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The Andrews Sisters
The Andrews Sisters were a vocal group which consisted of Laverne, Maxene, and Patty. They sold well over 75 million records. They are known for their hit "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," which has been covered by many popular singers since. The Andrews Sisters also performed many shows for soldiers to entertain them and keep their spirits up during their time in the second World War.
I believe this was an inspiring group during one of the United State's hard times. [http://youtu.be/8of3uhG1tCI] -
FDR's Quarantine Speech
The Quarantine Speech was given by Franklin D. Roosevelt in Chicago. This speech caused much controversy between interventionists and non- interventionists in the US. He favored the intervening side of the argument, and suggested utilization of economic pressure towards other countries, as well as our own. The overall response was positive, though there will always be those who disagree.
I chose those because it was a big stepping stone for FDR and the work he did for our country. -
Lili Marlene
Lili Marlene is a German love song that was originally written as a poem in 1915. It was first recorded in 1937 by Lale Anderson. During the Second World War, this was the most popular song. They used Lili Marlene as a form of German propaganda. It describes a man's thoughts while suffering through hardships of the war. He is tempted to give up, but pushes on, keeping in mind the beautiful "Lili Marlene," waiting for him. This shows the power of both music and love during the hardest times. -
This Above All
This Above All is a novel by Eric Knight. In this novel, a soldier is on leave during the Battle of Britain. He spends his time with a woman named Prudence. With the realization of how incompetent and ridiculous "the ruling elite" is, he is disgusted and decides against returning to the war. I chose this because literature is also very important to people and this type of novel is the most intriguing, in my eyes. -
Japan Declares War
Two hours after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, Japan declared war on the US and Great Britain, making Ameica's entry into the war. They intended to deliver the declaration prior to the attack, but the Japanese embassy took too long to decode the 5,000 word document. I chose this because it's very interesting and an important mark in history. -
San Francisco Blackout
The day after D- Day at 6:15 pm a large number of unidentified planes approached the Golden Gate bridge, they were sighted and taken back to sea. That evening, radio broadcasting of the situation stopped and the city went through a 3 hour black out. The reports of an attack were going around, but news dispatches characterized it as a test. The army insisted that radar stations had tracked airplanes approaching the coast from 100 miles at sea. I chose this because it would very scary. -
Nazi Germany Declares War on US
Adolf Hitler was not a fan of FDR and what he had to say about Nazi ideology. When trouble started to brew between Germany and the US, Hitler wanted to beat Roosevelt to the punch, and declare war before we had the chance. I think this is important because it was a big turning point towards the end of this time period. -
Japanese Surprise Attack
This was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. Two hundred and forty two Japanese aircrafts, in two separate raids, attacked the town, ships in Darwin's harbor and the town's two airfields. The urban areas of Darwin also suffered some damage from the raids and there were a number of civilian casualties. I chose this because it is very intriguing. https://youtu.be/R2D3u40dXtk -
Death Marches
Death marches began toward the end of the war. Prisoners would be forced to march very long distances without resources such as food or water. If they were unable to keep up with the rest, they would be shot. The Nazis often killed large groups before, during, and after the marches. On a ten day march there were 700 murdered. These death marches finally ended on the 3rd of December in 1944. -
O Mistress Mine
"O Mistress Mine" is a play created by Terence Rattigan. In this play, a young liberal Englishman is moved to Canada for five years during the first World War. When he returns, he finds his mother living with a conservative politician and businessman, who supports all of the values that the young man hates. This play premiered on the 20th of December. I chose this because I have always enjoyed plays and this one really caught my eye. -
