Category Archives: 1940s

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin sign Yalta Agreement 80 years ago this hour (Feb 11 1945)


Video: 'Yalta, the Twilight of the Big Three'

(Sunday, February 11, 1945, 3:45 p.m. local time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin today signed the Yalta Agreement, in which Stalin agreed to declare war against Imperial Japan following Nazi Germany’s capitulation. Continue reading Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin sign Yalta Agreement 80 years ago this hour (Feb 11 1945)

‘Rum and Coca-Cola’ by The Andrews Sisters peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago today (Feb 10 1945)

(Saturday, February 10, 1945) — “Rum and Coca-Cola” by The Andrews Sisters (with Vic Schoen And His Orchestra) was the #1 song on today’s Billboard Best Selling Retail Records chart for eight consecutive weeks (Feb. 10/17/24, March 3/10/17/24/31, 1945).

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin pose for cameras at Yalta conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 9 1945)


Video: 'Yalta, the Twilight of the Big Three' (Feb. 9, 1945, at 50:23)

(Friday, February 9, 1945, 4:00 p.m. Moscow Standard Time; during World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt and Premier Joseph Stalin posed for still and motion pictures today in the courtyard of Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea during the eight-day Yalta Conference to discuss and plan the postwar world. Continue reading Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin pose for cameras at Yalta conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 9 1945)

Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin convene at Yalta for pivotal wartime conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 4 1945)


Video: '4th February 1945: Yalta Conference begins, attended by Roosevelt, Churchill & Stalin: the Big Three'

(Sunday, February 4, 1945, 5:10 p.m. Moscow Standard Time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met today in the Livadia Palace near Yalta in Crimea for the eight-day Yalta Conference to discuss and plan the postwar world. Continue reading Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin convene at Yalta for pivotal wartime conference 80 years ago this hour (Feb 4 1945)

FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)


Video: '1945 Newsreel: The Yalta Conference begins' (Feb. 3, 1945, at 0:59)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 12:10 p.m. local time; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt landed today at Saki airfield on the west coast of the Crimea, about 20 minutes ahead of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The two men reviewed an honor guard and then continued via jeep to Livadia Palace near Yalta, USSR, where they arrived about six hours later for a week-long conference to plan the postwar world. Continue reading FDR arrives in Crimea for long jeep ride to Yalta 80 years ago this hour (Feb 3 1945)

Battle of Manila begins during World War II 80 years ago today (Feb 3 1945)


Video: 'The World At War: Pacific 3/5' (Feb. 1945, at 2:01)

(Saturday, February 3, 1945, 6:35 p.m. Japan Standard Time; during the Battle of Manila, part of the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) in the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — The Battle of Manila, the Allied campaign to liberate the capital city of the Philippines, began today as elements of the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division under Maj. Gen. Verne D. Mudge pushed into the northern outskirts of Manila and seized a vital bridge across the Tullahan River, which separated them from the city proper, and quickly captured Malacanang Palace.

First U.S. soldier since Civil War executed for desertion 80 years ago this hour (Jan 31 1945)


Video: 'The HORRIFIC Execution Of Eddie Slovik - The American Shot For Desertion In WW2'

(Wednesday, January 31, 1945, 10:04 a.m. local time; during World War II) — Pvt. Eddie Slovik, 24, today became the first U.S. soldier since the Civil War to be executed for desertion as he was shot by an American firing squad in France near the village of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.

Hitler marks 12th anniversary in power with final public speech 80 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1945)


Video: 'Hitler last speech January 30 1945'

(Tuesday, January 30, 1945, recorded earlier for broadcast at 10:00 p.m. Central European Time; during World War II) — Adolf Hitler marked the 12th anniversary of his appointment as Germany’s chancellor with his last public speech in which he called on Germans to keep resisting until victory.

Raid at Cabanatuan liberates 500+ Allied POWs 80 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1945)


Video: 'Rescuing the Most Doomed American Soldiers of WW2 - The Great Raid'

(Tuesday, January 30, 1945, 7:40 p.m. local time; in the Pacific Theatre of World War II) — 552 Allied captives held at the Japanese prison camp in Cabanatuan in the Philippines were liberated today by U.S. Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts and Filipino guerrilla fighters.

Germans return to start line, ending Battle of the Bulge 80 years ago this hour (Jan 28 1945)


Video: 'The Battle of the Bulge: World War II's Deadliest Battle' (Jan. 28, 1945, at 1:19:05)

(Sunday, January 28, 1945, 7:00 p.m. local time; during the Battle of the Bulge on the Western Front of World War II) — The Battle of the Bulge, a major German offensive campaign launched through the densely forested Ardennes region of Wallonia in Belgium, France, and Luxembourg on the Western Front toward the end of World War II in Europe, ended today when the Americans, who suffered 19,246 killed, forced the Germans back to their start line.