Category Archives: World War II

Anne Frank, still in hiding, receives her first kiss 70 years ago this hour (Apr 15 1944)


Video: 'Anne Frank - The Whole Story (2001) 2/2' (Apr. 15, 1944, at 19:56)

(Saturday, April 15, 1944, 9:30 p.m. local time; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — On Anne Frank’s 650th day in hiding in a secret apartment behind her father’s business in German-occupied Amsterdam, the 14-year-old girl received her first kiss while on a “date” with Peter van Pels.

Allied bombers raid German-held Monte Cassino again 70 years ago this hour (Mar 15 1944)


Video: 'Battlefield S5/E3 - The Battle for Monte Cassino' (Mar. 15, 1944, at 1:21:50)

(Wednesday, March 15, 1944, 8:30 a.m. CET; during the Battle of Monte Cassino, part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Allied bombers again raided German-held Monte Cassino today. Continue reading Allied bombers raid German-held Monte Cassino again 70 years ago this hour (Mar 15 1944)

American bombers launch first large-scale daylight raid on Berlin 70 years ago today (Mar 6 1944)


Video: 'U.S. Bombers in First Daylight Raid on Berlin - 1944'

(Wednesday, February 23, 1944; during World War II) — American bombers today launched their first large-scale daylight raid on Berlin, the capital of Hitler’s Reich. The price they paid for their audacity was high: 69 heavy bombers and 11 escort fighters failed to return, the highest number in any raid mounted by the 8th Air Force. Continue reading American bombers launch first large-scale daylight raid on Berlin 70 years ago today (Mar 6 1944)

Battle of Eniwetok Atoll ends in U.S. victory 70 years ago today (Feb 23 1944)


Video: 'WW2: U.S. Marines Take Eniwetok (1944)'

(Wednesday, February 23, 1944; Part of World War IIPacific War) — U.S. forces secured Eniwetok Atoll today from the Japanese, with 262 Americans killed in 7 days of fighting. The victory provided a forward base for the United States Navy for its later operations, including Allied attacks on the Mariana Islands to the northwest.

Operation Hailstone begins 70 years ago today (Feb 17 1944)


Video: 'Operation Hailstone, by Steve Evans'

(Thursday, February 17, 1944; part of World War IIPacific War)Operation Hailstone, a massive naval air and surface attack by the United States Navy against the Japanese naval and air base at Truk Lagoon, Japan’s main base in the central Pacific, began today in support of the Eniwetok invasion.

The Battle of Eniwetok Atoll begins 70 years ago today (Feb 17 1944)


Video: 'WW2: U.S. Marines Take Eniwetok (1944)'

(Thursday, February 17, 1944; Part of World War IIPacific War) — Following the American success in the Battle of Kwajalein to the southeast, the Battle of Eniwetok began today on Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Capture of Eniwetok would provide an airfield and harbor to support Allied attacks on the Mariana Islands to the northwest.

Allied assault on Monte Cassino, Italy, begins 70 years ago today (Feb 15 1944)


Video: '1944 The Destruction of the Abby of Monte Cassino I'

(Tuesday, February 15, 1944; during the Battle of Monte Cassino, part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — The historic monastery at Monte Cassino in Italy was bombed by the Allies today in an effort to root the Germans from their strategically superior hilltop post. Though the monastery is destroyed, the Germans tenaciously hold the hill. Continue reading Allied assault on Monte Cassino, Italy, begins 70 years ago today (Feb 15 1944)