Category Archives: 1940s

Battle of Crete begins as Nazi Germany launches airborne invasion of Crete 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1941)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'World War II: The Battle of Crete - Full Documentary'

(Tuesday, May 20, 1941, 8:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time, during the Battle of Crete, part of the Battle of Greece and the Mediterranean theatre, during World War II) — The Battle of Crete, fought on the Greek island of Crete, began this morning when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur (“Operation Mercury”).
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Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland on apparent peace mission 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1941)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Rudolf Hess - Nazi Pacifist, Traitor or Madman? - WW2 Special Episode'

(Saturday, May 10, 1941, 11:09 p.m. British Double Summer Time; during The Blitz part of the Strategic bombing campaign of World War II) — Adolf Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess, flew a Messerschmitt Bf 110 to Scotland today on what he claimed was a solo peace mission, parachuting into Eaglesham near his objective of Dungavel House after running out of fuel. Continue reading Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland on apparent peace mission 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1941) →

Germans launch last major attack on London during The Blitz 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1941)

1940s, World War II


Video: "1941 Londons May 10th Blitz L2845'

(Saturday, May 10, 1941, 11:02 p.m.-5:57 a.m. British Double Summer Time; during The Blitz part of the Strategic bombing campaign of World War II) — The last major attack by German forces on London during The Blitz began tonight as the Luftwaffe flew 571 sorties and dropped 800 tonnes of bombs, causing more than 2,000 fires. Continue reading Germans launch last major attack on London during The Blitz 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1941) →

‘Citizen Kane’ premieres in New York City 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDate #OTD (May 1 1941)

1940s, Movies 1940s


Video: 'Citizen Kane' trailer

(Thursday, May 1, 1941, 8:30 p.m. EDT) — Citizen Kane, an American drama film about a group of reporters who are trying to decipher the last word ever spoke by Charles Foster Kane, the millionaire newspaper tycoon, premiered tonight at the RKO Palace at 1564 Broadway (at West 47th Street) in New York City.
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Yugoslavia surrenders to Axis powers in Belgrade 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1941)

1940s, World War II


Video: '086 - Yugoslavia Crushed - Battle for Greece Continues - WW2 - April 18, 1941' (Apr. 17, 1941, at 3:54)

(Thursday, April 17, 1941, 9:00 p.m. Central European Time; during the Invasion of Yugoslavia, part of the Balkans Campaign of World War II) — Eleven days after a German-led attack by Axis powers, Yugoslavia formally surrendered today as Foreign Minister Aleksandar Cincar-Markovic and General Radivoje Jankovic  signed an armistice with German and Italian representatives in Belgrade and unconditionally surrendered all Yugoslav troops.
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‘Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)’ by Jimmy Dorsey peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1941)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, March 29, 1941) — “Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)” by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra with vocalists Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Sellers in Stores chart for ten consecutive weeks (March 29, April 5/12/19/26, May 3/10/17/24/31, 1941).
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Grand Coulee Dam, largest hydropower producer in U.S., begins producing energy 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 22 1941)

1940s


Video: 'Coulee Dam Opened (1941)'

(Saturday, March 22, 1941, 1:25 p.m. PST) — Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington began producing electrical power for the Pacific Northwest today, two years ahead of schedule.
Continue reading Grand Coulee Dam, largest hydropower producer in U.S., begins producing energy 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 22 1941) →

‘Song of the Volga Boatmen’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 15 1941)

1940s, Popular Music 1940s

(Saturday, March 15, 1941) — “Song of the Volga Boatmen” by Glenn Miller peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard Best Selling Singles chart for one week.
Continue reading ‘Song of the Volga Boatmen’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 15 1941) →

FDR signs Lend-Lease bill providing war supplies to countries fighting Axis powers 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 11 1941)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'Roosevelt Signs! (1941)'

(Tuesday, March 11, 1941, 3:50 p.m. EST; during World War II) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed into law the Lend-Lease bill, which was mainly aimed at helping Britain, then virtually alone in fighting Nazi Germany during a critical phase of World War II. Continue reading FDR signs Lend-Lease bill providing war supplies to countries fighting Axis powers 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 11 1941) →

February Strike begins in the Netherlands to protest anti-Jewish measures of Nazi occupiers 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 25 1941)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II

Video: 'The World at War: Occupation: Holland - 1940-1944 (18 of 26)' (February Strike at 14:20)

(Tuesday, February 25, 1941; during the era of The Holocaust, part of World War II) — The February Strike, a general strike in the German-occupied Netherlands organized by the then-outlawed Communist Party of the Netherlands in defense of persecuted Dutch Jews, began today following a series of arrests and pogroms held by the Germans in the Jewish neighborhood of Jodenbuurt in Amsterdam.
Continue reading February Strike begins in the Netherlands to protest anti-Jewish measures of Nazi occupiers 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 25 1941) →