Category Archives: 1940s

Allied forces land on Italian mainland at Salerno and Taranto during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1943)


Video: '211 - The Allies' Latest Victory - WW2 - September 10, 1943' (Allied invasion of Italy at 2:45)

(Thursday, September 9, 1943, 3:20 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — The second and main phase of the Allied invasion of Italy, Operation Avalanche, commenced today, as the U.S. Army VI Corps and the British Army X Corps stormed the beaches at the Gulf of Salerno, and encountered heavy resistance from German forces. Continue reading Allied forces land on Italian mainland at Salerno and Taranto during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1943)

General Dwight D. Eisenhower announces Italy’s surrender during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 8 1943)


Video: '211 - The Allies' Latest Victory - WW2 - September 10, 1943' (Sept. 8, 1943, at 1:08)

(Wednesday, September 8, 1943, 5:30 p.m. Central European Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Italy has signed an unconditional armistice with the Allies, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, the commander in chief of Allied forces in the Mediterranean, announced today in a broadcast from Allied Headquarters in Algiers, “effective this instant.” Continue reading General Dwight D. Eisenhower announces Italy’s surrender during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 8 1943)

Allied forces invade mainland Italy at Reggio di Calabria during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1943)


Video: '210 - The War is Four Years Old this week - WW2 - September 3, 1943' (Sep. 3, 1943, at 0:35)

(Friday, September 3, 1943, 4:30 Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Italy, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Mainland Italy was invaded by Allied forces today for the first time during World War II, as the British Eighth Army’s XIII Corps, commanded by Lieutenant-General Miles Dempsey and composed of the 1st Canadian and British 5th Infantry Divisions, launched Operation Baytown under General Bernard Montgomery’s direction. Continue reading Allied forces invade mainland Italy at Reggio di Calabria during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1943)

‘In the Blue of Evening’ by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1943)

(Saturday, August 21, 1943) — “In the Blue of Evening” by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (vocal refrain by Frank Sinatra) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of three consecutive weeks (Aug. 21/28, Sept. 4, 1943). Continue reading ‘In the Blue of Evening’ by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 21 1943)

Yanks pour into Messina, completing conquest of Sicily during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 17 1943)


Video: 'Allied Forces Enter Messina - 1943 | Today In History | 17 Aug 17'

(Tuesday, August 17, 1943, at about 10:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Sicily, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — The U.S. 7th Army, commanded by General George S. Patton, one of the most revered, skilled and yet controversial figures in American military lore, secured the liberation of Sicily, reaching the port city of Messina this morning just hours before the British 8th Army, led by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. Continue reading Yanks pour into Messina, completing conquest of Sicily during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 17 1943)

U.S. Navy Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 rammed and sunk by Japanese destroyer 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1943)


Video: 'American Experience: JFK & the PT 109'

(Monday, August 2, 1943, 2:27 a.m. local time; part of the the Solomon Islands campaign of the Pacific theater of World War II) — The U.S. Navy patrol torpedo boat PT-109, with a crew of 13 commanded by Lieutenant (j.g.) John F. Kennedy, future United States president, was traveling this morning through the Blackett Strait in the Solomon Islands, when it was rammed and sunk by the Japanese destroyer Amagiri. Continue reading U.S. Navy Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 rammed and sunk by Japanese destroyer 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 2 1943)

18,474 people killed as Allied planes bomb Hamburg, Germany 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1943)


Video: 'Hamburg’s Citizens Burnt Alive - War Against Humanity 071 - July 31, 1943' (July 27, 1943, at 15:35)

(Tuesday, July 27, 1943, shortly before midnight Central European Summer Time; during the Allied bombing of Hamburg during World War II, codenamed Operation Gomorrah, part of the European Theater of World War II) — In the greatest single-day loss of life in wartime, up to then, more than 30,000 residents of the German port city of Hamburg were killed tonight when British bombers carried out Operation Gomorrha. Continue reading 18,474 people killed as Allied planes bomb Hamburg, Germany 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 27 1943)

The Rolling Stones’ frontman Mick Jagger born in Dartford, England 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 26 1943)


Video: 'ROLLING STONES Mick Jagger Biography documentary (The History Channel, 1997)'

(Monday, July 26, 1943)Mick Jagger, an English singer and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band The Rolling Stones, was born Michael Philip Jagger today in Dartford, England. Continue reading The Rolling Stones’ frontman Mick Jagger born in Dartford, England 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 26 1943)

Fascist dictator and Hitler ally Benito Mussolini dismissed as Italian premier, placed under arrest 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 25 1943)


Video: '205 - Mussolini Falls from Power - WW2 - July 30, 1943' (fall of the Fascist regime in Italy at 2:23)

(Sunday, July 25, 1943, Mussolini was arrested at 5:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time; during the fall of the Fascist regime in Italy and Allied invasion of Sicily, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Benito Mussolini was dismissed and placed under arrested today as Prime Minister of Italy, along with the other Fascist Party members of his cabinet, bringing an end to a dictatorship of more than 17 years. Continue reading Fascist dictator and Hitler ally Benito Mussolini dismissed as Italian premier, placed under arrest 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 25 1943)

‘You’ll Never Know’ by Dick Haymes featuring the Song Spinners peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 24 1943)

(Saturday, July 24, 1943)“You’ll Never Know” by Dick Haymes featuring the Song Spinners peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of four consecutive weeks (July 24/31, Aug. 7/14, 1943). Continue reading ‘You’ll Never Know’ by Dick Haymes featuring the Song Spinners peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 24 1943)