Dachau concentration camp is liberated by United States troops.

The Dachau Concentration Camp, established in March 1933, was the first regular concentration camp set up by the Nazi regime in Germany. Located near the town of Dachau, about 10 miles northwest of Munich, it initially served as a detention center for political opponents like Communists, Social Democrats, and trade unionists. However, as Nazi policies radicalized, Dachau evolved into a prototype and training center for the broader camp system across Europe, eventually imprisoning Jews, Roma (Gypsies), homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other groups deemed “undesirable.” Conditions in the camp were brutal—prisoners endured forced labor, inhumane medical experiments, malnutrition, psychological torture, and systematic violence. By the time Dachau was liberated by American forces on April 29, 1945, it had become a symbol of Nazi cruelty, with an estimated 41,500 deaths recorded among the tens of thousands who passed through its gates. Today, Dachau remains a memorial site, serving as a solemn reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust and the consequences of unchecked hatred and authoritarianism.

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies in office; Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes President upon Roosevelt’s death.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, died in office on April 12, 1945, during his unprecedented fourth term. His death marked the end of a monumental era in American politics, as he had led the country through both the Great Depression and the vast majority of World War II. FDR passed away at his retreat in Warm Springs, Georgia, after suffering a massive cerebral hemorrhage. At the time, he was meeting with an artist for a portrait when he suddenly complained of a severe headache and collapsed shortly thereafter. His passing came as a shock to the nation, even though his health had visibly declined in the months prior. Vice President Harry S. Truman was quickly sworn in as president and inherited the final and most critical phase of World War II, including the decisions that would eventually lead to the war’s conclusion later that year.

Bergen-Belsen concentration camp is liberated.

Bergen-Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp located in Lower Saxony, Germany, near the town of Bergen near Celle. Originally established as a prisoner of war camp in 1940, it was expanded to include a concentration camp in 1943. Bergen-Belsen became notorious for the horrendous conditions within the camp and the high mortality rate among its prisoners.

Unlike many other concentration camps, Bergen-Belsen was not a death camp equipped with gas chambers, but the death toll was exceedingly high due to starvation, lack of medical care, and the spread of infectious diseases such as typhus. The camp became increasingly overcrowded as prisoners were evacuated from camps closer to the front lines as Allied forces advanced into Germany.

Anne Frank, famous for her diary documenting her life in hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands, died in Bergen-Belsen in March 1945, just a few weeks before the camp was liberated. Her exact date of death and the cause remain unknown, though it is presumed she died of typhus that ravaged the camp’s population.

Bergen-Belsen was liberated on April 15, 1945, by British forces. The soldiers found approximately 60,000 prisoners in the camp, many of whom were severely ill and starving. The conditions were so dire that more than 10,000 bodies lay unburied. The liberators were forced to take drastic measures, including burning the camp’s barracks to prevent the further spread of disease.

The liberation of Bergen-Belsen revealed the extent of the horrors of the Holocaust to the wider world, with images of the emaciated survivors and piles of deceased victims shocking the international community. Following the war, the camp served as a displaced persons camp, helping to resettle survivors. Today, Bergen-Belsen is a memorial site dedicated to remembering the victims and educating future generations about the atrocities committed during the Holocaust.

Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci are shot dead by Walter Audisio, a member of the Italian resistance movement.

Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) was an Italian political leader who founded the fascist political movement in Italy and served as the Prime Minister of Italy from 1922 to 1943. Mussolini rose to power through his aggressive rhetoric and fascist ideology, which called for a strong, authoritarian government and the suppression of political opposition.

Mussolini’s regime was characterized by nationalism, militarism, and totalitarianism, and he implemented policies that promoted Italian expansionism and imperialism. He also implemented social and economic policies that were designed to benefit the working classes and to increase production and industrialization in Italy.

During World War II, Mussolini aligned himself with Nazi Germany and declared war on the Allies in 1940. However, the Italian military suffered several defeats, and in 1943, Mussolini was removed from power by the Italian monarchy and arrested. He was rescued by German forces and established a puppet regime in northern Italy, but was captured by Italian partisans in 1945 and executed by firing squad.