquarters at his headquarters near the south coast of England.   Continue reading Eisenhower deals with strain of planning D-Day 70 years ago this hour (May 29 1944)