Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 157

Today in World War II History—October 11, 1941

Freddy Martin in the movie Stage Door Canteen, 1943 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 11, 1941: Encircled Soviet 3rd & 13th Armies at Bryansk, Russia, break out.

New song in Top Ten: “Tonight We Love,” Freddy Martin’s big band version of Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto in B-Flat Minor.”

The post Today in World War II History—October 11, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Today in World War II History—October 10, 1941

“Queued up for Food” by Bedřich Fritta. Art from Theresienstadt, 1941-44 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 10, 1941: Marshal Georgy Zhukov replaces Ivan Konev over Soviet Western Front.

In Luxembourg, less than 3% of the population votes to join Germany.

Nazis open Theresienstadt concentration camp in Czechoslovakia.

The post Today in World War II History—October 10, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Today in World War II History—October 9, 1941

Leaders of the S-1 project consider the feasibility of the 184-inch cyclotron at University of California, Berkeley, March 29, 1940: left to right: Ernest O. Lawrence, Arthur Compton, Vannevar Bush, James B. Conant, Karl Compton, Alfred Loomis (US Department of Energy photo: HD.1A.018)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 9, 1941: President Roosevelt approves Vannevar Bush’s program to research the possibility of atomic weapons.

Pro-German president Arnulfo Arias of Panama is overthrown in a US-supported bloodless coup, replaced by Ricardo de la Guardia.

A week-long test of US air defense network begins: 40,000 civilian aircraft spotters of Aircraft Warning System search for “enemy” bombers with searchlights & artillery sights.

US Army 16-inch gun guarding Panama Canal Zone, 1939 (US Army photo)

The post Today in World War II History—October 9, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Today in World War II History—October 8, 1941

Yevdokiya Bershanskaya, 1943, leader of the Soviet 588th Night Bomber Regiment the only woman awarded the Order of Suvorov; under her command twenty-three aviators in the regiment became Heroes of the Soviet Union (public domain via Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 8, 1941: Germans take Orel, key city south of Moscow.

USSR establishes three regiments of female fighter pilots, including the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, later called the “Night Witches” by the Germans.

Chinese drive Japanese out of the Changsha area.

The post Today in World War II History—October 8, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Today in World War II History—October 7, 1941

John Curtin, Prime Minister of Australia, 1942 (National Library of Australia: 137128148)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 7, 1941: To boost morale in the USSR as the Germans advance, Stalin lifts the ban on religion and permits many churches to reopen.

Germans break through Vyazma defense line in Russia.

Due to parliamentary elections in Australia, John Curtin replaces Arthur Fadden as prime minister.

The post Today in World War II History—October 7, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Today in World War II History—October 6, 1941

US poster featuring Norman Rockwell’s “Freedom from Want,” 1943

80 Years Ago—Oct. 6, 1941: US House of Representatives declares Thanksgiving to be the last Thursday in November, as it was from 1863-1939, later amended to the fourth Thursday (Read more: Thanksgiving in World War II).

In the World Series, New York Yankees defeat Brooklyn Dodgers four games to one.

The post Today in World War II History—October 6, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Today in World War II History—October 5, 1941

US Supreme Court Louis Brandeis on the cover of Time Magazine, 19 Oct 1925 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 5, 1941: Field Marshal Paul von Kleist is named commander of German 1st Panzer Army and Gen. Heinz Guderian over 2nd Panzer Army.

Former US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis dies, age 84; he was the first Jewish Supreme Court justice.

Gen. Heinz Guderian on the Eastern Front, July 1941 (German Federal Archive: Bild 101I-139-1112-17)

The post Today in World War II History—October 5, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Today in World War II History—October 4, 1941

80 Years Ago—Oct. 4, 1941: German U-boats first attack British supply line between Alexandria, Egypt and besieged Tobruk, Libya.

Norman Rockwell’s “Willie Gillis” character premieres on cover of Saturday Evening Post, an “everyman” private.

The post Today in World War II History—October 4, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Today in World War II History—October 3, 1941

Warner Brothers poster for The Maltese Falcon, 1941 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 3, 1941: Dwight D. Eisenhower is promoted to brigadier general.

Movie premiere of The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart & Mary Astor.

Brig. Gen. Crawford, Brig. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, and Chief of War Plans Division General Leonard Gerow, Washington, DC, 26 Jan 1942 (US National Archives)

The post Today in World War II History—October 3, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.

Today in World War II History—October 2, 1941

German armored column advances on the Moscow front, October 1941 (Public domain via Wydawnictwo Prasowe Kraków-Warszawa: 2-882)

80 Years Ago—Oct. 2, 1941: German Army Group Center launches an offensive toward Moscow.

First deaths due to starvation are reported in Nazi-besieged Leningrad.

The post Today in World War II History—October 2, 1941 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.