Allies Liberate Bastogne (1:27)
In a broadcast on December 29, 1944, Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe recounts the 101st Airborne’s victory against overwhelming odds at Bastogne, Belgium.
Speeches & Audio (10)
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Allies Liberate Bastogne
Allies Liberate BastogneAudio Clip (1:27)
Audio Clip (1:27)
In a broadcast on December 29, 1944, Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe recounts the 101st Airborne’s victory against overwhelming odds at Bastogne, Belgium.
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Reagan Speaks on 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Reagan Speaks on 40th Anniversary of D-DayAudio Clip (0:41)
Audio Clip (0:41)
On June 6, 1984, in Normandy, France, President Ronald Reagan honors the heroes of D-Day, a pivotal moment during World War II.
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War Report on B-29 Use
War Report on B-29 UseAudio Clip (2:36)
Audio Clip (2:36)
Brig. Gen. H.S. Hansell delivers a report in June 1944 on American B-29 bomber strikes against Germany and Japan.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt on American Progress in World War II
Franklin D. Roosevelt on American Progress in World War IIAudio Clip (1:00)
Audio Clip (1:00)
With the United States now entered into World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt uses the occasion of Washington’s birthday to broadcast to the nation on February 23, 1942, an outline of America’s progress in the war.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 Labor Day Speech
Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 Labor Day SpeechAudio Clip (1:37)
Audio Clip (1:37)
In his Labor Day radio broadcast in 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt reminds his fellow citizens of the need to devote America’s industrial effort to building weaponry in order to "crush Hitler and his Nazi forces."
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Truman Announces Germany's Surrender
Truman Announces Germany's SurrenderAudio Clip (2:04)
Audio Clip (2:04)
In a May 8, 1945, radio broadcast, President Harry Truman announces the unconditional surrender of Germany, but reminds Americans that the war wages on in the Far East.
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U.S. Goals in World War II
U.S. Goals in World War IIAudio Clip (0:31)
Audio Clip (0:31)
In his speech delivered July 23, 1942, Secretary of State Cordell Hull explains the aims of the United States in World War II.
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U.S. Celebrates Liberation of Paris
U.S. Celebrates Liberation of ParisAudio Clip (1:29)
Audio Clip (1:29)
On August 25, 1944, Germany surrenders Paris, ending four years of occupation. In a radio broadcast, Jennings Randolph, a West Virginia congressman, sends his congratulations to the French people.
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General Patton's Homecoming
General Patton's HomecomingAudio Clip (0:35)
Audio Clip (0:35)
On June 9, 1945, Los Angeles honored Gen. George S. Patton with a homecoming parade upon his return from Europe after Germany’s surrender. In an address at the City Hall ceremonies, Gen. Patton, in his trademark colorful language, describes the destruction wrought by the Eighth Air Force and Third Army.
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Japan's Unconditional Surrender
Japan's Unconditional SurrenderAudio Clip (4:13)
Audio Clip (4:13)
An NBC news report summarizes the events of August 15, 1945, when Emperor Hirohito of Japan announced that his country will accept unconditional surrender and called for a ceasefire that formally ended World War II.
Videos (10)
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D-Day Documented by Newsreel Cameras
D-Day Documented by Newsreel CamerasVideo Clip (8:56)
Video Clip (8:56)
Footage of the historic D-Day invasion from the United News. The best known D-Day is June 6, 1944 the day on which the Invasion of Normandy began. This video clip is courtesy of The History Channel.
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Allied Invasion of Italy
Allied Invasion of ItalyVideo Clip (3:37)
Video Clip (3:37)
In September, 1943, Italy surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, while German forces quickly occupied north and central Italy. Aided by the Germans, Mussolini escaped from prison and established a puppet republic in northern Italy. Meanwhile, the new Italian government declared war on Germany, and Italy was recognized by the Allies as a cobelligerent. The Allied Italian campaign was a slow, grueling, and costly struggle. The fall of Rome in July, 1944 was followed by a stalemate. In April, 1945, partisans captured and summarily executed Mussolini. In May, 1945, the Germans surrendered.
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Flying in the South Pacific
Flying in the South PacificVideo Clip (3:31)
Video Clip (3:31)
Fred Linden's father was a PBY naval aviator during World War II and left behind two reels of film documenting his service in the South Pacific.
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Women in the Cockpit
Women in the CockpitVideo Clip (3:52)
Video Clip (3:52)
Dawn Letson befriended a World War II veteran who was a member of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, and shares her films from WASP training camp.
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World War II Tanks
World War II TanksVideo Clip (3:16)
Video Clip (3:16)
Armored tanks provided extra firepower and mobility during World War II.
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Foo Fighters
Foo FightersVideo Clip (3:25)
Video Clip (3:25)
Did Nazi Germany use alien technology to disrupt allied bombers during WWII?
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761st Activated
761st ActivatedVideo Clip (2:42)
Video Clip (2:42)
The 761st Panther Tank division was called to duty in 1962.
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Amphibious Assaults of World War II
Amphibious Assaults of World War IIVideo Clip (2:16)
Video Clip (2:16)
The landing vehicle tank was essential to the amphibious assaults on D-Day and throughout the Pacific theater.
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Bombing Hamburg
Bombing HamburgVideo Clip (1:35)
Video Clip (1:35)
During World War II, especially in 1943, Hamburg was severely damaged by aerial bombardment, and some 55,000 persons were killed.
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USS Texas Under Attack
USS Texas Under AttackVideo Clip (2:27)
Video Clip (2:27)
What is it like to be onboard an American military ship under attack? Find out firsthand from a serviceman who was on the USS Texas when it was hit by enemy fire in the English Channel in June 1944. From Hero Ships.
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Conventional wisdom traces blitzkrieg, "lightning war," to the development in Germany between 1918 and 1939 of a body of doctrine using mobility to prevent repetition of the attritional deadlock of World War I.
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