On V-E Day 1945, Anthony Kupko of Schuylkill Haven, PA raised a toast in a brewery in war-ravaged Nazi Germany - while memories of liberating Buchenwald’s starving survivors lingered painfully. His account blends victory’s relief with the haunting aftermath of the Second World War, offering a profound glimpse into a Coal Region soldier’s return home. Read the full story.
During World War II, June Korn of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, served in the WAVES and appeared in a 1944 war bond drive photo urging Americans to support the war effort. Women like Korn played vital roles in the Navy Reserve, proving indispensable in keeping military operations running while men fought overseas. Read the full story.
Meet Corp. Joseph E. Law from Wilkes-Barre, photographed in England hoisting bombs onto a B-17 under black-out conditions in 1944. Discover how these grueling tasks supported the 8th Air Force and shaped America’s war effort. Read the full story.
Meet Lieutenant Harry F. Welsh of Wilkes-Barre, a determined paratrooper who joined the famed Easy Company, 101st Airborne Division. Discover his role in the legendary “Band of Brothers” and the lasting impact he made. Read the full story
In this special episode of the Public History podcast, we share the story of Irvin Schwartz and his experiences during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944. Schwartz, a native of Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, served as an anti-tank gunner in the US Army's famed 1st Division. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for heroism during the battle. Listen to the full story.
"Anthracite rallies" encouraged miners to produce more coal to help the American war effort in 1942.
Newspaper headlines across Northeastern Pennsylvania carried news of war and destruction in Hawaii in December 1941. Read the full story and the headlines.
Private Irvin Schwartz vividly recalls December 7, 1941, when news of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor interrupted a radio broadcast. He was later deployed to Normandy in 1944, serving with the US Army's 1st Division until Victory in Europe Day in 1945, sharing his experiences through letters to his hometown newspaper. Read the full story.
On Thanksgiving Day 1943, as World War II raged on, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania marked the holiday with a quieter tone. Many residents continued to work in essential industries, while others gathered for church services and family reunions. Discover how the Wyoming Valley adapted to the war-time holiday and embraced the hope of victory on the horizon. Read the full story.
In November 1938, the Scranton Tribune published a powerful editorial condemning the Nazi-led violence of Kristallnacht. The article denounced the brutal attacks on Jewish communities in Germany and Austria, warning of the the growing threat of Nazi persecution and anti-Semitism. Read the full story.