Our Mission
The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world—why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today—so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn.
Event Recaps
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Beneath the Bayou: A Macro-Mystery
Join educators from the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation as they dip nets in the waters of New Orleans to discover little fish, tadpoles and other animals.
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Keeping the Country Going: A Conversation with Anne Keene about Baseball and World War II
Author Anne Keene joins Jason Dawsey, PhD, from the Museum's Institute for the Study of War and Democracy, for a discussion of her new book, The Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team That Helped Win World War II.
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From Recovery to Restoration: Bringing World War II's Lost Aircraft Back to Life
Join the RAF Museum's Ian Thirsk and Darren Priday as they discuss with the Museum's Seth Paridon and Ed Lengel, PhD, the challenges and excitement of recovering and preserving these historic war birds.
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"It's Your America:" The 1940 Census Today
The 1940 census forms a critical link to our shared past and provides a window into an American world only one year away from being engulfed by war.
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A Conversation with George Sarros, D-Day Veteran
Join Curator of Oral History Joey Balfour as he discusses the Normandy landings with George Sarros, a Navy veteran who served as a Motor Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class aboard USS LST-515.
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D-Day Live Lesson
Students and families—as we near the 76th anniversary of D-Day, join Michael Arvites and Laura Romero-Ballesteros, both Master Teachers and alumni of the Museum’s Summer Teacher Institute, for a live interactive webinar on Operation Overlord, in which you will analyze the strategic decisions of military planners and how the Allies pulled off the greatest amphibious invasion in history.
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"Time Will Not Dim the Glory of Their Deeds:" The Cemetery at Omaha Beach and the Commemoration of the D-Day War Dead
Ben Brands, a historian with the American Battle Monuments Commission, will discuss the initial establishment of the cemetery at Omaha Beach, which occurred in the days immediately following D-Day.
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WWI & WWII: 1918 Influenza Pandemic and Innovation
One of the deadliest moments in world history was the 1918-19 Influenza Pandemic, worsened by the global movements of World War I.
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Ask a Curator: POW Diaries from the European Theater
Join Assistant Director for Curatorial Services Kimberly Guise as she discusses diaries kept by POWs in Europe, especially the "Wartime Logs" provided by the YMCA and distributed by the Red Cross, right into German POW camps.
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The Battle of Attu
The Battle of Attu was the only land battle to be fought on North American soil during World War II.
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Making Memories: Storytelling and Scrapbooking
Stories come in many forms—from the ones we hear at bedtime to listening to our parents tell us about their lives or even through photographs from our past.
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Okinawa: The Battle and Bomb
Just over 75 years ago—on April 1, 1945—American troops invaded the 70-mile long island of Okinawa in the largest amphibious operation of the Pacific War.
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Deceptively Colorful: US Navy Camouflage during World War II
Viewed through the lens of the average camera or motion picture, World War II is often recorded and remembered as a black and white war.
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Get in the Scrap at Home Edition
The National WWII Museum challenges you to make a difference in your home and community!
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Get in the Scrap at Home Edition
The National WWII Museum challenges you to make a difference in your home and community!
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Ask a Curator: The German 88mm Gun
One of the most famous artillery pieces of the Second World War, the German 88mm gun had a well deserved reputation for deadly accuracy and destructive power.
Oral History Profiles
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Ben Skardon
After becoming a prisoner of war of the Japanese, Ben Skardon survived the Bataan Death March and the sinking of two hell ships during the crossing from the Philippines to China.
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Robert “Shorty” Rankin, 56th Fighter Group
Robert Rankin discusses the mission during which he became an ace in a day by downing five German aircraft, including one that was moving to attack his group commander, Colonel Hubert “Hub” Zemke.
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Ari Phoutrides, USS Laffey (DD-724)
Ari Phoutrides talks about experiencing a massive kamikaze attack one day while posted to Radar Picket Station #1 off the coast of Okinawa during which his ship was hit by four bombs and six kamikazes.
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Hans Courant, Los Alamos
Hans Courant talks about his time at Los Alamos, building components for the atomic bomb, and coming to the realization that the bomb would be used on human beings.
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Raymond Mason, 4th Armored Division
Raymond Mason describes the 4th Armored Division’s assault toward the town of Bastogne where they were heading to relieve the 101st Airborne Division during the Battle of the Bulge.
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Richard Greer, 1st Marine Division
Richard Greer recalls the defense of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, against the brutal Japanese banzai attack during the night of October 24-25, 1942.
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Charles Radford, 34th Infantry Division
Charles Radford describes defending against a German tank attack during combat operations in North Africa.
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Paul Dietzel, 6th Bombardment Group
From the The National WWII Museum's oral history collection, we hear Dietzel describe his experiences during the firebombing of Japan.
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Robert Liles, 51st Fighter Group
Robert Liles describes engaging Japanese aircraft in the skies over China.
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Marie Rankart, General Motors
Marie Rankart describes the change at General Motors following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, when the assembly lines switched from manufacturing civilian automobiles to military aircraft.
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Thomas Quigley, 2nd Infantry Division
Thomas Quigley describes fighting out of the hedgerows through the town of St. Lo to Brest where he was wounded during house to house fighting.
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Norman “Dusty” Kleiss, Scouting Squadron 6
Norman “Dusty” Kleiss describes his attack on the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga on 4 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway.
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George Kearney, Higgins Industries
George Kearney talks about working for Higgins Industries during the war.
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T. Moffatt Burriss, 82nd Airborne Division
T. Moffatt Burriss talks about the confused airborne drops into Sicily and ambushing a group of Italian soldiers.
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Edward Woods, US Merchant Marine
Edward Woods describes shipping out of New York Harbor aboard the oil Tanker SS Brandy Station.
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Don Hoff, Scouting Squadron 6, USS Enterprise (CV-6)
Hear about Don Hoff’s experiences in the Battle of Midway as a radioman and gunner flying in SBD Dauntless dive-bombers.
"To The Best of My Ability"
Episode 4 – Charter into Deeds
Before fighting came to an end in World War II, the Allied powers began to envision the peace that would follow. These early debates included discussions about the creation of a new, cooperative international organization for the purpose of maintaining global peace. Supported, and named, by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the new United Nations would replace the League of Nations, which failed to maintain the world order and prevent future conflicts following the end of World War I.
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