After more than four years of Nazi occupation, Paris was liberated
by the French 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 4th Infantry
Division. German resistance was light, and General Dietrich von
Choltitz, commander of the German garrison, defied an order by
Adolf Hitler to blow up Paris’ landmarks and burn the city to the
ground before its liberation. Choltitz signed a formal surrender
that afternoon, and on August 26, Free French General Charles
de Gaulle led a joyous liberation march down the Champs
d’Elysees.

Dietrich Hugo Hermann von Choltitz 
(9 November 1894 – 5 November 1966)

On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops entered Auschwitz, Poland,
freeing the survivors of the network of concentration camps—
and finally revealing to the world the depth of the horrors
perpetrated there.

Auschwitz was really a group of camps, designated I, II, and III.

There were also 40 smaller “satellite” camps. It was at Auschwitz
II, at Birkenau, established in October 1941, that the SS created a complex, monstrously orchestrated killing ground: 300 prison
barracks; four “bathhouses” in which prisoners were gassed;
corpse cellars; and cremating ovens. Thousands of prisoners
were also used for medical experiments overseen and performed
by the camp doctor, Josef Mengele (below) the “Angel of Death.”

Josef Rudolf Mengele
(16 March 1911 – 7 February 1979)

SANDY KOZEL

Hitler (seated second from left) poses with members of his
first cabinet in the chancellery.

On January 27, 1945, Soviet troops entered Auschwitz, Poland,
freeing the survivors of the network of concentration camps—
and finally revealing to the world the depth of the horrors
perpetrated there.

Auschwitz was really a group of camps, designated I, II, and III
along with 40 smaller “satellite” camps. It was at Auschwitz II,
at Birkenau, established in October 1941, that the SS created a
complex, monstrously orchestrated killing ground: 300 prison
barracks; four “bathhouses” in which prisoners were gassed;
corpse cellars; and cremating ovens.

Thousands of prisoners were also used for medical experiments overseen and performed by the camp doctor, Josef Mengele, the
“Angel of Death.”       
     
      
      
      
      
       
      
     

MIKE GRACIA

Apollo 1 capsule after the tragic fire which killed three astronauts.