Category Archives: World War II

Dreaded counterattack at now Allied-controlled Pegasus Bridge begins 70 years ago this hour (June 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 1:00 a.m. BDST at 15:29)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 1:30 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/7:30 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); five hours before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — The dreaded counterattack at the now Allied-controlled Pegasus Bridge in Normandy, France, began early this morning.

Allied aircraft approached Normandy, France 70 years ago this hour (June 6 1944)


Video: 'Operation Overlord & Neptune (D-Day documentary)' (June 6, 1944, 1:00 a.m. BDST at 8:00)

(Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 1:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/7:00 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); five hours before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — Allied aircraft carrying 23,400 American and British paratroopers approached Normandy, France, this morning for jumps behind enemy lines in preparation of today’s D-Day landings.

Plan to liberate France swings into action 70 years ago this hour (June 5 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 5/7' (June 5, 1944, 10:00 p.m. at 11:34)

(Monday, June 5, 1944, 10:00 p.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/4:00 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 1 day before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — The great plan to liberate France swings into action tonight as 13,000 British, American paratroopers are the first to go, to be dropped behind enemy lines ahead of the seaborne troops. Continue reading Plan to liberate France swings into action 70 years ago this hour (June 5 1944)

Churchill warns of heavy casualties, Ike visits paratroopers 70 years ago this hour (June 5 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 5/7' (June 5, 1944, 9:30 p.m. at 11:00)

(Monday, June 5, 1944, 9:30 p.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/3:30 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 1 day before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — In London, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill warns his wife that 20,000 men could be killed by the morning while Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower visits paratroopers in southern England preparing to depart for France. Continue reading Churchill warns of heavy casualties, Ike visits paratroopers 70 years ago this hour (June 5 1944)

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.