(Saturday, March 6, 1943) — “I’ve Heard That Song Before” by Harry James and his Orchestra (with Helen Forrest on vocal), peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of thirteen weeks (March 6/13/20/27, April 3/10/17/24, May 1/8/15/22, June 5, 1943). Continue reading ‘I’ve Heard That Song Before’ by Harry James peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 6 1943)
Category Archives: 1940s
‘Quiet Beatle’ and lead guitarist George Harrison born in Liverpool, England 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 25 1943)
Video: 'George Harrison Biography Documentary'
(Thursday, February 25, 1943) — George Harrison, an English musician, and singer-songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of The Beatles, was born today at 12 Arnold Grove in Wavertree, Liverpool, England. Continue reading ‘Quiet Beatle’ and lead guitarist George Harrison born in Liverpool, England 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 25 1943)
Battle of Kasserine Pass ends after U.S. suffers first major battle defeat of World War II 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 24 1943)
Video: 'What War with the German Army Truly Meant - Battle of Kasserine Pass
(Wednesday, February 24, 1943; during the Battle of the Kasserine Pass, part of the Tunisian Campaign of World War II) — The Battle of Kasserine Pass, a series of battles of the Tunisian campaign of World War II that began Feb. 19, 1943, at Kasserine Pass, a 2-mile-wide gap in the Grand Dorsal chain of the Atlas Mountains in west central Tunisia, ended late today as the pass was reoccupied by the Americans. Continue reading Battle of Kasserine Pass ends after U.S. suffers first major battle defeat of World War II 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 24 1943)
Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels calls for ‘total war’ as noose tightens around Third Reich 80 years ago this hour #OTD #OnThisDay (Feb 18 1943)
Video: 'When Goebbels Signed Germany's Suicide Pact - WW2 Special'
(Thursday, February 18, 1943, broadcast by Berlin at 8:15-10:27 p.m. Central European Time; during The Holocaust, part of World War II) — 16 days after the Battle of Stalingrad ended with the surrender of Field Marshal Friedrich Paulus and the German 6th Army to the Soviets, Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels called for “total war” (German: totalen Krieg) in the Sportpalast speech today at the Berlin Sportpalast to a large but carefully selected audience. Continue reading Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels calls for ‘total war’ as noose tightens around Third Reich 80 years ago this hour #OTD #OnThisDay (Feb 18 1943)
Nazis arrest White Rose resistance leaders Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie at University of Munich 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 18 1943)
Video: 'The TRAGIC Execution Of Sophie Scholl - The White Rose'
(Thursday, February 18, 1943, around 11:15 a.m. Central European Time; during World War II) — Hans Scholl, 24, and his sister Sophie, 21, the leaders of the German youth group Weisse Rose (White Rose) that was secretly distributing anti-Hitler literature, were captured today at the University of Munich by the Gestapo. Continue reading Nazis arrest White Rose resistance leaders Hans Scholl and his sister Sophie at University of Munich 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 18 1943)
‘I Had the Craziest Dream’ by Harry James peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 13 1943)
(Saturday, February 13, 1943) — “I Had the Craziest Dream” by Harry James and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Helen Forrest) was the #1 song on today’s Billboard National Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of two consecutive weeks (Feb. 13/20, 1943). Continue reading ‘I Had the Craziest Dream’ by Harry James peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 13 1943)
Guadalcanal Campaign ends with Allied victory over Japanese forces 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1943)
Video: '181 - Victory at Guadalcanal - WW2 - February 12, 1943' (Feb. 9, 1943, at 4:51)
(Tuesday, February 9, 1943, during the Guadalcanal Campaign, part of the Solomon Islands campaign of the Pacific Theater of World War II) — U.S. Army Major General Alexander Patch, realizing that the Japanese were gone, declared Guadalcanal secure for Allied forces today, ending the Guadalcanal Campaign on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the southwest Pacific with an Allied victory over Japanese forces. Continue reading Guadalcanal Campaign ends with Allied victory over Japanese forces 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1943)
‘Four Chaplains’ among 674 Americans killed when transport ship torpedoed by Germans off Greenland 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 3 1943)
Video: '75th Remembrance - The Four Chaplains & The Sinking of the USAT Dorchester'
(Wednesday, February 3, 1943, 12:55 a.m. West Greenland Time; during World War II) — The U.S. troop transport Dorchester, with 904 men on board, was torpedoed today 150 miles off of the coast of Greenland by the German submarine U-233. Continue reading ‘Four Chaplains’ among 674 Americans killed when transport ship torpedoed by Germans off Greenland 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 3 1943)
Remainder of Nazi forces from Battle of Stalingrad surrender in major victory for Soviets in World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1943)
Video: '180 - Guadalcanal, A New Offensive - WW2 - February 5, 1943' (Feb. 2, 1943 at 5:15)
(Tuesday, February 2, 1943, 9:20 a.m. STAT; during the Battle of Stalingrad on the Eastern Front of World War II) — The remainder of Nazi forces from the Battle of Stalingrad — what is now known as the city of Volgograd, Russia — surrendered this morning in a major victory for the Soviets in World War II. Continue reading Remainder of Nazi forces from Battle of Stalingrad surrender in major victory for Soviets in World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1943)
Germany’s top military commander at Stalingrad surrenders to Soviet forces 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 31 1943)
Video: '179B - Stalingrad: Endgame - WW2 - January 31, 1943'
(Sunday, January 31, 1943, 7:35 a.m. Moscow Standard Time; during the Battle of Stalingrad on the Eastern Front of World War II) — Generalfeldmarschall Friedrich Paulus surrendered today after Soviet forces closed in on his headquarters in the ruined GUM department store. Continue reading Germany’s top military commander at Stalingrad surrenders to Soviet forces 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 31 1943)