A memorable date

The present date marks the 70th anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s suicide. On 30 April 1945 the fellow finally did something he should have done five years and eight months before at the latest, if you ask me.

The Battle of Berlin ended two days later, having claimed the lives of at least 170,000 soldiers and uncounted civilians (22,000 inside the Berlin Defense Area alone) within a mere 17 days.

World War II in Europe ended (mostly) 9 days after Hitler’s death. People continued dying violently in large numbers until 9 May 1945 and thereafter, many of them (perhaps including this gentleman, who was not yet 21 years old at the time) during the Soviet army’s Prague Offensive.

30 years after Hitler’s death, 30 April 1975 marked the lowest point of the USA’s military fortunes in foreign wars, with the capture of Saigon by the People’s Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (also known as the Việt Cộng).