Category Archives: 1940s

Anne Frank helpers celebrate wedding anniversary in Secret Annex 70 years ago tonight (1942)


Video: 'The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank' (Franks go into hiding, at 1:49)

(Saturday July 18, 1942, part of The Holocaust during World War II) — The Franks and van Pels, Jews now in hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam, treat helpers Miep and Jan Gies to a “banquet” in the Secret Annex as their way of congratulating them on their first wedding anniversary.

‘The Pride of the Yankees’ opens in New York City 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: 'The Pride of the Yankees' clip

(Wednesday, July 15, 1942)The Pride of the Yankees, a tribute film to the legendary New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig, opened today at the Astor Theater in New York City.

Directed by Sam Wood, the film stars Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Walter Brennan, Babe Ruth and Dan Duryea.

Van Pels family join Anne Frank’s family in hiding 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: 'Anne Frank: The Whole Story Part 6' (July 13, 1942, at 6:31)

(Monday, July 13, 1942, part of The Holocaust during World War II) — Anne Frank’s family was joined in hiding today by the van Pels family: Hermann, Auguste, and 16-year-old Peter. The Franks (Otto, Edith, Margot and Anne) had gone into hiding on July 6 in rooms above and behind the premises of her father’s business on the Prinsengracht, a street along one of Amsterdam’s canals, where some of his most trusted employees would help the two Jewish families escape Nazi persecution.

‘The Magnificent Ambersons’ opens in U.S. 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: 'The Magnificent Ambersons' trailer

(Friday, July 10, 1942)The Magnificent Ambersons, a film about an Englishman on vacation in France who is caught up in the German invasion of that country, opened today in the U.S.

Directed by Orson Welles, the film stars Joseph Cotten, Dolores Costello, Anne Baxter, Tim Holt, Agnes Moorehead and Ray Collins.

Sinatra records ‘There Are Such Things’ with Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra 70 years ago today (1942)

(Wednesday, July 1, 1942) — Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra and vocalist Frank Sinatra recorded There Are Such Things in New York today for Victor Records. Continue reading Sinatra records ‘There Are Such Things’ with Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra 70 years ago today (1942)

Rommel reaches El Alamein near Alexandria 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: Rommel reaches El Alamein (at 8:15)

(Tuesday, June 30, 1942, part of Western Desert Campaign of World War II) — Following the Battle of Gazala, Field Marshal (Generalfeldmarschall) Erwin Rommel’s Panzer Army Africa today approached the British at an insignificant railway station at El Alamein, 66 miles from Alexandria, in preparation for the First Battle of El Alamein, which would begin tomorrow.

Germans launch offensive in southern Russia 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: German offensive begins (at 0:00)

(Sunday, June 28, 1942, part of the Eastern Front of World War II) — Nazi Germany started its strategic summer offensive in southern Russia today against the Soviet Union, codenamed Case Blue, with Fourth Panzer Army starting its drive towards Voronezh.   Continue reading Germans launch offensive in southern Russia 70 years ago today (1942)

FBI announces the arrests of eight Nazi saboteurs 70 years ago tonight (1942)


Video: 'Newsreel about German Saboteurs & Spies in the U.S. during World War II'

(Saturday, June 27, 1942, during Operation Pastorius, part of World War II) — The FBI announced tonight the arrests of eight Nazi saboteurs, highly trained by direction of the German High Command at a special school for sabotage near Berlin, who had been put ashore in Florida and Long Island, New York. Continue reading FBI announces the arrests of eight Nazi saboteurs 70 years ago tonight (1942)

British pound Bremen, Germany, with third ‘thousand bomber raid’ 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: '1000 Plane Raid June 26 1942'

(Friday, June 26, 1942, part of strategic bombing during World War II) — Some 1,000 British Royal Air Force bombers completed an overnight raid on Bremen, Germany, early this morning, the RAF’s third “thousand bomber raid.” of the war. 572 houses were completely destroyed and 6,108 damaged. 85 people were killed, 497 injured and 2,378 bombed out.

Lord Beaverbrook demands second front at once 70 years ago today (1942)


Video: Beaverbrook speaks June 21, 1942 (at 7:01)

(Sunday, June 21, 1942) — A militant call for the immediate opening of a second front, coupled with the claim that the army is now adequately equipped to carry out a continental invasion, was voiced in Birmingham, England, today by Britain’s Lord Beaverbrook.