Category Archives: 1940s

Winston Churchill delivered his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech 70 years ago today (Mar 5 1946)

1940s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain speech" regarding USSR and Eastern Bloc, at Wes...HD Stock Footage'

(Tuesday, March 5, 1946, afternoon local time) — In what is considered one of the opening volleys of the Cold War, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill condemned the Soviet Union’s policies in Europe today during a speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, declaring “From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the continent, allowing police governments to rule Eastern Europe.” Continue reading Winston Churchill delivered his ‘Iron Curtain’ speech 70 years ago today (Mar 5 1946) →

New ‘famine’ board asks U.S. cut wheat use by a fourth 70 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1946)

1940s, U.S. Presidents

(Friday, March 1, 1946, 3:15 p.m. EST) — An appeal to all Americans to deny themselves a substantial part of their daily bread “so that millions may survive who are otherwise doomed to death by starvation,” was voiced today by a newly formed Famine Emergency Committee under the honorary chairmanship of former U.S. President Herbert Hoover following its first meeting with President Harry Truman at the White House.

Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie chosen to be first UN secretary-general 70 years ago today (Feb 1 1946)

1940s


Video: 'TRYGVE LIE BECOME SECRETARY GENERAL TO UNO'

(Friday, February 1, 1946) — Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie was chosen today in London to be the first secretary-general of the United Nations (he would be formally inducted the following day). Continue reading Norwegian statesman Trygve Lie chosen to be first UN secretary-general 70 years ago today (Feb 1 1946) →

First United Nations Security Council session held in London 70 years ago this hour (Jan 17 1946)

1940s


Video: 'UN Security Council (1946)'

(Thursday, January 17, 1946, 3:10 p.m. GMT) — The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), charged with the maintenance of international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the United Nations and approving any changes to its United Nations Charter, held its first session today at Church House, Westminster, in London, England. Continue reading First United Nations Security Council session held in London 70 years ago this hour (Jan 17 1946) →

First man-made contact with the moon made 70 years ago this hour (Jan 10 1946)

1940s, space exploration


Video: 'Radar Makes Round Trip To Moon 1946-01-31 Universal Newsreel Project Diana Earth-Moon-Earth'

(Thursday, January 10, 1946, 11:58 a.m. EST) — The first man-made contact with the moon was made today as radar signals transmitted by the U.S. Army Signal Corps from a laboratory in Belmar, New Jersey, as part of Project Diana were bounced off the lunar surface, measuring its exact distance from the Earth (a mean of 238,857 miles or 384,403 kilometers), and proving that communication is possible between Earth and outer space.

First General Assembly of the United Nations convened in London 70 years ago today (Jan 10 1946)

1940s


Video: 'Statement by C. R. Atlee, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom - 1946'

(Thursday, January 10, 1946) — The fifty-one nations of the greatest wartime coalition in history, representing four-fifths of the people in the world, started another chapter in man’s melancholy search for peace and security today as the First session of the United Nations General Assembly convened at Westminster Central Hall in London.