WWII Pictures

This day in 1944, Some 80 Luftwaffe bombers attacked the Soviet-American Poltava Air Base in Ukraine. The bombs ignited 450,000 gallons of fuel and destroyed or damaged dozens of aircraft.

The disaster infuriated many Americans because Soviet air defenses were completely ineffective. #WW2

This day in 1944, British troops of the 22nd Armoured Brigade were ambushed near Villers-Bocage by German Tiger tanks. In a devastating attack lasting only minutes, numerous British tanks, vehicles and anti-tank guns were destroyed, many by Michael Wittmann. German forces later attempted to seize the town itself but were ultimately repulsed. #WW2 #DDay

This day in 1944, US forces captured Rome, Italy. Rome had been declared an open city by the German Army so no resistance was encountered. However, US General Mark Clark ignored the opportunity to cut off and destroy a large part of the German 10th Army. #WW2

This day in 1942, the Battle of Midway began, fought almost entirely with aircraft, in which the US destroyed Japan's first-line carrier strength and most of its best trained naval pilots. The Battle of Midway is widely considered a turning point in the Pacific War. #WW2

This day in 1941, the Massacre of Kondomari.

Fallschirmjäger of Luftlande-Sturm-Regiment 1 executed male civilians from the village of Kondomari as a reprisal following the Battle of Crete. The massacre was ordered after Cretan civilians had participated in the fighting and, in some cases, killed German paratroopers using knives, axes, scythes, and other improvised weapons. #WW2