Monthly Archives: September 2012

Anne Frank lashes out at van Pels in diary 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: 'Anne Frank Remembered (3/8)' (Sept. 27, 1942 at 13:10)

(Sunday, September 27, 1942, part of The Holocaust during World War II) — On her 84th day in hiding in a secret apartment behind her father’s business in German-occupied Amsterdam, Anne Frank, a 13-year-old Jewish girl, angrily wrote in her diary about how the van Pels (the parents of another family in hiding with the Franks) treat her as one of their own children.

‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ debuts on CBS-TV 50 years ago this hour (1962)


Video: 'The Clampetts Strike Oil' (Sept. 26, 1962)

(Wednesday, September 26, 1962, 9:00 p.m. EDT)The Beverly Hillbillies, a television sitcom series about a poor backwoods family transplanted to Beverly Hills, California, after striking oil on their land, debuted tonight on CBS-TV. It starred Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, Max Baer, Jr., Raymond Bailey and Nancy Kulp.

Russian resistance remains defiant at Stalingrad 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: Sept. 26, 1942 (at 9:35)

(Saturday, September 26, 1942, during the Battle of Stalingrad, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — Wilhelm Hoffman, a soldier in the 267th Infantry Regiment, 94th Infantry Division of the German 6th Army who chronicled the Battle of Stalingrad in his journal, wrote today:

“Our regiment is involved in constant heavy fighting. After the elevator was taken the Russians continued to defend themselves just as stubbornly. You don’t see them at all, they have established themselves in houses and cellars and are firing on all sides, including from our rear – barbarians, they use gangster methods . . . Stalingrad is hell . . .”

‘The Longest Day’ premieres in France 50 years ago today (1962)


Video: 'The Longest Day' trailer

(Tuesday, September 25, 1962)The Longest Day, a war film about D-Day, the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II, had its world premiere today in France (it would open in the U.S. on Oct. 4).

Directed by Ken Annakin (British and French exteriors), Andrew Marton (American exteriors), Gerd Oswald (parachute drop scene), Bernhard Wicki (German scenes), and Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited), the film stars John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, Eddie Albert, Curd Jürgens, Richard Burton, Donald Houston, Peter Lawford, Rod Steiger, Irina Demick, Gert Fröbe, Edmond O’Brien and Kenneth More.

Anne Frank writes farewell letter to friend 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: 'Anne Frank Remembered (3/8)' (Sept. 25, 1942 at 0:18)

(Friday, September 25, 1942, part of The Holocaust during World War II) — On her 82nd day in hiding in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, Anne Frank, a 13-year-old Jewish girl, wrote a farewell letter to her friend Jacqueline. Anne knew that she could not send the letter to her friend, so she placed it inside her diary.

‘Sounder’ opens in New York City 40 years ago today (1972)


Video: 'Sounder' trailer

(Sunday, September 24, 1972)Sounder, a drama film about the son of a family of black sharecroppers who comes of age in the Depression-era South after his father is imprisoned for stealing food, opened today at the Plaza and New Embassy theaters in New York City.

Directed by Martin Ritt, the film stars Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, Kevin Hooks, Carmen Mathews, Taj Mahal, Eric Hooks and Janet MacLachlan.

Hitler sacks General Halder as 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: Sept. 24, 1942 (at 6:48)

(Thursday, September 24, 1942, during the Battle of Stalingrad, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — German General Franz Halder was dismissed today as Chief of Staff of the Army High Command (OKH) following frequent disagreements with Adolf Hitler, replaced by General Kurt Zeitzler with responsibility for the Russian front.