Category Archives: World War II

Nazis murder 1,016 slave laborers in Gardelegen massacre 80 years ago today (Apr 13 1945)


Video: 'The HORRIFIC Burning Alive Of The Concentration Camp Prisoners'

(Friday, April 13, 1945 evening Central European Summer Time; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — German SS and Luftwaffe troops forced 1,016 slave laborers (who were part of a transport evacuated from the Mittelbau-Dora labor camp) into a large barn on the Isenschnibbe estate near the northern German town of Gardelegen, which was then lit on fire. Continue reading Nazis murder 1,016 slave laborers in Gardelegen massacre 80 years ago today (Apr 13 1945)

President Truman assumes duties, tells reporters to ‘pray for me now’ 80 years ago this hour (Apr 13 1945)

truman

(Friday, April 13, 1945, luncheon began at 12:30 p.m. EWT; during World War II) –President Harry S. Truman, beginning his first full day in the nation’s highest office following the sudden death of President Roosevelt, asked the American people for their prayers today. Continue reading President Truman assumes duties, tells reporters to ‘pray for me now’ 80 years ago this hour (Apr 13 1945)

Roosevelt’s flag-draped funeral train leaves Warm Springs, Georgia 80 years ago this hour (Apr 13 1945)


Video: 'Funeral Of President Roosevelt (1945)' (Apr. 13, 1945, at 0:34-1:39)

(Friday, April 13, 1945, 10:13 a.m. Central War Time; during World War II) — A train carrying the body of President Franklin D. Roosevelt for a memorial tomorrow in Washington departed Warm Springs, Georgia, today, one day after the president’s death by a massive cerebral hemorrhage (stroke). Continue reading Roosevelt’s flag-draped funeral train leaves Warm Springs, Georgia 80 years ago this hour (Apr 13 1945)

Harry S. Truman sworn in as 33rd President of the United States 80 years ago this hour (Apr 12 1945)


Video: 'Truman Being Sworn In (1945)'

(Thursday, April 12, 1945, 7:09 p.m. Eastern War Time; during World War II) — Vice President Harry S. Truman of Missouri, 60, standing erect, with his sharp features taut and looking straight ahead through his large, round glasses, became the 33rd President of the United States tonight in a ceremony lasting not more than a minute in the Cabinet Room of the White House. Continue reading Harry S. Truman sworn in as 33rd President of the United States 80 years ago this hour (Apr 12 1945)

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 63, dies of a cerebral hemorrhage 80 years ago this hour (Apr 12 1945)


Video: 'Death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt' (Apr. 12, 1945, at 0:00-2:00)

(Thursday, April 12, 1945, 3:35 p.m. Central War Time; during World War II) — Franklin Delano Roosevelt, War President of the United States and the only Chief Executive in history who was chosen for more than two terms, died suddenly and unexpectedly today at Warm Springs, Georgia. He was 63. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 63, dies of a cerebral hemorrhage 80 years ago this hour (Apr 12 1945)

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt suffers massive stroke 80 years ago this hour (Apr 12 1945)


Video: 'FDR: A Presidency Revealed: Part 18' (Apr. 12, 1945, at 7:22)

(Thursday, April 12, 1945, approximately 1:00 p.m. Central War Time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 63, was stricken by a massive cerebral hemorrhage (stroke) today at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia, while artist Elizabeth Shoumatoff painted his portrait in the living room in the presence of Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd (with whom he had resumed an extramarital affair), two cousins and his dog Fala. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt suffers massive stroke 80 years ago this hour (Apr 12 1945)

Nazi transit camp Westerbork liberated 80 years ago today (Apr 12 1945)


Video: 'Camp Westerbork: the 'Perfect Camp' in German-Occupied Netherlands in World War II'

(Thursday, April 12, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Nazi transit camp Westerbork near Hooghalen, in the northeastern Netherlands, where Romani and Dutch Jews were assembled for transport to other Nazi concentration camps, was liberated today by Canadian troops. Continue reading Nazi transit camp Westerbork liberated 80 years ago today (Apr 12 1945)

U.S. report concludes a Russian of Japan could be decisive 80 years ago today (Apr 11 1945)


Video: 'Peter Jennings - Hiroshima: Why the Bomb was Dropped (1995)' (Apr. 11, 1945, 34:59)

(Wednesday, April 11, 1945; part of the Pacific War during World War II) — A report from the U.S. Joint Intelligence Staff on Unconditional Surrender of Japan concluded today that a Russian invasion of Japan could be decisive in ending the Pacific War.

President Roosevelt drives former mistress to Dowdell’s Knob 80 years ago today (Apr 11 1945)


Video: 'American Experience FDR Parts 3 and 4' (Apr. 11, 1945, at 2:10:48)

(Wednesday, April 11, 1945, lunchtime EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt drove his former mistress Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, who had arrived at Warm Springs, Georgia, on Monday (Apr. 9, 1945), to Dowdell’s Knob, overlooking a lovely valley, and talked about the future of the world and what he was going to do after the war had ended.

Nazi concentration camp Nordhausen-Dora liberated 80 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1945)


Video: 'Mittelbau-Dora/Nordhausen - The camp where the Nazis built their V2-rockets'

(Wednesday, April 11, 1945 approximately 6:30 p.m. Central European Summer Time; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Nazi concentration camp Mittelbau-Dora (also Dora-Mittelbau and Nordhausen-Dora) near Nordhausen in Thuringia, Germany, which supplied labor for extending the nearby tunnels in the Kohnstein and for manufacturing the V-2 rocket and the V-1 flying bomb, was liberated today by U.S. troops. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Nordhausen-Dora liberated 80 years ago this hour (Apr 11 1945)