Category Archives: 1940s

Allies victorious in Battle of San Pietro Infine 70 years ago today (12/17/1943)


Video: 'The Battle of San Pietro John Huston WW2 Documentary 1945 Movie'

(Friday, December 17, 1943; part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome during the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Allied Forces today won the Battle of San Pietro Infine (commonly referred to as the “Battle of San Pietro”) against heavily fortified positions of the German “Winter Line” in and around the town of San Pietro Infine, just south of Monte Cassino about halfway between Naples and Rome. Continue reading Allies victorious in Battle of San Pietro Infine 70 years ago today (12/17/1943)

‘Madame Curie’ premieres in Los Angeles 70 years ago today (12/15/1943)


Video: 'Madame Curie' (trailer)

(Thursday, December 15, 1943)Madame Curie, a biographical film that tells the story of Polish-French physicist Marie Curie, premiered today in Los Angeles. Continue reading ‘Madame Curie’ premieres in Los Angeles 70 years ago today (12/15/1943)

1,138 killed when Germans strike HMT Rohna off Algeria 70 years ago today (1943)


Video: 'Rohna Film Preview'

(Friday, November 26, 1943; during World War II) — The HMT Rohna, a British transport ship carrying American soldiers, was hit today by a German missile and sank in the Mediterranean north of Béjaïa, Algeria. 1,138 men were killed, including 1,015 Americans, constituting the largest loss of U.S. troops at sea in a single incident.

Cairo Conference participants discuss fate of Asia, pose for cameras 70 years ago today (1943)


Video: 'Cairo and Teheran Conference 1943' (leaders pose in Cairo at 4:45)

(Thursday, November 25, 1943; during World War II) — Participants of the Cairo Conference, underway since Nov. 22, 1943, at a residence of the American Ambassador to Egypt, Alexander Kirk, near the Pyramids, posed today for journalists. Continue reading Cairo Conference participants discuss fate of Asia, pose for cameras 70 years ago today (1943)

Tarawa and Makin atolls fall to American forces 70 years ago this hour (1943)


Video: 'The World At War: Pacific 1/5' (Nov. 23, 1943, at 6:11)

(Tuesday, November 23, 1943, 1:30 p.m. GILT; during the Battle of Tarawa (Operation Galvanic) part of the Pacific War during World War II) — The Tarawa and Makin atolls fell to American forces today, concluding the Battle of Tarawa. Nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died in four days of fighting, mostly on and around the small island of Betio.

Battle of Tarawa begins as U.S. Marines land on Tarawa Atoll 70 years ago this hour (1943)


Video: 'The World At War: Pacific 1/5' (Nov. 20, 1943, at 3:46)

(Saturday, November 20, 1943, 9:00 a.m. GILT; during the Battle of Tarawa (Operation Galvanic) part of the Pacific War during World War II) — U.S. Marines today launched the Battle of Tarawa, the first American offensive in the critical central Pacific region, landing on Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. The Marines suffered heavy fire from Japanese shore guns and machine guns.

Leonard Bernstein debuts as Philharmonic conductor 70 years ago this hour (1943)


Video: 'Strauss Don Quixote op.35 - Bernstein - NYP 1943'

(Sunday, November 14, 1943, 3:00 p.m. EWT) — Leonard Bernstein, 25, made his public debut today as conductor of the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. Bernstein filled in at the last minute for Bruno Walter, who became sick prior to a nationally broadcast concert on CBS radio.

Soviet troops liberate Kiev 70 years ago today (1943)


Video: 'The World At War: Red Star The Soviet Union 5/5' (Nov. 6, 1943, at 8:38)

(Saturday, November 6, 1943; during the  Second Battle of Kiev on the Eastern Front of World War II) — Soviet forces, under the command of Nikolai Fyodorovich Vatutin, today captured Kiev, the Soviet Union’s third largest city. Only 6,000 Axis prisoners were taken as most of the German forces had successfully withdrawn.

Second Raid on Schweinfurt results in German victory 70 years ago today (1943)


Video: 'The World At War: Whirlwind Bombing Germany 4/5' (Second Raid on Schweinfurt, Oct. 14, 1943, at 9:30)

(Thursday, October 14, 1943; during the Operation Pointblank, part of the European Theater of World War II) — The second Schweinfurt raid took place over Germany today between forces of the United States 8th Air Force and German Luftwaffe’s fighter arm (Jagdwaffe). Continue reading Second Raid on Schweinfurt results in German victory 70 years ago today (1943)