1940 The US Under Secretary of State, Sumner Welles arrives in Berlin at the start of a peace tour of the belligerent countries. The Soviet Unions peace ultimatum to Finland expires. 1941 Bulgaria finally joins the Tripartite pact after the discovery of a planned pro-British coup. Italian civilian rations are halved in order to allow […]
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1936 The Japanese Army restores order in Tokyo and arrests officers involved in a coup. 1940 Russian forces overrun the second line of Finnish defenses on the Karelian Isthmus. First group of British volunteers arrive in Finland, under command of Lt. Kermit Roosevelt, son of Teddy. 1941 Vichy France reduces bread ration from 350g to
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Words At War “Simone“ Released August 29, 1944. Words At War, the series that brings you radio versions of the leading war book another adaptation of an important war book, “Simone”. Sponsored by: Johnson’s Wax. A story about patriotism in occupied France. A young girl burns her uncle’s garage to keep it from the approaching
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1933 The burning down of the Reichstag building in Berlin gives the Nazis the opportunity to suspend personal liberty with increased power. 1940 The Soviets launch offensive toward Viipuri, Finland. 1941 The first encounter of the Afrika Korps and the British forces. 1942 The Battle of the Java Sea begins and continues for three days,
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Where does the name “D-Day” come from, and how D-Days were there?. What is the actual meaning of the D in D-Day?. A popular view in France is that it stands for disembarkation or debarkation, referring to the invading Allied troops disembarking from their landing craft. Another, more romantic, explanation is decision, deliverance or doom.
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1936 Japanese military troops march into Tokyo to conduct a coup and assassinate political leaders. 1940 US War Department activates Air Defense Command under Brig. Gen. James Chaney. 1941 Franco, in response to Hitler’s appeal to enter the war, says ‘I stand today already at your side, entirely and decidedly at your disposal,’ but refuses
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1941 British Commando’s land on the Italian held Island of Castelorizzo in the Dodecanese. The British submarine, HMS Upholder, sinks the Italian Cruiser Armando Diaz to the southwest of Malta. British Nigerian troops of the 11th African Division occupy Mogadishu, the capital of Italian Somaliland, having advanced up the coast. The 12th African Division pushes
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“Hell is on us.” – Mamoru Shigemitsu , June 1944 (capture of Saipan) Mamoru Shigemitsu (07/29/1887 — 01/26/1957) was appointed ambassador to the Nanjing Nationalist Government two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor and by the end of WWII was the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs. He came into that position on April 20,
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1941 The 2-engine Manchester bomber is used for the first time during an RAF raid against Brest. Reconnaissance elements of the German 5th Light Division clash with British forces for the first time in Africa, at Nofilia near El Agheila. US Navy survey ship Bear and motor ship North Star arrive in Antarctica to evacuate remaining US personnel from
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1938 Twelve Chinese fighter planes drop bombs on Japan. 1940 Sweden announces that she will not permit British or French troops to cross through her territory on their way to Finland. The Soviet Union announces its final conditions for peace. Finland must hand over the Karelia Isthmus and the shores of Lake Ladoga. It must
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