Category Archives: 1940s

Allies bomb Rome for first time as Mussolini meets with Hitler in Feltre during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 19 1943)


Video: 'Precision bombing of Railroad yards in Rome, Italy by over 500 Allied bombers dur...HD Stock Footage'

(Monday, July 19, 1943, 11:13 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Bombing of Rome in World War II, part of the Winter Line and the battle for Rome) — Allied airplanes bombed the ancient city of Rome for the first time today when 690 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft flew over Rome and dropped 9,125 bombs on the city. Continue reading Allies bomb Rome for first time as Mussolini meets with Hitler in Feltre during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 19 1943)

Allied invasion of Sicily during World War II begins 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 10 1943)


Video: 'Invasion Of Sicily - First Pictures (1943)'

(Saturday, July 10, 1943, just after midnight Central European Summer Time; during the Allied invasion of Sicily, part of the Italian Campaign of World War II) — Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily, a major campaign of World War II in which the Allied forces invaded the island of Sicily and took it from the Axis powers (Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany), began early this morning as two American and two British attacks by airborne troops were carried out. Continue reading Allied invasion of Sicily during World War II begins 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 10 1943)

Largest tank battle in history begins at Kursk, Russia during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 5 1943)


Video: '202 - Kursk, When Titans Clash - July 9, 1943' (July 5, 1943, at 7:21)

(Monday, July 5, 1943, 5:00 a.m. Moscow Standard Time; during the Battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front of World War II) — The Battle of Kursk, a major World War II Eastern Front large-scale engagement between the forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union near Kursk in southwestern Russia, began early today as the Germans launched Operation Citadel, an offensive which had the objective of pinching off the Kursk salient with attacks on the base of the salient from north and south simultaneously. Continue reading Largest tank battle in history begins at Kursk, Russia during World War II 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 5 1943)

‘Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer’ by The Song Spinners peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 3 1943)

(Saturday, July 3, 1943) — “Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer” by The Song Spinners peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of three consecutive weeks (July 3/10/17, 1943). Continue reading ‘Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer’ by The Song Spinners peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 3 1943)

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill declares victory in Battle of the Atlantic, citing ‘total defeat’ of German U-boats since April 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1943)


Video: 'World War II: Winston Churchill speech on receiving freedom of City of London (1943)'

(Wednesday, June 30, 1943, during the Battle of the Atlantic, part of World War II) — British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said in a speech at Guildhall in London today that the Allies had achieved a “total defeat” of the German U-boat attack in May and June, sinking more than 30 in May alone, and that Great Britain would fight until Japan submits or “bite the dust.” Continue reading British Prime Minister Winston Churchill declares victory in Battle of the Atlantic, citing ‘total defeat’ of German U-boats since April 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1943)

‘Taking a Chance on Love’ by Benny Goodman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1943)

(Saturday, June 12, 1943) — “Taking a Chance on Love” by Benny Goodman and his Orchestra (vocal chorus by Helen Forrest) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National List of Best Selling Retail Records chart for the first of three consecutive weeks (June 12/19/26, 1943). Continue reading ‘Taking a Chance on Love’ by Benny Goodman peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1943)

Zoot Suit Riots involving American servicemen and young Latino and Mexican Americans begin in Los Angeles 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 3 1943)


Video: 'How Anti-Mexican Racism in L.A. Caused the Zoot Suit Riots | History'

(Thursday, June 3, 1943, evening PWT; during the Zoot Suit Riots and World War II) — The Zoot Suit Riots, a series of riots that took place from June 3–8, 1943, in Los Angeles, California, United States, involving American servicemen stationed in Southern California and young Latino and Mexican American city residents, began tonight. Continue reading Zoot Suit Riots involving American servicemen and young Latino and Mexican Americans begin in Los Angeles 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 3 1943)

Dr. Josef ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele reports for duty at Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1943)


Video: 'Josef Mengele - The Angel of Death Documentary'

(Sunday, May 30, 1943; during the The Holocaust, part of World War II) — German Schutzstaffel (SS) officer Dr. Josef Mengele, also known as the Angel of Death, today became the head doctor of the BIIe sector of Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, which was the family camp for Sinti and Roma prisoners. Continue reading Dr. Josef ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele reports for duty at Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 30 1943)

‘That Old Black Magic’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 29 1943)

(Saturday, May 29, 1943)“That Old Black Magic” by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (with vocals by Skip Nelson and the Modernaires) peaked at #1 on today’s Billboard National Best Selling Retail Records chart for one week. Continue reading ‘That Old Black Magic’ by Glenn Miller peaks at #1 in USA 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 29 1943)

FDR, Churchill set Allied cross-Channel landing into northern France for May 1, 1944 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1943)

(Wednesday, May 19, 1943, 6:00-7:07 p.m. EWT; during the Third Washington Conference, codenamed Trident, during World War II) — At a meeting of the Combined Chiefs of Staff at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill learned tonight that agreement had been reached for the buildup in England “of sufficient force to secure a bridgehead on the [European] Continent from which further offensive operations could be carried out” and that a cross-Channel operation “had finally been agreed upon.” Continue reading FDR, Churchill set Allied cross-Channel landing into northern France for May 1, 1944 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 19 1943)