Category Archives: World War II

Germans sink ship sailing under American flag in tropical Atlantic 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 21 1941)

1940s, World War II

Video: 'The World At War: "On Our Way: U.S.A. (1939–1942)' (Robin Moor sunk at 13:11)

(Wednesday, May 21, 1941, 6:00 a.m. UTC; during World War II) — The SS Robin Moor, a Hog Islander steamship that sailed under the American flag, was sunk today by German submarine U-69 in the tropical Atlantic 750 miles west of the British-controlled port of Freetown, Sierra Leone, after allowing the passengers and crew to disembark.
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Battle of Crete begins as Nazi Germany launches airborne invasion of Crete 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 20 1941)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'World War II: The Battle of Crete - Full Documentary'

(Tuesday, May 20, 1941, 8:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time, during the Battle of Crete, part of the Battle of Greece and the Mediterranean theatre, during World War II) — The Battle of Crete, fought on the Greek island of Crete, began this morning when Nazi Germany launched an airborne invasion of Crete under the code-name Unternehmen Merkur (“Operation Mercury”).
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Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland on apparent peace mission 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1941)

1940s, World War II


Video: 'Rudolf Hess - Nazi Pacifist, Traitor or Madman? - WW2 Special Episode'

(Saturday, May 10, 1941, 11:09 p.m. British Double Summer Time; during The Blitz part of the Strategic bombing campaign of World War II) — Adolf Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess, flew a Messerschmitt Bf 110 to Scotland today on what he claimed was a solo peace mission, parachuting into Eaglesham near his objective of Dungavel House after running out of fuel. Continue reading Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess parachutes into Scotland on apparent peace mission 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1941) →

Germans launch last major attack on London during The Blitz 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1941)

1940s, World War II


Video: "1941 Londons May 10th Blitz L2845'

(Saturday, May 10, 1941, 11:02 p.m.-5:57 a.m. British Double Summer Time; during The Blitz part of the Strategic bombing campaign of World War II) — The last major attack by German forces on London during The Blitz began tonight as the Luftwaffe flew 571 sorties and dropped 800 tonnes of bombs, causing more than 2,000 fires. Continue reading Germans launch last major attack on London during The Blitz 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1941) →

Comedian Bob Hope does first USO show for servicemen at March Field, California 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 6 1941)

World War II


Video: 'BOB HOPE USO'

(Tuesday, May 6, 1941; seven months before America’s entry into World War II) — Comedian Bob Hope did his first USO before an audience of servicemen today as he broadcast his radio program from March Field (now known as March Air Reserve Base) in Riverside, California.
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U.S. ‘cannot win this war for England,’ Charles Lindbergh warns packed New York rally 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1941)

World War II


Video: 'Charles Lindbergh and the Rise of 1940s Nazi Sympathizers'

(Wednesday, April 23, 1941, event scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. EST; during World War II) — Charles Lindbergh, aviation hero-turned-isolationist, declared tonight at a mass meeting of the America First Committee in New York City that the United States “cannot win this war for England, regardless of how much assistance we extend.”
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Yugoslavia surrenders to Axis powers in Belgrade 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1941)

1940s, World War II


Video: '086 - Yugoslavia Crushed - Battle for Greece Continues - WW2 - April 18, 1941' (Apr. 17, 1941, at 3:54)

(Thursday, April 17, 1941, 9:00 p.m. Central European Time; during the Invasion of Yugoslavia, part of the Balkans Campaign of World War II) — Eleven days after a German-led attack by Axis powers, Yugoslavia formally surrendered today as Foreign Minister Aleksandar Cincar-Markovic and General Radivoje Jankovic  signed an armistice with German and Italian representatives in Belgrade and unconditionally surrendered all Yugoslav troops.
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FDR signs Lend-Lease bill providing war supplies to countries fighting Axis powers 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 11 1941)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'Roosevelt Signs! (1941)'

(Tuesday, March 11, 1941, 3:50 p.m. EST; during World War II) — President Franklin D. Roosevelt today signed into law the Lend-Lease bill, which was mainly aimed at helping Britain, then virtually alone in fighting Nazi Germany during a critical phase of World War II. Continue reading FDR signs Lend-Lease bill providing war supplies to countries fighting Axis powers 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 11 1941) →

February Strike begins in the Netherlands to protest anti-Jewish measures of Nazi occupiers 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 25 1941)

1940s, The Holocaust, World War II

Video: 'The World at War: Occupation: Holland - 1940-1944 (18 of 26)' (February Strike at 14:20)

(Tuesday, February 25, 1941; during the era of The Holocaust, part of World War II) — The February Strike, a general strike in the German-occupied Netherlands organized by the then-outlawed Communist Party of the Netherlands in defense of persecuted Dutch Jews, began today following a series of arrests and pogroms held by the Germans in the Jewish neighborhood of Jodenbuurt in Amsterdam.
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FDR outlines ‘Four Freedoms’ in State of the Union address 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 6 1941)

1940s, U.S. Presidents, World War II


Video: 'Four Freedoms Speech'

(Monday, January 6, 1941, 2:00 p.m. EST; during World War II) — U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his Four Freedoms speech today before a joint session of the new 77th Congress, proposing four fundamental freedoms that all the people of the world ought to enjoy: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

Continue reading FDR outlines ‘Four Freedoms’ in State of the Union address 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 6 1941) →