325,000 Germans surrender at Ruhr Pocket 80 years ago today (Apr 18 1945)

Video: 'The World at War: Nemesis: Germany - February-May 1945 (21 of 26)' (Apr. 18, 1945, at 21:31)

(Wednesday, April 18, 1945; on the Western Front of World War II) — The Ruhr Pocket, a battle of encirclement that took place in late March and early April 1945 in the Ruhr Area of Germany, essentially ended today, marking the end of major organized resistance on Nazi Germany’s Western Front as 325,000 troops were taken prisoner.

Physicist Albert Einstein, 76, dies in Princeton, New Jersey 70 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1955)


Video: 'Albert Einstein: News Report of His Death - April 18, 1955'

(Monday, April 18, 1955, 1:15 a.m. EST) — Dr. Albert Einstein, one of the great thinkers of the ages and Time Person of the Century, died in his sleep early today in Princeton, New Jersey, at age 76. Continue reading Physicist Albert Einstein, 76, dies in Princeton, New Jersey 70 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1955)

American war correspondent Ernie Pyle, 44, killed by Japanese gunfire 80 years ago this hour (Apr 18 1945)


Video: 'Ernie Pyle: The Untold Story of America's Beloved War Correspondent & Journalist | You Asked For It'

(Wednesday, April 18, 1945, 10:15 a.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Okinawa, part of the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — Famed American war correspondent Ernie Pyle, 44, was killed instantly today by Japanese gunfire on the Pacific island of Ie Shima, off Okinawa.

‘Go Now!’ by The Moody Blues peaks at #10 in USA 60 years ago today (Apr 17 1965)

(Saturday, April 17, 1965) — “Go Now!” by The Moody Blues peaked at #10 on today’s Billboard‘s Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Go Now!’ by The Moody Blues peaks at #10 in USA 60 years ago today (Apr 17 1965)

‘Fibber McGee and Molly’ comedy radio series debuts 90 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1935)


Video: 'Fibber Mcgee& Molly First Episode 1935'

(Tuesday, April 16, 1935, 10:00 p.m. EST; during the Great Depression) — The long-running radio comedy program Fibber McGee and Molly, starring Jim and Marian Jordan, premiered tonight on the NBC Blue Network.

Cambodia’s five-year civil war ends as Phnom Penh falls to Khmer Rouge 50 years ago this hour (Apr 17 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-9) Cambodia and Laos' (Apr. 17, 1975, at 50:58)

(Thursday, April 17, 1975, 10:00 a.m. Indochina Time; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — After five years of savage fighting, the Khmer Republic, the republican government of Cambodia, was defeated today when the victorious Khmer Rouge, followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, proclaimed the establishment of Democratic Kampuchea.

Thousands of German refugees, wounded soldiers killed when Soviets sink MV Goya 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945)


Video: '3D-animation of the sinking of the norse ship Goya during WW2'

(Monday, April 16, 1945, 11:52 p.m. Central European Summer Time; during World War II) — A Soviet submarine in the Baltic Sea torpedoed and sank the MV Goya, a Norwegian motor freighter which Germany was using to transport civilian refugees and wounded soldiers. Continue reading Thousands of German refugees, wounded soldiers killed when Soviets sink MV Goya 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945)

Truman vows to uphold Roosevelt’s legacy in first address to Congress 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945)


Video: 'Truman's First Address, 1945'

(Monday, April 16, 1945, entered House Chamber at 1:02 p.m. EWT; during World War II) –In his first address to Congress as president, Harry S. Truman pledged Monday to carry forward the vision and resolve of his late predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, urging national unity and promising an unrelenting fight against tyranny. Continue reading Truman vows to uphold Roosevelt’s legacy in first address to Congress 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945)

German artist Käthe Kollwitz writes her final letter 80 years ago today (Apr 16 1945)


Video: 'The Great War episode 8 War Without End' (Apr. 16, 1945, at 45:32)

(Monday, April 16, 1945, during World War II) — Six days before she died, Käthe Kollwitz, 77-year-old German printmaker and sculpto whose work offered an eloquent and often searing account of the human condition, and the tragedy of war, in the first half of the 20th century, composed her final letter today, writing “the accompanies me to the end.”

Soviet forces launch Battle of Berlin against Nazi Germany 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945)

Video: 'The World at War Episode 21 - Nemesis - Germany (February - May 1945)' (Apr. 16, 1945, at 16:04)

(Monday, April 16, 1945, 4:00 a.m. Central Euroopean Summer Time; during the Battle of Berlin on the Eastern Front during World War II) — The final chapter in the destruction of Hitler’s Third Reich began today when the Soviets unleashed the brutal power of 20 armies, 6,300 tanks and 8,500 aircraft with the objective of crushing German resistance and capturing Berlin. Continue reading Soviet forces launch Battle of Berlin against Nazi Germany 80 years ago this hour (Apr 16 1945)