Video: '1943 Riots'
(Sunday, June 20, 1943) — A fistfight at the crowded Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan, erupted into a riot late tonight between white and black residents. 34 people were killed and 760 injured before federal troops were sent in June 22, 1943, to restore the peace.
Video: 'Gathie Barnett Edmonds (2003) on the Barnette case (1943)'
(Monday, June 14, 1943; Flag Day) — The U.S. Supreme Court, in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, ruled 6-3 today that children in public schools could not be forced to salute the flag of the United States. Continue reading Flag salute law held invalid by U.S. Supreme Court 70 years ago today (1943)
Video: 'The World At War: Japan 3/5' (June 5, 1943, at 7:17)
(Saturday, June 5, 1943; part of the Pacific Theater of World War II) — Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet and mastermind of the sneak attack on the U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was given a full state funeral today and posthumously received the title of Marshal and was awarded the Order of the Chrysanthemum, (1st Class). Continue reading State funeral held for Admiral Yamamoto, mastermind of Pearl Harbor attack, 70 years ago today (1943)
Video: 'Don't worry, I shall be back - In memory of Leslie Howard'
(Tuesday, June 1, 1943; during World War II) — A civilian flight from Portugal to England was shot down today by the Germans during World War II, killing all 17 people aboard, including British actor Leslie Howard.
Video: 'Combat Roll from the Battle of Attu'
(Sunday, May 30, 1943, Memorial Day; during Battle of Attu, part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign, in the Pacific Theater of World War II) — American troops secured the Aleutian island of Attu today from Japanese forces led by Colonel Yasuyo Yamasaki. It was the only land battle of World War II fought on territory that was part of the incorporated territory of the U.S.
Video: 'Rosie the Riveter: Real Women Workers in World War II'
(Saturday, May 29, 1943; during World War II) — Norman Rockwell’s portrait of “Rosie the Riveter” appeared today on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post.
(Wednesday, May 12, 1943, during World War II)— The two-week Trident Conference, headed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, opened today in Washington. The plans for the Italian Campaign, air attacks on Nazi Germany and the Pacific War would be agreed upon during the next two weeks.
Video: 'PT 109'
(Friday, April 23, 1943, part of the Pacific Theater of World War II) — U.S. Navy Lt. (jg) John F. Kennedy assumed command today of PT-109, a motor torpedo boat, in the Solomon Islands during World War II. On Aug. 2, 1943, PT-109 was rammed and sunk by a Japanese destroyer, the Amagiri, killing two crew members; the future U.S. president and 10 others managed to survive.
Video: 'Katyn Massacre - Russia and Poland Investigate' (Apr. 13, 1943 at 6:46)
(Tuesday, April 13, 1943; during World War II) — Radio Berlin announced today the discovery of thousands of graves of massacred Polish officers in Russia’s Katyn Forest. The Nazis blamed the estimated 22,000 killings on the Soviets, who in turn blamed the Nazis. Post-Soviet Russia has acknowledged the massacre was carried out by Josef Stalin’s much feared secret police.
Video: 'Celeste Holm - I Cain't Say No'
(Wednesday, March 31, 1943) — Oklahoma!, the first musical play by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, opened today on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in New York City. Ten years later, Oklahoma! would be described as “a new musical that broke all the rules: it had no big-name stars, no bare-legged chorus and, worst of all, it contained a ‘high-brow’ ballet.” Continue reading Musical play ‘Oklahoma!’ opens on Broadway 70 years ago today (1943)
