Category Archives: 1940s

Eisenhower: ‘OK. Let’s go’ 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 5/7' (June 5, 1944, 4:15 a.m. at 5:23)

(Monday, June 5, 1944, 4:15 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/10:15 p.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 1 day before the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — Allied Supreme Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower says, “OK. Let’s go,” as commanders attend their final D-Day weather briefing early this morning in southern England. Continue reading Eisenhower: ‘OK. Let’s go’ 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1944)

U.S. Fifth Army begins liberating Rome, first Axis capital to fall during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1944)


Video: '1944: The Liberation of Rome - Turning Point in WWII'

(Sunday, June 4, 1944, approximately 8:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Battle of Anzio, part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — The U.S. Fifth Army entered Rome from the south in several jeeps this morning, one day after the Germans declared it an open city, bringing liberation for the first time to a Nazi-enslaved European capital. Continue reading U.S. Fifth Army begins liberating Rome, first Axis capital to fall during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1944)

Eisenhower postpones D-Day invasion due to weather, Rommel goes home 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 4/7' (June 4, 1944, at 9:20)

(Sunday, June 4, 1944, 6:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/12:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 2 days before the Normandy landings, part of Operation Overlord on the Western Front of World War II) — Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower decided to postpone the D-Day invasion for at least one day, hoping for better weather on June 6. The Allied Expeditionary Force convoys, bound for Normandy, are called back to port. Continue reading Eisenhower postpones D-Day invasion due to weather, Rommel goes home 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1944)

Democrats nominate James K. Polk for president of the United States 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 29 1844)


Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1844'

(Wednesday, May 29, 1844, approximately 11:45 a.m. local time) — Former Speaker of the House of Representatives James K. Polk of Tennessee was nominated for president of the United States today by delegates to the 1844 Democratic National Convention meeting at Odd Fellows Hall in Baltimore. Continue reading Democrats nominate James K. Polk for president of the United States 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 29 1844)

Thousands of troops who will spearhead D-Day landings are on the move 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 28 1944)


Video: 'Ten Days to D-Day 1/7' (May 28, 1944, at 2:36-10:01)

(Sunday, May 28, 1944, 7:00 a.m. British Double Summer Time (BDST)/1:00 a.m. Eastern War Time(EWT); 9 days before the Normandy landings on the Western Front of World War II) — All over Britain, tens of thousands of troops who will spearhead the D-Day landings are on the move today. Their job is to lead the way for the Allied invasion force against Nazi-occupied continental Europe. Continue reading Thousands of troops who will spearhead D-Day landings are on the move 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 28 1944)

Allies win 123-day Battle of Monte Cassino after Germans abandon Italian stronghold 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1944)


Video: 'Siege of Monte Cassino: Battle for Rome | Frontlines Ep. 02 | Documentary'

(Thursday, May 18, 1944; a Polish flag was raised over the ruins of Monte Cassino at 9:45 a.m.; during the Battle of Monte Cassino, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — The Battle of Monte Cassino, a series of four military assaults by the Allies against German forces in Italy during the Italian Campaign of World War II, ended today in Allied victory when the Germans finally abandoned the stronghold at Monte Cassino. Continue reading Allies win 123-day Battle of Monte Cassino after Germans abandon Italian stronghold 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 18 1944)

‘I Love You’ by Bing Crosby peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 6 1944)

(Saturday, May 6, 1944) — “I Love You” by Bing Crosby With John Scott Trotters and His Orchestra peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for five consecutive weeks (May 6/13/20/27, June 3, 1944). Continue reading ‘I Love You’ by Bing Crosby peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 6 1944)

‘It’s Love-Love-Love’ by Guy Lombardo peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1944)

(Saturday, April 22, 1944)“It’s Love-Love-Love” by Guy Lombardo And His Royal Canadians (with vocals by Skip Nelson and The Lombardo Trio) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for two consecutive weeks (Apr. 22/29, 1944). Continue reading ‘It’s Love-Love-Love’ by Guy Lombardo peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1944)

‘Bésame Mucho (Kiss Me Much)’ by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1944)

(Saturday, March 4, 1944) — “Bésame Mucho (Kiss Me Much)” by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra (with vocals by Bob Eberly and Kitty Kallen) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for seven consecutive weeks (Mar. 4/11/18/25, Apr. 1/8/15, 1944). Continue reading ‘Bésame Mucho (Kiss Me Much)’ by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1944)

‘My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart)’ by Glen Gray peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 29 1944)

(Saturday, January 29, 1944) — “My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart)” by Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra (vocal by Eugenie Baird) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for five consecutive weeks (Jan. 29, Feb. 5/12/19/26, 1944). Continue reading ‘My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart)’ by Glen Gray peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 29 1944)