Video: 'Leningrad: The Brutal Reality Of The 900-Day Siege | Battlefield | War Stories' (Jan. 1944 at 32:59)

(Thursday, January 27, 1944; part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — The 872-day siege of Leningrad, a prolonged military blockade undertaken by the Axis powers against the Soviet city of Leningrad (present-day Saint Petersburg) on the Eastern Front of World War II, ended today when the Soviet Leningrad–Novgorod Offensive expelled German forces from the southern outskirts of the city. Continue reading 872-day siege of Leningrad ends as German forces are pushed away from city 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 27 1944) →

Video: 'The World at War HD (1080p) - Ep. 13 - Tough Old Gut: Italy (November 1942 – June 1944)' (Jan. 22, 1944, at 31:37)

(Saturday, January 22, 1944, 2:00 a.m. Central European Time; part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio, began early this morning with an Allied amphibious landing in the region of Anzio and Nettuno, with the objective of outflanking German forces at the Winter Line and setting up a drive on Rome. Continue reading Allied forces begin landing at Anzio, Italy during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 22 1944) →

Video: 'Kalavryta in Greece: City of widows | Focus on Europe'

(Monday, December 13, 1943, around 9:00 a.m. Central European Time; part of the War crimes of the Wehrmacht during World War II) — The German 117th Jäger Division today carried out the Kalavryta massacre, the near-extermination of the male population and the total destruction of the town of Kalavryta, in Axis-occupied Greece, in retaliation for the earlier killing of German troops. Continue reading German infantry division murders 693 civilians in Massacre of Kalavryta 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 13 1943) →

Video: 'The World at War: Tough Old Gut: Italy - November 1942-June 1944 (13 of 26)' (Sep. 12, 1943, at 22:18)

(Sunday, September 12, 1943, 2:05 p.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Benito Mussolini, the recently deposed Italian dictator who was imprisoned at the Campo Imperiale Hotel in the Abruzzi Mountains, “escaped” this afternoon during the Gran Sasso raid, led by Hauptsturmführer Otto Skorzeny. Continue reading Nazi raiders ‘rescue’ deposed Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from Hotel Campo Imperatore 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 12 1943) →

Video: '211 - The Allies' Latest Victory - WW2 - September 10, 1943' (Allied invasion of Italy at 2:45)

(Thursday, September 9, 1943, 3:20 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — The second and main phase of the Allied invasion of Italy, Operation Avalanche, commenced today, as the U.S. Army VI Corps and the British Army X Corps stormed the beaches at the Gulf of Salerno, and encountered heavy resistance from German forces. Continue reading Allied forces land on Italian mainland at Salerno and Taranto during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1943) →

Video: '211 - The Allies' Latest Victory - WW2 - September 10, 1943' (Sept. 8, 1943, at 1:08)

(Wednesday, September 8, 1943, 5:30 p.m. Central European Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Italy has signed an unconditional armistice with the Allies, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the commander in chief of Allied forces in the Mediterranean, announced today in a broadcast from Allied Headquarters in Algiers, “effective this instant.” Continue reading General Dwight D. Eisenhower announces Italy’s surrender during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 8 1943) →

Video: '210 - The War is Four Years Old this week - WW2 - September 3, 1943' (Sep. 3, 1943, at 0:35)

(Friday, September 3, 1943, 4:30 Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Mainland Italy was invaded by Allied forces today for the first time during World War II, as the British Eighth Army’s XIII Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey and composed of the 1st Canadian and British 5th Infantry Divisions, launched Operation Baytown under General Bernard Montgomery’s direction. Continue reading Allied forces invade mainland Italy at Reggio di Calabria during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1943) →