1940 Roosevelt is elected as President of USA for an unprecedented third term with 54 percent of the popular vote. He defeats Republican Wendell L. Willke. Armed merchant-cruiser Jervis Bay sunk by pocket-battleship Admiral Scheer in attack on Atlantic convoy. 1941 Japanese war plans agreed at an imperial conference, with a deadline of December 1941. […]
World War II Today: November 5 Read More »
1939 The United States modified its neutrality stance in World War II to allow ”cash and carry” purchases of arms by belligerents, a policy favoring Britain and France. Rear-Admiral Hugh Sinclair, head of British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), died of cancer. Succeeded by his deputy, Colonel Stewart Menzies. 1941 Finnish forces capture the Baltic naval
World War II Today: November 4 Read More »
1940 U99 sinks armed merchant-cruiser Laurentic off Iceland. Greek troops trap the Italian 3rd Alpine Division taking 5,000 prisoners. British troops arrive in Greece. 1941 Germans troops capture Kursk. Off Greece, HMS Proteus makes first radar attack by a sub, damaging Italian tanker Tampico. General Auchinleck is forced to postpone ‘Operation Crusader‘ for 1 week so as to
World War II Today: November 3 Read More »
Words At War Episode 41 “Der Fuehrer“ Released March 21, 1944. Words At War, the series that brings you radio versions of the leading war book another adaptation of an important war book, “Der Fuehrer“ by Konrad Heiden. The “true” story of “The Protocols Of The Elders Of Zion” and a history of “modern” anti-Semitism.
NBC Words At War Episode 41 “Der Fuehrer“ Read More »
1939 Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov boasts: “One swift blow to Poland, first by the German Army and then by the Red Army, and nothing was left of this ugly offspring of the Versailles Treaty!”. He also accuses the British of aggression. 1940 The Battle of Britain is now considered as over by the British Air
World War II Today: October 31 – Happy Halloween Read More »
1939 German U boat U-56 fails in attack on battleship HMS Nelson with Winston Churchill, Dudley Pound, and Charles Forbes aboard. 1940 RAF Bomber Command is given its first directive sanctioning area-bombing. Lt. Gen. Henry H. “Hap” Arnold named as US Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for air (combat). 1941 The worsening weather and seas
World War II Today: October 30 Read More »
1940 A blindfolded secretary of war draws the first number – 158 – in the Selective Service draft. (Not all men are willing to register. In one case, a man goes to his draft board posing as his own widow to announce his death.) British troops set sail for Crete. Italians claim to have made
World War II Today: October 29 Read More »
1939 On the 21st anniversary of Czech independence, celebrations become mass protests. A young medical student, Jan Opletal, is fatally wounded. 1940 Ministry of Health announces evacuation of 489,000 more children from London area. Laval becomes Foreign Minister of Vichy government. Italy attacks Greece after Greek rejection of three-hour ultimatum; Churchill promises ‘all the help
World War II Today: October 28 Read More »
1941 In a broadcast to the nation on Navy Day, President Franklin Roosevelt declares: “America has been attacked, the shooting has started.” He does not ask for full-scale war yet, realizing that many Americans are not yet ready for such a step. The Russians launch numerous counter-attacks around Moscow in an attempt to halt the
World War II Today: October 27 Read More »
1939 Germany annexes former Polish areas of Upper Silesia, West Prussia, Pomerania, Poznan, Ciechanow, Danzig, and part of Lodz; all the rest of German-occupied Poland to come under the “General Government.” Forced labor decree issued for Polish Jews aged 14 to 60. 1940 London has longest air raid to date as a Catholic orphanage is
World War II Today: October 26 Read More »
