1945: World War II: The Wilhelm Gustloff, overfilled with German refugees, sinks in the Baltic Sea after being torpedoed by a Soviet submarine, killing approximately 9,500 people.
1945: World War II: Raid at Cabanatuan: One hundred and twenty-six American Rangers and Filipino resistance fighters liberate over 500 Allied prisoners from the Japanese-controlled Cabanatuan POW camp.
1944: World War II: The Battle of Cisterna, part of Operation Shingle, begins in central Italy.
1942: World War II: Japanese forces invade the island of Ambon in the Dutch East Indies. Some 300 captured Allied troops are killed after the surrender. One-quarter of the remaining POWs remain alive at the end of the war.
1939: During a speech in the Reichstag, Adolf Hitler makes a prediction about the end of the Jewish race in Europe if another world war were to occur.
1933: Adolf Hitler's rise to power: Hitler takes office as the Chancellor of Germany.
Quote of the Day
Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.
— Chester W. Nimitz
Invasion of Poland
Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of WWII.
