The Fat Man bomb detonated over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, almost directly above the Mitsubishi factories. Everything within a mile of ground zero was annihilated. This photo from the Museum's Digital Collections shows the devastation of Nagasaki's Industrial Factory District.

The Olympic Games were impacted by World War II, just like everything else. The 1940 and 1944 games were canceled, causing a 12-year hiatus as the world turned to fighting. Hear from WWII Military Historian Bradley Hart as he explains the story behind the wartime Olympics.

In August 1944, Allied troops stormed ashore in southern France against light and disorganized German resistance. Read more about Operation Dragoon, which fulfilled an American desire for a lodgment in southern France that shifted forces here: nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/o…

During World War II the US military developed a specific policy to recruit and train American Indian speakers to become code talkers to send secret messages in battle. Learn more about code talkers and their contribution to the war effort here: nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/a…

On August 14, 1945, the Japanese government accepted Allied surrender terms, finally recognizing that victory for them was impossible. In this photo from the Museum's Digital Collections, US Marines raise their beers in victory; a sign reads "V-J Day / Free Beer to All Hands."

The August 1942 landing by US forces on Guadalcanal was improvised to take advantage of a recent dramatic turn in the Pacific war. Visit our website to read more about the Guadalcanal landing which the Marines would come to call, "Operation Shoestring." nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/w…

At our last Dinner with a Curator, Associate Curator Chase Tomlin discussed the exclusive yet unofficial clubs born out of a need for community. If you missed this event, check out this article about one of these groups: the Short Snorters. nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/s…

Originally developed to support hurricane rescue efforts, the amphibious Landing Vehicle Tracked was used to transport cargo and troops. Read about the history of the LTV, including the LTV-4 on display in the John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion, here: nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/l…

Following the D-Day invasion in Normandy, Higgins Industries staged a reenactment of the landings in New Orleans on Lake Pontchartrain as part of a celebration for finishing its 10,000th boat for the US Navy. Read more about this milestone here: nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/w…

In August 1944, Paris was liberated after four years of Nazi occupation. After German troops were ordered to destroy the city, the US 4th Infantry Division and French 2nd Armored Division arrived in Paris to join those who rose in rebellion to take back their city.

Beyond the commentary on the burgeoning Cold War, many of Eiji Tsuburaya’s and Ishiro Honda’s production decisions for the 1954 film "Godzilla" were meant to reflect the Japanese experience of World War II. Read more here: nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/g…

One of the most dramatic races in Olympic history happened during the 1936 games in Berlin, when John Woodruff clinched the gold during the 800 meter event.

Four years before the start of World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill that severely restricted the executive's foreign policy authority. Read more about the Neutrality Acts of the 1930s here: nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/n…

In the months after D-Day, a group of African American servicemembers came together to help the Allies expand the breakout from their newly acquired beachhead in Normandy. Hear from Museum Curator and Restoration Manager Cory Graff as he tells us about the Red Ball Express.

World War II was a global conflict involving nearly every country in the world. But who was on each side—and why? Answering this is complicated as alliances and ideologies shifted, countries were liberated, and dictators were defeated. Read more here: nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/a…

On September 2, 1945, Japan officially surrendered to the Allied powers on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. In this image from the Museum’s Digital Collections, servicemembers drive in a V-J Day Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii.

We just had the perfect staycation at the elegant Higgins Hotel NOLA in ArtsDistrictNOLA! With the National National WWII Museum across the street, plus amazing dining and a rooftop bar, it's a top pick for your next NOLA trip. Book now and explore their packages: bit.ly/3jiiBUT

In her September 2, 1939, "My Day" column, Eleanor Roosevelt reacts to the news of Germany's invasion of Poland, sharing her dismay at Adolf Hitler's actions and expressing sorrow for the people of Europe facing the crisis of war. Read her thoughts here: bit.ly/3z4qF9s

In early September 1939, Adolf Hitler launched an attack against a small Polish military transit depot at Westerplatte in the Free City of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland), marking the beginning of World War II in Europe 85 years ago. Learn more here: bit.ly/470UwLm

The Paralympic Games began after World War II as an event for veterans with disabilities, many of whom had returned home after suffering traumatic injuries to face social stigmas and a lack of resources.