Daily Archives: August 12, 2012

Churchill arrives in Moscow, informs Stalin that second front delayed 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: 'Churchill and Stalin in Moscow August 1942'

(Wednesday, August 12, 1942, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived in Moscow today and met with Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin in the Kremlin, informing him that there would be no D-Day in 1942. But he did say that the British and the Americans were preparing for a “very great operation” in 1943. Stalin reportedly looked “very glum.”

Soviets launch second cosmonaut into space in as many days 50 years ago this hour (1962)


Video: '1962: Vostok 3 and 4 (USSR)'

(Sunday, August 12, 1962, 4:04 a.m. EDT) — One day after sending Andrian Nikolayev into orbit, the Soviet Union launched Vostok 4 today with cosmonaut Pavel Popovich on board from Gagarin’s Start at Baikonur Cosmodrome at atop a Vostok 8K72K rocket. Both men landed safely Aug. 15.