In 1945, one of history’s most notorious figures committed suicide by ingesting cyanide. Heinrich Himmler, known for his role in the implementation of the “Final Solution,” is remembered today for his heinous acts across Europe during World War II.

William Holloman, III, discusses fighting for a country that viewed him as a second class citizen.

Before John Coltrane became recognized as an influential jazz musician, he served with the US Navy band the Melody Masters. 

The Greek Civil War erupted in December 1944, pulling British forces into combat in Athens. Over the next five years this devastating conflict would shatter Greece and transform Europe.

In this clip, Richard Candelaria discusses how he and the other P-51 Mustang pilots in his group favored bomber escort missions as they knew they would likely get a chance to engage any German fighters that arrived to attack the bomber formations.

Before he became famous as the creator of James Bond in the 1950s, Ian Fleming (1908-1964) was an officer in the Royal Navy’s Naval Intelligence Department. He devised a number of wartime schemes worthy of a Bond novel. Some were successful and some were too wild to carry out.
 

Eighty years ago, the census of 1940—16th in the nation’s history—was carried out beginning in April. It would hold both immediate and long-lasting ramifications for the country and its citizens, some of which have only recently begun to come to light.

Merchant Marine, Louis Taix of New Orleans, Louisiana, was lost at sea when the SS Nicarao was sunk by a German submarine U-751 on the night of May 15, 1942, in the Bahama Islands.

Private Snafu, a Warner Bros. Studios cartoon produced for the war effort, educated and entertained GIs.

Films presented in the Reel History Film series illustrates the power of community and American heroes on the frontlines.

In this clip, Roland Chaisson talks about his experiences during the Sicilian Campaign and encounters he had with local civilians and their German occupiers.

As American ground forces fought for control of Okinawa in the spring of 1945, Japanese Kamikaze pilots wreaked a grim toll on American naval forces.