(Saturday, May 4, 1940) — “The Woodpecker Song” by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Marion Hutton) peaked at #1 on today’s Your Hit Parade weekly music chart for seven consecutive weeks (May 4/11/18/25, June 1/8/15, 1940). Continue reading ‘The Woodpecker Song’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 4 1940)
Category Archives: 1940s
Auschwitz concentration camp established by Heinrich Himmler 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 27 1940)
Video: 'Architecture of Murder: The Auschwitz-Birkenau Blueprints'
(Saturday, April 27, 1940; during The Holocaust) — Following a number of inspections at various sites, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, a leading member of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) of Germany, ordered the establishment of a new concentration camp today in the former artillery barracks in Oswiecim, known in German as Auschwitz. Continue reading Auschwitz concentration camp established by Heinrich Himmler 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 27 1940)
Share this:
Rhythm Club fire kills 209 people in Natchez, Mississippi 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1940)
Video: 'The Rhythm Club Fire Documentary (full movie)'
(Tuesday, April 23, 1940, 11:15 p.m. CST) — The Rhythm Club fire (or The Natchez Dance Hall Holocaust), a fire in a dance hall in Natchez, Mississippi, killed 209 people — all African Americans — and severely injured many others tonight. Continue reading Rhythm Club fire kills 209 people in Natchez, Mississippi 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1940)
Share this:
Nazi Germany invades Norway and Denmark 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 9 1940)
Video: 'The Invasion of Norway and Denmark - WW2 - 033 - April 13 1940' (Apr. 9, 1940, at 3:57)
(Tuesday, April 9, 1940, 5:15 a.m. Central European Time; during Operation Weserübung, part of World War II) — Nazi Germany occupied Denmark and invaded Norway early this morning, ostensibly as a preventive manoeuvre against a planned, and openly discussed, Franco-British occupation of Norway known as Plan R 4.
German envoys in Oslo and Copenhagen had presented the Norwegian and Danish governments with a German ultimatum demanding that they immediately accept the “protection of the Reich.”
Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary) 02.Distant War (September 1939 – May 1940)' (Operation Weserübung at 36:31)
Denmark capitulated so as to not provoke mass bloodshed at the hands of the Germans, and the country was invaded in six hours.
Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Halvdan Koht, however, responded with the defiant words “Vi gir oss ikke frivillig, kampen er allerede i gang” (“We will not submit voluntarily; the struggle is already underway”).
Video: 'World War II - Blitzkrieg to the Bomb Documentary' (Operation Weserübung at 10:29)
The entire Norwegian government including King Haakon VII fled the capital this morning for the mountains in the north.
Share this:
‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1940)
(Saturday, March 30, 1940) — “When You Wish Upon a Star” by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Ray Eberle) peaked at #1 on today’s Your Hit Parade weekly music chart for five consecutive weeks (Mar. 30, Apr. 6/13/20/27, 1940). Continue reading ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1940)
Share this:
‘Rebecca’ premieres in Miami 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 21 1940)
Video: 'Rebecca' trailer
(Thursday, March 21, 1940, 8:45 p.m. EST) — Rebecca, an American romantic psychological thriller film about a young bride who is terrorized by the memories of her husband’s glamorous first wife, premiered tonight at the Lincoln Theater in Miami. Continue reading ‘Rebecca’ premieres in Miami 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 21 1940)
Share this:
Hitler and Mussolini plot war strategy at Brenner Pass 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1940)
Video: 'Hitler & Mussolini at Brenner Pass - 1940 | Today In History | 18 Mar 17'
(Monday, March 18, 1940, morning local time; during World War II) — German Führer Adolf Hitler and Italian Duce Benito Mussolini met today at the Brenner Pass in the Alps to celebrate their Pact of Steel, a military and political alliance between Italy and Germany. Continue reading Hitler and Mussolini plot war strategy at Brenner Pass 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1940)
Share this:
‘Darn That Dream’ by Benny Goodman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 16 1940)
(Saturday, March 16, 1940) — “Darn That Dream” by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Mildred Bailey) peaked at #1 on today’s Your Hit Parade weekly music chart for one week. Continue reading ‘Darn That Dream’ by Benny Goodman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 16 1940)
Share this:
Winter War ends as Finland agrees to cede 16,000 square miles to Soviets 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1940)
Video: 'The Soviets Finish a Costly Winter War - WW2 - 029 - March 16 1940'
(Wednesday, March 13, 1940, 11:00 a.m. Eastern European Time; during the Winter War, part of World War II) — The 105-day Winter War, a war between the Soviet Union (USSR) and Finland, ended today after both sides signed the Moscow Peace Treaty, which gave Russia 16,000 square miles of Finnish territory. Continue reading Winter War ends as Finland agrees to cede 16,000 square miles to Soviets 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1940)
Share this:
Hattie McDaniel becomes first African-American to win Academy Award 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 29 1940)
Video: 'Hattie McDaniel winning Best Supporting Actress'
(Thursday, February 29, 1940, 8:30 p.m. PST) — Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to win an Oscar tonight when she was named Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a house servant in Gone With The Wind, which won eight awards, including Best Picture. Continue reading Hattie McDaniel becomes first African-American to win Academy Award 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 29 1940)
