Category Archives: 1940s

‘The Great Dictator’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 15 1940)


Video: 'The Great Dictator' trailer

(Thursday, October 15, 1940, 8:30 p.m. EST; during World War II)The Great Dictator, an American political satire comedy-drama film about a Jewish barber who takes the place of a war-hungry dictator, premiered tonight in New York City at the Astor Theatre at 1537 Broadway, at West 45th Street in Times Square and the Capitol Theatre at 1645 Broadway, just north of Times Square. Continue reading ‘The Great Dictator’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 15 1940)

Rock music icon John Lennon born in Liverpool, England 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 9 1940)


Video: 'The Life and Career of John Lennon'

(Wednesday, October 9, 1940) — English singer, songwriter, record producer and peace activist John Lennon, who gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of The Beatles, was born John Winston Lennon today in the Liverpool Maternity Hospital in Liverpool, England. Continue reading Rock music icon John Lennon born in Liverpool, England 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 9 1940)

Germany, Italy and Japan sign Tripartite Pact defensive military alliance 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 27 1940)


Video: 'An Axis of Evil is Complete - Japan Joins Italy and Germany - WW2 - 057 - September 28 1940' (Sept. 27, 1940, at 2:22)

(Friday, September 27, 1940, 1:00 Central European Summer Time; during World War II) — The Tripartite Pact, an agreement creating a defensive military alliance between Germany, Italy and Japan was signed today in Berlin. Continue reading Germany, Italy and Japan sign Tripartite Pact defensive military alliance 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 27 1940)

FDR enacts first peacetime military draft in American history 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 16 1940)


Video: 'President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940...HD Stock Footage'

(Monday, September 16, 1940, 3:08 pm. EDT; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, providing the first peacetime draft in U.S. history, requiring the registration of all men 21 to 36 years old. Continue reading FDR enacts first peacetime military draft in American history 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 16 1940)

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)