Category Archives: World War II

Battle of the Bulge begins as German forces launch surprise World War II assault through Ardennes 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1944)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'World War II in HD: Battle of the Bulge | History'

(Saturday, December 16, 1944, 5:30 a.m. local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — The Battle of the Bulge began this morning as three German armies launched a surprise counterattack against Allied forces through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium, catching Allied forces completely off guard. Continue reading Battle of the Bulge begins as German forces launch surprise World War II assault through Ardennes 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 16 1944) →

Bandleader Glenn Miller’s plane vanishes over English Channel on flight to Paris during World War II 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1944)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Mysterious disappearance of Glenn Miller's airplane might be solved'

(Friday, December 15, 1944; during World War II) — A single-engine plane carrying Maj. Glenn Miller, director of the U.S. Air Force Band and legendary big band musician, disappeared today in bad weather over the English Channel. Continue reading Bandleader Glenn Miller’s plane vanishes over English Channel on flight to Paris during World War II 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1944) →

372 American sailors killed when USS Mount Hood explodes at Manus Naval Base 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 10 1944)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The USS Mount Hood explosion'

(Friday, November 10, 1944, 8:55 a.m. Papua New Guinea Time; during World War II) — The ammunition ship USS Mount Hood (AE-11) exploded today while moored in Seeadler Harbor at Manus Island in Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific. Continue reading 372 American sailors killed when USS Mount Hood explodes at Manus Naval Base 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 10 1944) →

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt elected to unprecedented fourth term, defeating Thomas E. Dewey 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 7 1944)

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


Video: 'Americans voting in US cities during 1944 Presidential election; Roosevelt defeat...HD Stock Footage'

(Tuesday, November 7, 1944, during the 1944 presidential campaign) — Democratic U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York was elected to an unprecedented fourth term today, soundly defeating Republican challenger Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt elected to unprecedented fourth term, defeating Thomas E. Dewey 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 7 1944) →

Violent storm forces Anne, Margot Frank out of tents at Bergen-Belsen 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 7 1944)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Anne Frank in Bergen-Belsen and her death' (Nov. 7, 1944, at 2:14)

(Tuesday, November 7, 1944; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — About four days after their arrival at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in what is today Lower Saxony in northern Germany, 15-year-old diarist Anne Frank and her older sister, Margot’s stay in a tent camp came to a dramatic close when a violent storm swept many of the tents away. Continue reading Violent storm forces Anne, Margot Frank out of tents at Bergen-Belsen 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 7 1944) →

Jewish diarist Anne Frank, 15, arrives at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 3 1944)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Anne Frank in Bergen-Belsen and her death' (Nov. 1-3, 1944, at 1:10)

(Friday, November 3, 1944; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The first of three evacuation trains carrying Jewish women from the Auschwitz II-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland arrived today at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany. Continue reading Jewish diarist Anne Frank, 15, arrives at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 3 1944) →

Jewish diarist Anne Frank, 15, deported from Auschwitz II-Birkenau to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northeast Germany 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1944)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Anne Frank in Bergen-Belsen and her death' (Nov. 1-2, 1944, at 1:10)

(The night of Wednesday-Thursday, November 1-2, 1944; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The second of three evacuation trains carrying Jewish women left the Auschwitz II–Birkenau concentration and extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland today for the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany, with 15-year-old diarist Anne Frank and her older sister, Margot, 18, probably among them. Continue reading Jewish diarist Anne Frank, 15, deported from Auschwitz II-Birkenau to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northeast Germany 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1944) →

Battle of Leyte Gulf begins in the Philippines: Largest naval conflict of WWII underway 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 23 1944)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The Last Battleship vs. Battleship Battle Ever'

(Monday, October 23, 1944, 5:24 a.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The largest naval battle of World War II began this morning as the U.S. submarine USS Darter launched six torpedoes, striking the Japanese heavy cruiser Atago in the waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar, and Luzon. Continue reading Battle of Leyte Gulf begins in the Philippines: Largest naval conflict of WWII underway 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 23 1944) →

German troops crush two-month-old Warsaw Uprising after 250,000 deaths 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 2 1944)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Warsaw Rising: The Forgotten Soldiers of World War II'

(Monday, October 2, 1944, 8:00 p.m. Central Euroopean Summer Time; during the Warsaw Uprising, part of Operation Tempest on the Eastern Front of World War II) — German troops today crushed the two-month-old Warsaw Uprising, a major World War II operation by the Polish underground resistance to liberate Warsaw from German occupation during which nearly a quarter of a million people were killed. Continue reading German troops crush two-month-old Warsaw Uprising after 250,000 deaths 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 2 1944) →

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt opens campaign for fourth term with hilarious ‘Fala’ speech 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 23 1944)

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


Video: 'FDR Fala Campaign Speech 1944'

(Saturday, September 23, 1944, 9:31 p.m. EWT; during the 1944 United States presidential election campaign, held during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened his campaign for a fourth term tonight, derisively defending Fala, his black Scottie dog, against a Republican political attack. Continue reading U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt opens campaign for fourth term with hilarious ‘Fala’ speech 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 23 1944) →