Japanese balloon bomb kills pregnant woman, five children in Oregon in only fatal WWII attack on U.S. mainland 80 years ago today (May 5 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'The Balloon Bombs That Floated Across The Pacific'

(Saturday, May 5, 1945, approximately 10:30 a.m. PWT; part of the American Theater of World War II) — A pregnant woman and five children were killed today when a Japanese balloon bomb exploded in the remote woods of southern Oregon, marking what officials believe to be the only fatal attack on the U.S. mainland during World War II. Continue reading Japanese balloon bomb kills pregnant woman, five children in Oregon in only fatal WWII attack on U.S. mainland 80 years ago today (May 5 1945) →

Nazi concentration camp Mauthausen-Gusen liberated 80 years ago this hour (May 5 1945)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'Nazi concentration camp in Mauthausen, Austria. HD Stock Footage'

(Saturday, May 5, 1945, approximately 5:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, a large group of German concentration camps that were built around the villages of Mauthausen and Gusen in Upper Austria, roughly 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the city of Linz, was liberated today by American forces. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Mauthausen-Gusen liberated 80 years ago this hour (May 5 1945) →

U.S. President Reagan sparks outrage with visit to German cemetery containing Nazi SS graves 40 years ago this hour (May 5 1985)

1980s, The Holocaust, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Reagan at Bitburg May 5 1985) (Complete)' (coverage begins at 8:30 a.m. EDT)

(Sunday, May 5, 1985, 2:51 p.m. CEST) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan presided over a wreath-laying today at the base of a brick cemetery tower looming over the graves of nearly 2,000 German soldiers, including 49 SS troops. Continue reading U.S. President Reagan sparks outrage with visit to German cemetery containing Nazi SS graves 40 years ago this hour (May 5 1985) →

West Germany becomes a fully sovereign state 70 years ago this hour (May 5 1955)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'WEST GERMAN SOVEREIGNTY and GERMAN FLAG HOISTED AT SHAPE'

(Thursday, May 5, 1955, 12 noon Central European Time; during the Cold War) — The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) became a sovereign state today when the United States, France, and Great Britain end their military occupation, which had begun with the end of World War II in 1945. Continue reading West Germany becomes a fully sovereign state 70 years ago this hour (May 5 1955) →

Abraham Lincoln buried in Springfield, Illinois 160 years ago this hour (May 4 1865)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken.Burns.The.Civil.War.9of9.The.Better.Angels.Of.Our.Nature' (May 4, 1865 at 24:35)

(Thursday, May 4, 1865, 1:00 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest today in his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, following a 180-city, seven-state train journey from Washington, where he had been assassinated.

Lincoln’s son Willie, who died at age 11 from typhoid fever in 1862 and had originally been buried in Washington while Lincoln was serving as president, was interred next to his father in the family plot.

German forces in the Netherlands, northwest Germany, and Denmark surrender 80 years ago this hour (May 4 1945)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Germans Surrender to Montgomery (1945)'

(Friday, May 4, 1945, 6:30 p.m. CEST; on the Western Front of World War II) — German forces in northwestern Europe laid down their arms today following the formal surrender to British Field Marshal Bernard L. Montgomery at his headquarters on Lüneburg Heath. Continue reading German forces in the Netherlands, northwest Germany, and Denmark surrender 80 years ago this hour (May 4 1945) →

‘All She Wants to Do Is Dance’ by Don Henley peaks at #9 in USA 40 years ago today (May 4 1985)

1980s, Popular Music 1980s

(Saturday, May 4, 1985) — “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” by Don Henley peaked at #9 on today’s Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for one week. Continue reading ‘All She Wants to Do Is Dance’ by Don Henley peaks at #9 in USA 40 years ago today (May 4 1985) →

Nazi concentration camp Neuengamme liberated 80 years ago today (May 4 1945)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II


Video: 'KZ Neuengamme Concentration Camp (Short Film)'

(Friday, May 4, 1945; part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Neuengamme concentration camp, a subcamp of Sachsenhausen concentration camp located near the village of Neuengamme in the Bergedorf district of Hamburg, Germany, was liberated today by British forces. Continue reading Nazi concentration camp Neuengamme liberated 80 years ago today (May 4 1945) →

Conference on use of chemical, biological weapons in war opens in Geneva 100 years ago today (May 4 1925)

1920s


Video: 'Gas warfare in the First World War'

(Monday, May 4, 1925) — An international conference opened today in Geneva to forge an agreement against the use of chemical and biological weapons in war; the Geneva Protocol was signed on June 17, 1925 and went into force in 1928.