World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The war involved the many of the world's countries. Two opposing military alliances were formed: the Allies and the Axis.
While Japan was already at war with China in 1937, the Second World War began on September 1, 1939 when Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Germany conquered much of Europe, eventually forming the Axis alliance with Italy and Japan. Approximately six million European Jews were killed by Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany and this event would become known as the Holocaust.
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German soldiers were surrendering so fast, they just would surrender a whole unit and we couldn't handle them all. The British Broadcasting Company (BBC) was announcing "Today in Europe, the war is...
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Veterans reflect on being captured and taken prisoner or killed by the Germans. It was bitter cold, but the Americans knew better than to complain. There was never any food and there was nothing to...
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Veterans who arrived to rescue people in the camps describe what they saw; human skeletons barely alive, and some not able to walk. Some were fed too much, too soon, and died from overeating. Bodies...
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The Siegfried Line ran along the entire border of Germany from north to south. There was barbed wire, and there were land mines, and Dragon's Teeth, which were concrete blocks, that no tank could pass...
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Diny Adkins recalls being taken in by an elderly couple who later couldn't take care of her, so they took her to a nun. The nun kept her hidden in a closet and was very cold and mean to her. The nun...
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Veterans share their recollections of the Battle of the Bulge and the siege of Bastogne. It was the cold winter in 50 years, and they were not dressed for the cold. The sky was blackened with shells...
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Headed into in area in northern France, in which they thought they could rest, the 106th infantry division, 424th infantry, expected to have time to clean their weapons, take showers and have some...
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Veterans discuss how they spent their time off while serving during World War II. *** Teachers, this video contains references to behavior that may not be suitable for students. Please view before...
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The Allies were finishing up the liberation of France and they were hoping the war would be over by the end of the year. Montgomery was the Allied commander of that section and he was looking for a...
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This segment features remembrances of prison camps and describes Hitler's "Mein Kampf," and the plan to annihilate the Jewish people. Those interviewed provide their remembrances of what occurred. The...
