Category Archives: 1940s

British defeat Germans in large-scale aerial battle known as Battle of Britain Day 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1940)


Video: '13 Hours That Saved Britain (Battle of Britain Documentary) | Timeline'

(Sunday, September 15, 1940, 10:10 a.m.-10:48 p.m. BST; during Battle of Britain Day, the climax of the Battle of Britain, part of the Western Front of World War II) — The German Luftwaffe launched its largest and most concentrated attack against London today in the hope of drawing out the Royal Air Force into a battle of annihilation. Continue reading British defeat Germans in large-scale aerial battle known as Battle of Britain Day 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 15 1940)

Nazi Germany launches ‘The Blitz’ bombing campaign against British cities 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 7 1940)


'Video: The First Day Of The Blitz.'

(Saturday, September 7, 1940, 4:57 p.m. BST; part of the Strategic bombing campaign of World War II) — Nazi Germany today launched The Blitz, as the Luftwaffe shifted its focus from bombing British airfields and aircraft factories to conducting terror raids on London and other major cities in response to British bombing of Berlin Continue reading Nazi Germany launches ‘The Blitz’ bombing campaign against British cities 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 7 1940)

Vichy France allows 6,000 Japanese troops to enter Indochina 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 30 1940)

Video: 'The World at War: Banzai! Japan: 1931-1942 (6 of 26)' (Aug. 30, 1940, at 19:13)

(Friday, August 30, 1940, around 11:00 p.m. BST; part of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II) — Sensing lack of decisive support from the U.S. and the UK, Vichy France announced today that it would allow 6,000 Japanese troops to be stationed in Indochina and use ports, airfields and railroads for military purposes. Continue reading Vichy France allows 6,000 Japanese troops to enter Indochina 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 30 1940)

First German bombing of London sparks war of attrition 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 24 1940)


Video: 'World War II - Blitzkrieg to the Bomb Documentary' (Aug. 24, 1940, at 20:41)

(Saturday, August 24, 1940, around 11:00 p.m. BST; during the Battle of Britain, part of the Western Front of World War II) — The Luftwaffe dropped bombs on the financial heart of London and Oxford Street in the West End tonight, probably unintentionally as the German bomber pilots had likely made a navigational error and did not know they were over the city, starting a war of attrition that would last five years.
Continue reading First German bombing of London sparks war of attrition 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 24 1940)

Exiled Soviet leader Leon Trotsky assassinated in Mexico City on orders from Joseph Stalin 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1940)


Video: '20th August 1940: Leon Trotsky attacked with an ice axe in Mexico'

(Tuesday, August 20, 1940, 5:30 p.m. CST) — Exiled Russian Marxist revolutionary and politician Leon Trotsky, one of the architects of the Russian Revolution, was stabbed with an ice axe by a Spanish-born Soviet agent today in Mexico City on orders from Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Continue reading Exiled Soviet leader Leon Trotsky assassinated in Mexico City on orders from Joseph Stalin 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 20 1940)

Bugs Bunny makes his debut in animated short ‘A Wild Hare’ 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1940)

(Saturday, July 27, 1940)A Wild Hare, a Merrie Melodies cartoon supervised by Tex Avery (credited as Fred Avery on the original issue) and featuring Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny, the latter making what is considered his first official appearance, debuted today. Continue reading Bugs Bunny makes his debut in animated short ‘A Wild Hare’ 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1940)

Tommy Dorsey tops first Billboard music chart with ‘I’ll Never Smile Again’ 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1940)

(Saturday, July 27, 1940) — This week’s issue of Billboard magazine began publishing a top ten list of the best-selling retail records in the United States today with “I’ll Never Smile Again” by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (vocal refrain by Frank Sinatra & The Pied Pipers) topping the debut chart (and for 11 more consecutive weeks on Aug. 3/10/17/24/31, Sep. 7/14/21/28, Oct. 5/12, 1940).

‘Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 20 1940)

(Saturday, July 20, 1940)“Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)” by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Ray Eberle) peaked at #1 on today’s Your Hit Parade weekly music chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 20 1940)

FDR accepts nomination for unprecedented third term 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 19 1940)


Video: 'DNC (July 19th 1940)'

(Friday, July 19, 1940, 12:14 a.m. EDT; during the 1940 Democratic National Convention) — From the White House in Washington, D.C., President Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York accepted the Democratic presidential nomination tonight in a radio address to delegates attending the 1940 Democratic National Convention at Chicago Stadium (where it was July 18, 1940, 11:14 p.m. CDT), becoming the first president in the history of the United States to gain or accept a third-term nomination for the high office.
Continue reading FDR accepts nomination for unprecedented third term 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 19 1940)

Battle of Britain between British and German air forces begins 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 10 1940)


Video: 'The Dictator of France - The Rise of Philippe Pétain - WW2 - 046 - July 13 1940' (July 10, 1940, at 0:48)

(Wednesday, July 10, 1940, 2:00 p.m. BST; during the Battle of Britain, part of the Western Front of World War II) — The Battle of Britain, a military campaign in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany’s air force, the Luftwaffe, began today as the Luftwaffe attacked coastal targets and shipping convoys in the English Channel. Continue reading Battle of Britain between British and German air forces begins 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 10 1940)