usaaf Archives - World War 2 Collection

This Week in WWII – 4th Week of March

1938
Herman Goering warns all Jews to leave Austria.
1939
France and Great Britain agree to support Poland in the event that Germany threatens to invade.
1941
Yugoslavia signs Tripartite Pact, becoming part of the Axis Powers.
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This Week in WWII – 4th Week of February

By Shawn Janes |

1933
The German Reichstag burns.
1941
Bismark sister ship, Tirpitz, is commissioned.
1943
Norwegian commandos destroy the heavy water plant at Norsk Hydro, the basis for the film “The Heroes of Telemark.”
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This Week in WWII – 2nd Week of February

By Shawn Janes |

1939
Bismark launched.

1941
Nazi General Rommell arrives in North Africa.

1945
Under “Bomber” Harris’ command, Britain carpet-bombs the German city of Dresden.
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This Week in WWII – 1st Week of February

By Shawn Janes |

1933
Assassination attempt on Hitler. Ludwich Assner, ex-Nazi, sends Hitler a poisoned letter.

1941
Erwin Rommel appointed commander of the Africa Corps.

1942
B-25s take off from Hornet in a test for the bombing of Japan. Japanese troops land on Singapore Island.
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This Week in WWII – 4th Week of January

By Shawn Janes |

1939
First flight of the P-38. Hitler threatens Jews during Reichstag speech.

1943
Casablanca Conference ends. Paulus and his troops are forced to surrender.
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This Week in WWII – 3rd Week of January

By Shawn Janes |

1936
First thirteen B-17s are ordered.

1937
FDR is inaugurated as U.S. President.

1941
FDR sends Churchill a letter in which he quotes Longfellow from “Ship of State,” indicating that he supports Churchill in the war effort.
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This Week in WWII – 4th Week of December

By Shawn Janes |

1939
First flight of the B-24 bomber takes place.

1940
President Roosevelt quoted saying, “the Axis not merely admits, but proclaims that there can be no ultimate peace between their philosophy of government and our philosophy of government.”
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This Week in WWII – 3rd Week of December

By Shawn Janes |

1939
First Canadian troops arrive in Britain.
1940
Hitler issued a definitive directive that Operation Barbarossa would begin on May 15, 1941…it didn’t actually begin until 6/22/1941.
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This Week in WWII – 2nd Week of December

By Shawn Janes |

1941
Prince of Wales and Repulse sunk north of Singapore. Germany and Italy declare war on US. Japanese troops enter Burma.
1942
Hitler appoints Anton Mussert as the leader of the Netherlands.
1943
8th AF attacks Kassel, Germany.
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This Week in WWII – 1st Week of December

By Shawn Janes |

1941
Pearl Harbor: Japan attacks U.S. First Canadian troops arrive in Britain. U.S. declares war on Germany and Allies (not USSR) declare war on Japan.

1942
The first nuclear reactor goes critical at the University of Chicago under the leadership and design of Enrico Fermi.
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