FDR-SOTUA450106-BattleOfTheBulge.mp3
(Archived 5/3/01)

Sounding extremely haggard and tired due to illness, President Roosevelt addresses the turnaround of events in the Battle of the Bulge and expresses his "complete confidence" in General Eisenhower in this "Fireside Chat", which took the place of a broadcast State of the Union Address, which FDR, unusually, had sent to the Congress by way of delivered text earlier that day.

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BBC_-_Americans_cross_the_Rhine.wav

The BBC announces the American 1st Army has crossed the Rhine, 3/8/45.

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BBC_announces_fall_of_Berlin_5.2.45.wav

The BBC's Stuart Hibberd announces the fall of Berlin based on reports from Moscow, 5/2/45.

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BBC_D-Day_announcement.wav

The BBC first announces the D-Day landings in Normandy, 6/6/44.

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RealAudio 5.0 Version.

BBC_VE_Day_announcement.wav

The BBC announces on 5/7/45 the declaration of May 8th as "Victory in Europe Day" by the Allies.

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BritishCrossTheRhine450325.mp3
(Archived 10/25/00)

The BBC's Wynford Vaughan-Thomas accompanies British Troops in Buffalo amphibious vehicles across the Rhine.

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Bucholz_Hall_of_Honor042445.wav

Wynford Vaughan-Thomas reports on a captured Nazi Party Temple, the "Hall of Honor", in Bucholz, Germany. Just after the broadcast, the Hall was blown up.

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RealAudio 5.0 Version.

D-DayBulletinOnLandingSuccess.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

An American news bulletin from London announcing the success of Allied landings in Normandy.

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Dit-dit-dit-dah.wav

The Opening Theme of Allied broadcasts to Western Europe. Its "dit-dit-dit-dah" morse code melody, played on a tympani drum to the tune of the opening bar of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, was used by the Allies to signify "Victory in Europe".

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GlidersCrossRhine450324.mp3
(Archived 10/25/00)

The BBC's Richard Dimbleby records live coverage from a British Halifax on the launch of British Hamilcar gliders carrying troops about to participate in the crossing of the Rhine.

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GlidersCrossRhineAftermath450325.mp3
(Archived 10/25/00)

Canadian Reporter Stanley Maxted reports on the grizzly aftermath of the glider launch described above.

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MonteCassinoAftermath440517.mp3
(Archived 10/25/00)

The BBC's Godfrey Talbot reports on the final victory of the Allies, delivered by Free Polish troops, in the epic battle for Monte Cassino.

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NightRaidOnAnzio440126.mp3
(Archived 10/25/00)

Wyford Vaughn-Thomas records his live report during the bombing of British positions in Anzio by German bombers.

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NotreDameRingsFreedomBroadcast440825.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

The first Americans in liberated Paris recorded this as their jeep pulled into the square in front of Notre Dame Cathedral.

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NotreDameRingsFreedom440825.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

From the above, the bells of Notre Dame and other Parisian churches in the area are heard to ring out freedom to the citizenry in celebration of liberation.

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FrenchmenGreet1stAmericansInLiberatedParis.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

From the same as the above, ecstatic Parisians lavish their thanks onto the first Americans to arrive in liberated Paris.

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PiazzaVeneziaTakenByAllies440605.mp3
(Archived 10/25/00)

Godrey Talbot records his live report from Rome on the Piazza Venezia, directly in front of the balcony used by Mussolini to deliver his orations, on the day Rome was liberated.

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ReleaseFromOflag12B450331.mp3
(Archived 10/25/00)

British Soldier Edward Ward describes his release from a German prison camp by arriving American tanks.

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Russians&AmericansMeet450425.mp3
(Archived 10/25/00)

A BBC radio news flash reporting the American and Russian armies have met on the Elbe River with the words "East and West have met.".

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US3rdArmyInSightOfGermany.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

American forces in France are reported as being within sight of Germany from land for the first time during the war.

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Link-up_lunch_Elbe_River.wav

A slightly tipsy Edward Ward of the BBC at lunch held when the 1st US Army & 5th Ukranian Army linked up at the east side of the Elbe River, 4/23/45.

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RealAudio 5.0 Version.

The_British_cross_the_Rhine_032445.wav

The BBC's Wynford Vaughan-Thomas covers the British crossing of the Rhine 3/24/45.

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RealAudio 5.0 Version.

NBCReportsGermanySurrenders450507.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

An NBC News bulletin announcing unconditional surrender terms have been completely accepted by Germany.

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UKRoyalFamilyGreetsCrowdVEDay.wav
(Archived 1/18/00)

The British people pour out their thanks and emotions to the British Royal Family as they assemble around Buckingham Palace to see the Family arrive at the front balcony.

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The_devastation_of_Berlin_5.9.45.wav

Thomas Cadett reports for the BBC on the terrible devastation of Berlin, 5/9/45.

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RealAudio 5.0 Version.

WehrmachtSurrendersLauenberg450503.mp3
(Archived 10/25/00)

Wynford Vaughn-Thomas records live his report on the surrender of Wehrmacht troops to British forces.

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For more Liberation of Europe media, return to The WWII Sounds & Pictures Page.