Category Archives: World War II

Otto Frank confirms his daughters Margot, Anne are dead 80 years ago today (July 18 1945)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Anne Frank (The Whole Story)' (July 18, 1945, at 2:53:02)

(Wednesday, July 18, 1945; during World War II) — Otto Frank, who had returned to Amsterdam on June 3, 1945, having been liberated Jan. 27, 1945, at the Auschwitz concentration camp, confirmed today (via a Red Cross list, then confirmation from Lin Brilleslijper, a fellow inmate of the Frank girls at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp) that his daughters, Margot and Anne, had died in the Holocaust some time . Continue reading Otto Frank confirms his daughters Margot, Anne are dead 80 years ago today (July 18 1945) →

Potsdam Conference of Truman, Churchill and Stalin called to order 80 years ago this hour (July 17 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'Berlin including Churchill, Stalin and Truman at Potsdam Conference - 1945' (Potsdam Conference begins at 6:45)

(Tuesday, July 17, 1945, 5:10 p.m. CEST; during World War II) — The Potsdam Conference, convened to decide how to administer punishment to the defeated Nazi Germany and plan the final stages of the Pacific Theater of World War II, was called to order this afternoon at Cecilienhof, the home of Crown Prince Wilhelm Hohenzollern, in Potsdam, occupied Germany (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:57:58). Continue reading Potsdam Conference of Truman, Churchill and Stalin called to order 80 years ago this hour (July 17 1945) →

Soviet leader Joseph Stalin calls on U.S. President Harry S. Truman in Babelsberg 80 years ago this hour (July 17 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II

(Tuesday, July 17, 1945, 12:00 p.m. CEST; hours before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — Soviet leader Joseph Stalin called on U.S. President Harry S. Truman today at U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg, Germany, ahead of the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Stalin. (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:56:04).

U.S. President Harry S. Truman inspects ruins of Berlin 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'MP76-35 reel 1 - NEW FILM TRANSFER - President Truman’s Trip to the Berlin Conference' (Truman inspects Berlin ruins at 12:30)

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 4:57 p.m. CEST; one day before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), visited Berlin this afternoon to inspect the city’s ruins following the end of World War II in Europe (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:53:59).

President Truman inspects 2nd Armored ‘Hells on Wheels’ Division in Germany 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'President Truman reviews troops of the 2nd Armored Division, along a section of t...HD Stock Footage'

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 3:40 p.m. CEST; one day before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman, in Germany for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945), left U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg this afternoon to inspect the ruins of Berlin,stopping to inspect the famous 2nd Armored “Hells on Wheels” Division drawn up along the wide AVUS super-highway between Potsdam and Berlin.

Atomic Age begins! U.S. explodes first experimental atomic bomb in New Mexico 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Explosion and smoke cloud of the first Atomic Bomb detonation rising at Alamogord...HD Stock Footage'

(Sunday, July 16, 1945, 5:29:45 a.m. Mountain War Time; during World War II) — The Atomic Age began this morning when the United States successfully detonated a plutonium-based test nuclear weapon at the Trinity bomb site near Alamogordo, New Mexico, unleashing an explosion equivalent to that of 19 kilotons of TNT (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:55:04). Continue reading Atomic Age begins! U.S. explodes first experimental atomic bomb in New Mexico 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945) →

British PM Winston Churchill calls on U.S. President Harry S. Truman in Babelsberg 80 years ago this hour (July 16 1945)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'MP76-35 reel 1 - NEW FILM TRANSFER - President Truman’s Trip to the Berlin Conference' (Truman and Churchill at 19:24)

(Monday, July 16, 1945, 11:00 a.m. CEST; one day before the Potsdam Conference during World War II) — Prime Minister Winston Churchill called on U.S. President Harry S. Truman this morning at U.S. headquarters at Babelsberg, Germany, ahead of the Potsdam Conference with Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin (whose late arrival delayed the conference to July 17, 1945). (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:53:14).

President Truman arrives in Antwerp, Belgium for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 15 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'President Harry Truman of United States arrives in Antwerp and moves to Brussels'...HD Stock Footage'

(Sunday, July 15, 1945, Truman stepped down the gangway of Augusta at 11:10 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman arrived in Antwerp, Belgium, this morning aboard the USS Augusta, bound for Antwerp, Belgium, for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin on July 17, 1945, in Potsdam, occupied Germany. Continue reading President Truman arrives in Antwerp, Belgium for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 15 1945) →

U.S. President Harry S. Truman sets sail for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 7 1945)

1940s, World War II

Video: 'MP72-36, reel 1 - Film Log of Harry S. Truman’s Historical Trip to Berlin, July 1945 - Reel 1 of 2'

(Saturday, July 7, 1945, 7:00 a.m. EWT; during World War II) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman departed Newport News, Virginia, this morning aboard the USS Augusta, bound for Antwerp, Belgium, for the Potsdam Conference with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin beginning July 17, 1945, in Potsdam, occupied Germany (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 1:52:51). Continue reading U.S. President Harry S. Truman sets sail for Potsdam Conference 80 years ago this hour (July 7 1945) →