Daily Facts about World War II

1945

The Nuremberg Trials commence, prosecuting prominent Nazi war criminals for their roles in World War II.

1945

American forces free the inmates of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz in Poland, revealing the extent of the Holocaust's atrocities.

1944

U.S. Army General Dwight D. Eisenhower establishes his headquarters in Versailles, France, during World War II.

1944

Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe famously responds to a German surrender ultimatum during the Battle of the Bulge with the single word, "Nuts!"

1944

The Battle of the Bulge commences as German forces launch a major surprise offensive in Belgium during World War II.

1944

Franklin D. Roosevelt is re-elected as President of the United States for an unprecedented fourth term, making him the only president to serve more than two terms.

1944

The German forces launch a counteroffensive known as the Battle of Central Tunisia during World War II.

1943

During World War II, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin hold a historic meeting in Tehran to discuss wartime strategy.

1943

The Battle of Tarawa, a pivotal World War II battle in the Pacific, concludes with a U.S. Marine Corps victory over Japanese forces.

1942

The Battle of Guadalcanal, a significant naval battle during World War II, involves intense combat between American and Japanese forces in the Pacific.