A famous marriage, a deadly disaster, and the birth of a music sensation.
Tag: world war ii
The German elections showed rising support for the far-right AfD, and increased dissatisfaction running rampant in German society, Polish columnist Bartosz T. Wielinski asks whether this runs the risk of history of the early 20th century repeating.
A pivotal world conference, the election of a founding father and the birth of a social media giant.
The rise to power of a dictator, the assassination of one of India’s most influential figures and the final performance of an iconic British band.
Kursk is becoming synonymous with a nightmare for Vladimir Putin, a dynamic that the Kremlin prefers not to talk about, a flaw in the apparently invulnerable Russian shield.
A bold policy shift, a destructive winter storm, and the birth of a Pakistani athlete who would make Olympic history.
The birth of a famous Irish singer, the U.S. entering a global war, and the tragic loss of a legendary musician in New York City.
The turning point of the Second World War, the assassination of a Roman philosopher, and a catastrophic earthquake.
Multilateral diplomacy may seem to be exhausted today as wars and violence proliferate unchecked, but nobody should think its time is past and expect to see peace in the world.
Updated September 30, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. On this day in 1938, the Munich Agreement, (also known as the Treaty of Munich) was signed by Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Édouard Daladier and Neville Chamberlain. What was the Treaty of Munich? The Treaty of Munich, also known as the Munich Agreement, was an agreement signed on […]
The arrest in Paris of Telegram founder Pavel Durov raises a lingering question about who actually controls the Russian messaging and social platform. Some say it’s Vladimir Putin’s most powerful (not-so) secret weapon in the global hybrid war aimed at spreading backward ideology and destabilizing the world.
Updated Aug. 19, 2024 at 11:20 a.m. Paris was liberated from Nazi Germany occupation on this day in 1944. How did the liberation of France unfold? The liberation of France involved a series of military campaigns and battles. It began with the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, when Allied forces landed on the beaches […]
Updated August 9, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Nagasaki was bombed on this day in 1945, towards the end of World War II. Was Nagasaki the first choice for the bombing? The primary target for the second atomic bomb was the city of Kokura. However, due to poor visibility caused by clouds and smoke from a […]
Updated August 6, 2024 at 11:45 a.m. The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by the United States on this day in 1945, during World War II. Why was Hiroshima a target for the atomic bomb? Hiroshima was chosen as a target for the atomic bomb due to its military significance and its dense population. […]
Updated July 16, 2024 at 11:15 a.m. The first atomic bomb explosion, code-named “Trinity,” occurred on this day in 1945, near Alamogordo, New Mexico, in the United States. What was the purpose of the Trinity test? The Trinity test was conducted as part of the Manhattan Project, a research and development program during World War […]
Updated June 25, 2024 at 1:10 pm Anne Frank’s diary, titled “The Diary of a Young Girl” was first published on this day in 1947. Who published Anne Frank’s diary? Anne Frank’s father, Otto Frank, published her diary. He survived the Holocaust and was given Anne’s diary after the war. Recognizing the importance of her […]
Updated June 22, 2024 at 10:20 a.m. Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Nazi Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. It was launched on this day in 1941, and aimed to conquer Soviet territory, defeat the Soviet military, and ultimately establish German dominance in Eastern Europe. Why did Germany launch […]
Updated June 19, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. On this day in 1953, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed for espionage, accused of providing classified information about atomic bomb technology to the Soviet Union. What was the charge against Julius and Ethel Rosenberg? Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, a New York couple, were charged with conspiracy to […]
Participants in the D-Day commemorations will issue a new transatlantic declaration reaffirming common values. The risk is that they will try to save the West — rather than try to reinvent a world with greater fairness and economic equity.
Updated June 6, 2024 at 12:20 p.m. The major military operation during World War II, also known as “D-Day”, occurred 80 years ago on this day in 1944, marking the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany’s control over Western Europe. Why was D-Day significant? D-Day was a significant turning point in World War II. […]
The image, taken by Robert F. Sargent on June 6, 1944, captures the courage and the frenzy of that historic moment.
From Ukraine to the South China Sea, images of war are highly reminiscent of the horrors of the past. As the world marks 80 years since the Normandy landings of World War II, geopolitical analyst Dominique Moïsi wonders if history is bound to repeat itself.
Just north of Berlin, a luxurious villa that used to belong to top Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels has become a real estate headache. What should become of it?
Updated May 27, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. The invasion of Dunkirk started on this day in 1940, during the early stages of World War II. Approximately 338,000 Allied troops were evacuated from Dunkirk, including more than 200,000 British soldiers, during the evacuation codenamed Operation Dynamo. What was the invasion of Dunkirk? The invasion of Dunkirk […]
The competing May 8 and May 9 World War II victory celebrations, and an upcoming D-Day snub to Vladimir Putin, show how uncertain the future appears right now. Perhaps even more uncertain than the Cold War.
Updated May 2, 2024 at 1:15 p.m. The iconic war photograph of the raising of the flag over the Reichstag was taken on this day in 1945. Why was the raising of the flag over the Reichstag significant? The image showing a Soviet soldier raising the Soviet flag on the roof of the Reichstag building […]
Updated April 25, 2024 at 11:450 p.m. On this day in 1945, Allied troops entered Milan and other major Italian cities, signaling the end of fascist rule and the Nazi occupation. The Italian resistance movement played a significant role in the liberation of the country. What was the fascist regime in Italy? The fascist regime […]
While Vladimir Putin wages his holy war against the West, Russian officials and their families are often seeking better lives there. Will these double lives be the downfall of the aging dictator’s fixation?
Updated March 19, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. The meeting between West Germany’s Willy Brandt and East Germany’s Willi Stoph on this day in 1970, was part of Brandt’s “Ostpolitik” (Eastern policy), which aimed to improve relations between West Germany and East Germany. Who were the leaders of East and West Germany in the famous 1970 […]
Updated Feb. 23, 2024 at 12:15 p.m. On this day in 1945, the American flag was raised at Iwo Jima to signal the capture of Mount Suribachi, the highest point on the island, by U.S. Marines during the Battle of Iwo Jima. The moment was captured in what is one of the most iconic war […]
Updated Feb. 19, 2024 at 12:40 p.m. Executive Order 9066 was an order issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, during World War II. The order authorized the Secretary of War to prescribe certain areas as military zones, and to exclude any or all persons from those areas. Why was Executive Order […]
Updated Feb. 13, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. The bombing of Dresden began on this day in 1945 during World War II, where an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 people were killed over a three-day period. What was the purpose of the bombing of Dresden? The bombing was part of a larger effort to destroy German infrastructure […]
The targeting of oil industry sites in occupied or border regions has now been replaced by a series of drone strikes of energy-producing structures deep inside Russian territory. These attacks aim to cripple Russia’s economy, which could turn the tide on the war.
Updated Feb. 4, 2024 at 10:20 a.m. On this day between in 1945, following the events of World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom, and Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union met to discuss the postwar reorganization of a war-torn Europe. What was the main purpose […]
Updated Jan 27, 2024 at 2:45 pm On this day in 1945, prisoners of Poland’s concentration camp, Auschwitz, where Nazis had exterminated more than one million people were finally free. How was Auschwitz liberated? Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Red Army during the Vistula–Oder Offensive of World War II. Although most of the prisoners […]
Updated Jan. 24, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. After U.S. forces captured the island of Guam during World War II, Japanese Sergeant Shoic Yokoi went missing in the jungle. When he was found 28 years later he was welcomed back to Japan as a hero. Why did Shoic Yokoi go missing? When American forces captured Guam […]
Beginning with Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Moscow’s actions against its supposed “brotherly” neighbors have yielded decidedly mixed results. Yet there are certain outcomes of Russian aggression against Ukraine that have weakened the West and the post-Cold War global order.
Vladimir Putin has tried to tie Russia’s cultural achievements to the nation’s past empire and his modern imperial ambitions — still, it’s a mistake to try to bury the nation’s great art, music and literature, argues Ukrainian publication Ukrainska Pravda.
Updated Dec. 30 2023 at 12:00 p.m. The portrait of Winston Churchill was taken in 1941 by Armenian-Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, as he was set to address the Canadian members of Parliament following action taken in World War II. Why is the Roaring Lion such an iconic photograph? The portrait shows […]
Now 96, Wanda Traczyk-Stawska survived the Warsaw Uprising 79 years ago and has continued to fight for Poland. This time, however, her battles are for her fellow women.