World War II

Frank DeVita was in charge of lowering the ramp on the USS Samuel Chase on D-Day. The role would haunt him for the rest of his life.

855 Black women of the 6888th Postal Battalion delivered mail in WWII, breaking racial and gender barriers in the military.

The 761st Tank Battalion was the first all-Black tank squad to see combat during World War II.

The 761st Tank Battalion receive new orders.

The War Department considered coffee an essential element to the troops' diet.

The most ambitious amphibious invasion in history begins as the Allies launch a high-stakes attack of Nazi-occupied France to win the war.

The Allies launched this high stakes attack in order to win the war.

The Japanese deploy deadly kamikazes in an effort to destroy the USS Laffy.

Rodger Bushell plots his escape from the most notorious Nazi prison camp of WWII.

As fighting continues in the Pacific, The U.S. Navy begins night raids on Japan's island territories unleashing a punishing assault that will signal the end of WWII in the pacific.

In WWII, FDR spends years preparing for the "day of days" when Allied forced invade Normandy.

FDR passed away shortly after the Yalta conference. See more in Season 1, Episode 3, "Arsenal of Democracy."

Discover the remarkable story of D-Day, where Allied forces broke through the formidable Atlantic Wall during the Normandy invasion. Witness the strategic brilliance, courageous soldiers and pivotal moments that turned the tide of World War II.

Explore the intense and harrowing Battle of Caen, a pivotal clash during World War II that saw the Allied forces and German defenders locked in a brutal struggle for control of a key city in Normandy.

The Tuskeegee Airmen were a group of pilots who overcame racism and prejudice, becoming decorated war heroes of WWII.

American fighter pilots take on the Japanese in a grueling fight for control of Guadalcanal.

FDR asks Congress to declare war on Japan in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. See more in this scene from Season 1, Episode 2, "Rendezvous with Destiny."

Theo Wilson time-travels to the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942 where the underdog Russian Army is about to pull off a victory that will turn the tide of the war in favor of Allied forces.

In the race to end WWII, the brightest American minds are called to work on the Manhattan Project, including a number of unsung Black scientists and engineers.

Charles Norman Shay's heroics at D-Day are etched into history, and his perspective as a Native American makes his story all the more important.

Under the cover of darkness, the Allies pulled off an operation in the hours before D-Day that may have changed the tide of the battle before it had begun.

Learn more about the history of D-Day.

The United States' decision to use the atomic bomb was made after great debate, but still led to a massive loss of human life.

Iby Knill was taken to Auschwitz on the day she was meant to be married. She describes what life was like for her before the rise of the Nazi party and how they came to power.

At the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Japanese Navy catches the American landing forces are caught by surprise. Outgunned, the Americans stage a daring defense.

The Battle of Leyte was an amphibious invasion that launched the beginning of the recapture and liberation of the entire Philippines after almost three years of Japanese occupation in this clip from "Battle of Leyte Gulf."

Faced with the harsh terrain of the European Alps, American soldiers didn't back down – they just hit the slopes.

The USS Enterprise, or The Big E, was the most decorated U.S. ship of WWII and was outfitted with some of the most advanced technology of the age.

In November, 1943, the USS Enterprise supports a two pronged attack in the Pacific at the WW2 Battle of Tarawa.

On Friday the 13th, 1942, the US Navy clashed with Imperial Japanese forces in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The conflict led to the destruction of ships on both sides, but ended in a strategic US victory.

Facing the harsh conditions of the European winter, American soldiers fighting in the Battle of the Bulge faced a challenge like no other.

Historian and author Don Miller discusses how one WWII battle before Thanksgiving would affect the homefront.

Waverly Woodson Jr., was a medic on D-Day in the only all-black battalion to storm the beach. He worked for over 30 hours straight saving lives while he himself was wounded.

Guy Whidden was one of the first to parachute into Normandy on D-Day. A moment of divine intervention would save his life.

Frank DeVita was in charge of lowering the ramp on the USS Samuel Chase on D-Day. The role would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Native elder Charles Norman Shay was a combat medic with 1st Infantry or “The Big Red One” – one of the first units to land ashore on Omaha Beach on D-Day. It was his very first day of combat in his life.

Survivors share how D-Day changed their lives forever.

When the Nazis occupied France, five-year-old Bernard Marie believed every man in uniform was a bad guy. The D-Day invasion changed all that.

How did things get so bad between the US and Japan in the lead up to WWII? It all comes down to power and resources.

D-Day is one of the most widely known battles in WWII, but it almost didn't happen. Here's Why.

After 70 years, Joshua Kaufman reunites with Daniel Gillespie, who helped liberate him from Dachau.

Liberators and survivors return together to the notorious Nazi concentration camp seven decades later.

After the end of World War II, society expected women to return to the subservient roles they held before the war. Proper dress and pristine hygiene became paramount concerns, and as this 1948 film demonstrates, the expectations were quite high.

The internment of Japanese Americans began after President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 in February 1942. For the following three years, American men, women, and children were forced to live under prison-like conditions in remote concentration camps. This 1943 film explains the internment from the U.S. government's perspective.

Seven months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, American and Japanese forces clashed over Midway Atoll, a dot of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The Battle of Midway tested intelligence and combat capabilities on both sides – while decidedly altering the outcome of World War II.

Learn how media bias and anti-Mexican racism contributed to the Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles in 1943.

Fake news isn’t new news. During WWII, military bases were breeding grounds for false reports and gossip. In this cartoon, part of a series created for the armed forces by Theodor Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) and the folks behind Looney Tunes, “Private Snafu” learns the dangers of spreading rumors the hard way.

This 1944 American propaganda film imagine’s Hitler’s surrender and explains the Füher’s greatest mistake – his underestimation of American women. This episode of Flashback shows how female wartime workers were an indispensable part of America’s victory, even before the war was officially won.

A lack of labor supply during World War II forced women into industrial jobs. This Flashback highlights the "problems" female workers faced in a new and unfamiliar environment – reflective of a less enlightened time.

Though German Jewish teenager Anne Frank did not survive the Holocaust, the memoirs from her two years in hiding live on forever.

In 1945 and 1946, Nazi war criminals were forced to account for their depraved actions in the city of Nuremberg, Germany.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Government issued executive order 9066, which empowered the military to round up anyone of Japanese ancestry and place them in internment camps.

The Lend-Lease Act was a compromise that allowed the United States to provide aid to England while avoiding full involvement in World War II.

It was all hands on deck as Americans pitched into a second World War effort after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

The Marshall Plan was an example of "good deed foreign policy" designed to rebuild Western European economies in the wake of WWII.

The team tours the Bremer's family home.

During the Holocaust, Jewish photographer Henryk Ross used his camera as a tool of resistance against the Nazi regime by documenting the harsh realities inside the ghetto of Lodz, Poland.

Though blindsided by the attack, Pearl Harbor fighters made a valiant effort to combat the first wave of Japanese planes.

Pearl Harbor survivors give first-hand accounts of the fiery destruction of battleships like the USS Arizona, USS West Virginia, and USS Oklahoma.

In the days immediately following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the American homefront quickly mobilized to support the war effort.

Pearl Harbor veterans talk about where they were and how they felt when Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945.

As American servicemen prepared for a bloody battle in the Pacific, an unprecedented event would change the course of WWII.

Veterans of Pearl Harbor describe the personal circumstances that led them to enlist in the Navy.

Pearl Harbor survivors share the valuable lessons that future generations can take away from the attacks.

A look back at the intelligence failures and oversights that led to the successful Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Though blindsided by the attack, Pearl Harbor fighters made a valiant effort to combat the first wave of Japanese planes.

Pearl Harbor survivors give first-hand accounts of the fiery destruction of battleships like the USS Arizona, USS West Virginia, and USS Oklahoma.

Pearl Harbor survivors describe the attack's harrowing first moments on the morning of December 7, 1941.

The Pearl Harbor attack caused a wave of nationalist resentment that had long-reaching effects on the Japanese-American population.

In honor of Veterans Day, survivors of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attacks share their insight on war, sacrifice, and remembering their fallen comrades.

On September 7, 1940, 300 German bombers raided London in what would be the first of 57 consecutive nights of bombing. This "blitzkrieg" would continue until May 1941.

After the sudden and deliberate attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese during World War II, President Roosevelt spoke to Congress and the American people.

Learn more about the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Allies' first major offensive - and a decisive victory - in the Pacific theater during World War II.

Six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States defeated Japan in one of the most decisive naval battles of World War II. Learn more about the Battle of Midway.

Take a look at key events that led to the Nazi party's rise to power in Germany.

Joseph Stalin's forced industrialization of the Soviet Union caused the worst man-made famine in history. Find out more about his life and rise to power in this video.

In this scene, Hitler comes to the realization that this is the end as the Allies successfully invade Europe and continue to liberate territories.

Mini-biography on the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

With almost 50,000 manufactured during World War II, the M4 medium tank, popularly known as the "Sherman," provided critical armored support to Allied ground troops.

Known as the “Flying Fortress,” the B-17 was the backbone of the United States’ aerial forces during World War II. Get all the facts and figures.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt committed American forces to the Allied cause in World War II.

Who was the "real" Rosie the Riveter? Ask History has the story behind this famous icon.

On June 22, 1944, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen's Readjustment Act, better known as the G.I. Bill, in order to help soldiers secure stability as they returned to civilian life. A broadcast aired shortly after the bill was signed describes a nation preparing to welcome World War II veterans.

As goodwill ambassador for the Earth Summit, Brazilian soccer star Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pele, discusses the importance of the upcoming summit to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to discuss an international effort to preserve natural resources by rethinking methods of economic development.

Find out about the assault of the Japanese Center Force during World War II.

After the 1936 Olympic games, Adolf Hitler planned to build an enormous stadium.

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese sunk the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, killing more than 1,100 American soldiers. Did anyone aboard the Arizona survive? Find out more. From "Hero Ships."

Examine President Franklin D. Roosevelt's role in World War II. Find out how he led the United States from isolationism to victory.

Decoded puzzle clue for the episode D.B. Cooper.

In a Mail Call video, R. Lee Ermey answers a question from Tom of Kansas, who wants to know what the biggest gun in the world is. Ermey says to answer this question you first have to define what you mean by big; for we all know that guns like Big Bertha and Anzio Annie are big, but if you are talking total weight and size of the shell, then they are not the biggest. The Gustav gun created by the Germans, takes the cake on this one with an 80cm barrel. The Germans first used this gun in World War II; it was designed to pulverize French defensive bunkers in the early days of the war.

After the D-Day invasion of France on June 6, 1944, the Allied advance is mired in the thick hedgerows of Normandy's bocage country.

On December 7, 1941, Japan launches a surprise attack on American soil at Pearl Harbor.

WWII veteran Robert Morgan was captain of the B-52 Memphis Belle during the historic 25 mission tour.

Pilots of the USS Yorktown reminisce about their epic raid on Japan.

On June 15, 1944, the U.S. launches a critical attack on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.

With the U.S. Army and Air Force at their side, Patton and his troops campaign to drive the Nazis from the Mediterranean and liberate Europe. From Patton 360.

Excerpts from an interview with Dick Winters of the 101st Airborne Division

On June 6, 1944, the Allies invade Western Europe in the largest amphibious attack in history.

Patton's tank crews must devise new tactics in order to defeat one of the most terrified weapons of World War II--Hitler's Tiger tanks. From Patton 360.

Albert Fagler's grandfather was an Army Air Corps photographer during WWII and left behind film reels featuring dogfights and his own wedding.

WWII Veteran Randy James fought the Japanese during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Excerpts from an interview with Dick Winters of the 101st Airborne Division.

WWII veteran Samuel Hynes talks about the lasting effects of the war on his generation.

From the deserts of North Africa to the forests of Germany, Patton's army battles it out with artillery vital to winning the war. From Patton 360.

The K-25 plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was built to enrich uranium for the atomic bomb.

David Keran's grandfather was an OSS agent working with the French Resistance during WWII and left behind films of his experiences.

An army troop ship of over 860 refugees from Europe sails into New York Harbor. These people were victims of Nazi persecution; many of them spent long, terrible months in concentration camps.

In July 1942, the Nazi Army bombs the Soviet city of Stalingrad, launching one of the bloodiest battles in history.

The general gains fame in World War II, then infamy when he is removed from his command in the Korean War.

During WWII, Hitler's decentralized and paranoid military command structure spells disaster on the battlefield.

Excerpts from an interview with Dick Winters of the 101st Airborne Division

Watch as Franklin D. Roosevelt declares war on Japan in the wake of Pearl Harbor and warns the American public to steel themselves for the difficulties that lie ahead.

General George S. Patton chose some of the best generals in the United States army to help carry out his missions. From Patton 360.

Meet Patton's chief rivals in World War II, including Rommel, Kesselrig, Von Runstedt, Manteuffel and Balck. From Patton 360.

Los Angeles Times war correspondent Tom Treanor recounts his firsthand experience landing on the beach at Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

During World War II, feeding thousands of troops in enemy territory wasn't easy. Discover how soldiers carried C and K rations into battle with them and how the U.S. worked to improve the quality of the food.

In December 1944, a major German offensive is launched against the Allies in the Ardennes Mountains region on the Western Front.

The new American Congress, chosen by the people during Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, gathered at the Capitol to hear his inspiring message of courage and hope.

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.

Find out why the legend of George S. Patton, Jr. endures, even 60 years after his death. From Patton 360.

In this video clip of History's Mail Call, host R. Lee Ermey, along with Andy Miller of the Military Radio Collectors Club, takes a look at what kind of radios they used in World War II including the handie-talkie, walkie-talkie and TBX8 radio set.

On June 6, 1944, Allied troops invade German-occupied France and face near certain death on the beaches of Normandy.

Adolf Hitler commissioned his engineers to build a domed structure to serve as the center of the new German Capital, Germania.

Find out about the life of George S. Patton, one of America's most famous generals and an enduring legend of World War II. From Patton 360.

Senator Daniel Inouye fought to prove his American patriotism.

The Allies use double agents, code breakers and spies to undermine the German military throughout WWII, but cracking the Enigma code proves to be their greatest breakthrough.

In this video clip of History's Mail Call, host R. Lee Ermey takes a look at what kind of personal items our World War II soldiers carried. Cameras and diaries were forbidden but compact shaving kits, letters from home, magazines, prophylactic kits and other small items were common.

Take a look at the equipment paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions used on D-Day.

D-Day raised-relief map of Utah Beach prepared U.S. troops for the 1944 invasion of Normandy.

In a costly battle, U.S. forces assault Peleliu in the Palau Islands to diminish its potential threat to their future invasions in the Pacific.

On February 1, 1950, the day after President Truman announced his support for the development of the hydrogen bomb--a weapon hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped during World War II--a broadcast conveys the perilous situation of the new atomic age.

How did the Jeep come to get its name? R. Lee Ermey answers this question and looks at one of the most well-known military vehicles.

The U.S. invades Kwajalein on January 31, 1944, breaking the outer ring of the Japanese Pacific territory.

On April 1, 1945, Allied forces invade the island of Okinawa and engage the Japanese in the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War.

Take a look at the events leading to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which prompted President Roosevelt to declare war on the Japanese and enter World War II.

On February 19, 1945, American soldiers make their first strike on the Japanese Home Islands at Iwo Jima.

WWII veteran Luther Smith flew with the all-black Tuskegee Airmen squadron.

The USS New York saw heavy action during World War II. Five decades later the battleship was rebuilt using metal from the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

A look back at the day the Imperial Japanese Navy conducted a surprise military strike against the United States naval base in Hawaii.

Originating from the United States, General George S. Patton's soldiers proudly fight from the deserts of North Africa to the hills of Sicily and the villages of France and Germany. From Patton 360.

Excerpts from an interview with Dick Winters of the 101st Airborne Division

The outspoken and opinionated general leads U.S. troops in both World War I and II.

His ivory-handled gun bearing the initials G.S.P. distinguished General Patton on the battlefield and made him one of the most recognized generals in World War II. From Patton 360.

On June 6, 1944, Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and turned the tides of World War II.

In August 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What happened to people on the fringes of the blasts?

Explore the top-secret American project to build the world's first atomic bomb.

Check out this hair-raising account of how Flying Tiger Tex Hill reacted to a Japanese KI-27 attacking his flight leader over Thailand.

The USS Laffey engages in a heated battle against 22 kamikazes off the coast of Okinawa in the most concentrated kamikaze attack of World War II.

How close was Hitler to launching a nuclear attack against the Allies in World War II? After developing a V2 ballistic missile capable of reaching as far a New York, Hitler made nuclear development his highest priority. On December 3, 1942, the first atomic pile went critical, and maintained a self-contained nuclear chain reaction. This was key in the development of an atomic bomb; however, the Manhattan Project was far from reaching its goals. The Germans had no long range bomber so they moved ahead in ballistic missile development. In May 1943, the A4 missile was successfully demonstrated, making Hitler's highest priority nuclear development. Because nerve agents like tabun and sarin were unreliable, nuclear weapons were the best alternative. Paul Harteck created a low energy nuclear reactor, a major step in Hitler's plans. When the warhead landed, a cloud of dust would arise, spreading death over the area for weeks. If plutonium was put into the warhead, the land would be contaminated for years. However, Hitler's plans failed with the invasion of Normandy, making this the least known close call in modern history.

After WWII, soldiers went about the difficult process of readjusting to civilian life.

Armored tanks provided extra firepower and mobility during World War II.

American soldiers used military-issue shovels for many tasks in World War II.