Category Archives: 1940s

Churchill arrives at White House to confer with FDR 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1941)


Video: 'Churchill And Roosevelt At White House (1941)'

(Monday, December 22, 1941, 6:50 p.m. EST; during the Arcadia Conference) — 15 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor and the American entry into World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill arrived at the White House tonight in Washington, D.C., after a secret ten-day journey across the Atlantic aboard HMS Duke of York to confer with U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt on “all questions related to the war effort.” Continue reading Churchill arrives at White House to confer with FDR 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 22 1941)

‘Elmer’s Tune’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1941)

(Saturday, December 20, 1941) — “Elmer’s Tune” by Glenn Miller (with Ray Eberle on lead vocals and the Modernaires on backing vocals, recorded Aug. 11, 1941) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Elmer’s Tune’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 20 1941)

U.S. declares war on Nazi Germany, Italy 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1941)


Video: 'December 11, 1941 US Congress declares War on Germany'

(Thursday, December 11, 1941, 3:00 p.m. in Washington/10:00 p.m. in Berlin) — Nearly eight hours after Germany and Italy, Japan’s Axis partners, declared war on the United States, the U.S. responded in kind today, declaring war on Germany and Italy. Continue reading U.S. declares war on Nazi Germany, Italy 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1941)

Nazi Germany, Italy declares war on USA 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1941)


Video: '11th December 1941: Nazi Germany declares war on the USA'

(Thursday, December 11, 1941, 2:18 p.m. in Berlin/7:18 a.m. in Washington; during World War II) — Four days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and three days after the United States declaration of war against the Japanese Empire, Nazi Germany and her Axis partner, Italy, declared war on the U.S. today. Continue reading Nazi Germany, Italy declares war on USA 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1941)

U.S. enters World War II, formally declaring war on Japan following Pearl Harbor attack 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (Dec 8 1941)


Video: 'December 8, 1941 Congress declares War on Japan'

(Monday, December 8, 1941, 10:40 a.m. in Honolulu/4:10 p.m. in Washington/Tuesday, December 9, 1941, 6:10 a.m. in Tokyo; 26 hours after the Attack on Pearl Harbor began, part of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of World War II — The United States formally declared war on Japan today, one day after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Continue reading U.S. enters World War II, formally declaring war on Japan following Pearl Harbor attack 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (Dec 8 1941)

FDR delivers ‘Day of Infamy speech’ asking Congress to declare war on Japan 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (Dec 8 1941)


Video: 'President Franklin D. Roosevelt Declares War on Japan (Full Speech) | War Archives'

(Monday, December 8, 1941, 7:00 a.m. in Honolulu/12:30 p.m. in Washington/Tuesday, December 9, 1941, 2:30 a.m. in Tokyo; 23 hours after the Attack on Pearl Harbor began, part of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of World War II — One day after the Empire of Japan’s attack on the United States military bases at the Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the Philippines along with the Japanese declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, declaring December 7th, 1941, as “a date which live in infamy,” asked lawmakers to declare war against Japan this afternoon during an address before a joint session of Congress. Continue reading FDR delivers ‘Day of Infamy speech’ asking Congress to declare war on Japan 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (Dec 8 1941)

Nazi Germany establishes first extermination camp at Chelmno in occupied Poland 80 years ago #OnThisDate #OTD (Dec 8 1941)


Video: 'kulmhof chelmno' (8 clips)

(Monday, December 8, 1941; during the The Holocaust, part of World War II) — The first Nazi Germany’s six extermination camps was established today at Chelmno, located 31 miles north of Lodz, near the village of Chelmno nad Nerem in occupied Poland, as SS and police began mass gassing operations. Continue reading Nazi Germany establishes first extermination camp at Chelmno in occupied Poland 80 years ago #OnThisDate #OTD (Dec 8 1941)

Japanese decide not to launch third attack on Pearl Harbor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1941)


Video: 'Pearl Harbor Minute by Minute' (10-video playlist that covers the attack on Pearl Harbor in real time from 6:10-11:10 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time)

(Sunday, December 7, 1941, 12:30 p.m. in Honolulu/6:00 p.m. in Washington/Monday, December 8, 1941, 8:00 a.m. in Tokyo; during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, part of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of World War II) — Japanese Admiral Chuichi Nagumo decided this afternoon against launching a third attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, which might have destroyed the fuel oil storage and repair facilities which would have rendered the most important American naval base in the Pacific useless. Continue reading Japanese decide not to launch third attack on Pearl Harbor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1941)

Bulletin: First American radio report of Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1941)


Video: 'E.06 - Another Wave - Pearl Harbor - WW2 - 120 F - December 7, 1941' (covers the attack on Pearl Harbor in real time from 8:40-9:10 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time)

(Sunday, December 7, 1941, 8:58 a.m. in Honolulu/2:28 p.m. in Washington/Monday, December 8, 1941, 4:28 a.m. in Tokyo; during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, part of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of World War II) — WOR broke into their coverage of the New York Giants vs. The Brooklyn Dodgers football game for a brief report of White House Press Secretary Steve Early’s announcement of four minutes ago that the Japanese have attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Continue reading Bulletin: First American radio report of Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1941)

USS Nevada makes a break for open water at Pearl Harbor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1941)


Video: 'E.06 - Another Wave - Pearl Harbor - WW2 - 120 F - December 7, 1941' (covers the attack on Pearl Harbor in real time from 9:10-9:40 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time)

(Sunday, December 7, 1941, 9:10 a.m. in Honolulu/2:40 p.m. in Washington/Monday, December 8, 1941, 4:40 a.m. in Tokyo; during the Attack on Pearl Harbor, part of the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of World War II)The USS Nevada was attacked by a second wave of Japanese aircraft today as it made a break from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for open water. Continue reading USS Nevada makes a break for open water at Pearl Harbor 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 7 1941)