December 11, 1941: Germany and Italy Declare War on the United States On this day in 1941, Nazi Germany’s Adolf Hitler and Fascist Italy’s Benito Mussolini declared war on the United States in support of their ally, the Empire of Japan. The U.S. government responded by quickly passing resolutions of war against the two Axis powers.  Although the United States had previously claimed neutrality in Europe, these declarations led America into the European conflict of World War II. Three days prior, President Franklin Roosevelt had declared war against the Empire of Japan, the third Axis power, following the attack at Pearl Harbor.  Explore Ken Burns’s timeline of World War II to discover the most important and consequential events of this global conflict. Photo: President Roosevelt signing the declaration of war against Germany, Dec. 11, 1941 (Library of Congress).
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December 11, 1941: Germany and Italy Declare War on the United States

On this day in 1941, Nazi Germany’s Adolf Hitler and Fascist Italy’s Benito Mussolini declared war on the United States in support of their ally, the Empire of Japan. The U.S. government responded by quickly passing resolutions of war against the two Axis powers. 

Although the United States had previously claimed neutrality in Europe, these declarations led America into the European conflict of World War II. Three days prior, President Franklin Roosevelt had declared war against the Empire of Japan, the third Axis power, following the attack at Pearl Harbor. 

Explore Ken Burns’s timeline of World War II to discover the most important and consequential events of this global conflict.

Photo: President Roosevelt signing the declaration of war against Germany, Dec. 11, 1941 (Library of Congress).

Source: to.pbs.org

December 8, 1941: United States Enters World War II In 1941, amidst a segregated military, the first African-American fighter pilots were commissioned to aid the defense of bombers in WWII. Revisit the stories of heroes who changed history through first hand accounts and testimonies from Tuskegee Airmen.
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December 8, 1941: United States Enters World War II

In 1941, amidst a segregated military, the first African-American fighter pilots were commissioned to aid the defense of bombers in WWII.

Revisit the stories of heroes who changed history through first hand accounts and testimonies from Tuskegee Airmen.

Source: to.pbs.org

December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor Attacked On this day in 1941, a surprise aerial strike was conducted by the Imperial Japanese navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japan’s goal for the attack was to use it as a preventive measure to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with its planned military actions across the world. The surprise attack not only struck a serious blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet, but also served as the critical factor for the United States joining World War II. George Macartney Hunter was a naval officer assigned to the USS West Virginia stationed at Pearl Harbor. Read his journal notes from that day. Photo: A small boat rescues a seaman from the 31,800 ton USS West Virginia burning in the foreground (Library of Congress).
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December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor Attacked

On this day in 1941, a surprise aerial strike was conducted by the Imperial Japanese navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japan’s goal for the attack was to use it as a preventive measure to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with its planned military actions across the world.

The surprise attack not only struck a serious blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet, but also served as the critical factor for the United States joining World War II.

George Macartney Hunter was a naval officer assigned to the USS West Virginia stationed at Pearl Harbor. Read his journal notes from that day.

Photo: A small boat rescues a seaman from the 31,800 ton USS West Virginia burning in the foreground (Library of Congress).

Source: to.pbs.org

November 20, 1945: Nuremberg Trials Begin On this day in 1945, twenty-four high-ranking Nazis went on trial in Nuremberg, Germany, for the horrific crimes committed during World War II. The Nuremberg Trials were conducted by an international tribune made up of representatives from the United States, the Soviet Union, France and Great Britain. The proceedings lasted ten months and consisted of 216 court sessions. All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.  On October 1, 1946, twelve Nazi war criminals were sentenced to death, seven were sentenced to prison terms ranging from ten years to life, and three were acquitted. Explore American Experience’s “Nazis on Trial in Nuremberg,” which features the trial of the most important defendant, Hitler’s acknowledged successor, Hermann Göring. Photo: National Archives
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November 20, 1945: Nuremberg Trials Begin

On this day in 1945, twenty-four high-ranking Nazis went on trial in Nuremberg, Germany, for the horrific crimes committed during World War II. The Nuremberg Trials were conducted by an international tribune made up of representatives from the United States, the Soviet Union, France and Great Britain. The proceedings lasted ten months and consisted of 216 court sessions. All defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

On October 1, 1946, twelve Nazi war criminals were sentenced to death, seven were sentenced to prison terms ranging from ten years to life, and three were acquitted.

Explore American Experience’s “Nazis on Trial in Nuremberg,” which features the trial of the most important defendant, Hitler’s acknowledged successor, Hermann Göring.

Photo: National Archives

Source: to.pbs.org

Sept. 1, 1939: Germany Invades Poland; World War II BeginsOn this day in 1939, without declaring war, Germany invaded Poland, setting off World War II. The coordinated air-and-land attack was conducted with such brutal efficiency that “blitzkrieg” became a feared offensive tactic. Two days later, Great Britain and France declared Germany. Explore Ken Burns’s timeline for an extensive study of the events of World War II. Photo: German troops parade through Warsaw, Poland, September 1939. (National Archives)
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Sept. 1, 1939: Germany Invades Poland; World War II Begins

On this day in 1939, without declaring war, Germany invaded Poland, setting off World War II. The coordinated air-and-land attack was conducted with such brutal efficiency that “blitzkrieg” became a feared offensive tactic. Two days later, Great Britain and France declared Germany.
 
Explore Ken Burns’s timeline for an extensive study of the events of World War II.

Photo: German troops parade through Warsaw, Poland, September 1939. (National Archives)

Source: to.pbs.org

August 25, 1944:  Paris Liberated from Nazi Occupation On this day in 1944, after four years of Nazi occupation, the city of Paris was liberated by Allied forces.  During the occupation, France experienced complications related to having to house the 300,000 members of the occupying German army.  Food and resources were sparse and citizens were forced to work against their will for the German war effort. Check out this Ken Burns timeline, which outlines major events and photographs in World War II from 1939 to 1945. Photo: Library of Congress
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August 25, 1944:  Paris Liberated from Nazi Occupation

On this day in 1944, after four years of Nazi occupation, the city of Paris was liberated by Allied forces.  During the occupation, France experienced complications related to having to house the 300,000 members of the occupying German army.  Food and resources were sparse and citizens were forced to work against their will for the German war effort.

Check out this Ken Burns timeline, which outlines major events and photographs in World War II from 1939 to 1945.


Photo: Library of Congress

Source: to.pbs.org

July 29, 1953:  Happy Birthday Ken Burns PBS documentary film director and producer Ken Burns turns 59 today!  His acclaimed documentaries showcase archival footage and photographs, and offer an unflinching perspective on the most important moments in American history. Burns’s much awaited film, The Dust Bowl, premieres on November 18 and 19 on PBS.  Create personalized Dust Bowl email postcards (with audio!) to remind your friends and family! Also, catch the re-airing of the The War, Ken Burns’s seven-part documentary on World War II, on your local PBS station in the coming weeks (July 31-August 2, August 5-8).  Check your local listings here.
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July 29, 1953:  Happy Birthday Ken Burns

PBS documentary film director and producer Ken Burns turns 59 today!  His acclaimed documentaries showcase archival footage and photographs, and offer an unflinching perspective on the most important moments in American history.

Burns’s much awaited film, The Dust Bowl, premieres on November 18 and 19 on PBS.  Create personalized Dust Bowl email postcards (with audio!) to remind your friends and family!

Also, catch the re-airing of the The War, Ken Burns’s seven-part documentary on World War II, on your local PBS station in the coming weeks (July 31-August 2, August 5-8).  Check your local listings here.

Source: to.pbs.org

June 6, 1944: D-Day 68 years ago today, Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. Over 160,000 Allied troops and 30,000 vehicles landed along a 50-mile stretch of fortified French coastline and begin fighting on the beaches of Normandy. Read a few letters written by American soldiers in Europe after D-Day. Photo: National ArchivesGeneral Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the order of the day: “full victory - nothing else” to paratroopers in England, just before they board their airplanes to participate in the first assault in the invasion of the continent of Europe.
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June 6, 1944: D-Day

68 years ago today, Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France. Over 160,000 Allied troops and 30,000 vehicles landed along a 50-mile stretch of fortified French coastline and begin fighting on the beaches of Normandy.

Read a few letters written by American soldiers in Europe after D-Day.

Photo: National Archives
General Dwight D. Eisenhower gives the order of the day: “full victory - nothing else” to paratroopers in England, just before they board their airplanes to participate in the first assault in the invasion of the continent of Europe.

Source: to.pbs.org

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