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Germany Invades Poland
German forces invaded Poland on land and from the air. This day is known as the official beginning of World Was II. -
Peace Demonstration
Thousands of people joined in a peace deomonstration when Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany. People of all faiths joined. -
France Surrenders to Germany
Due to the signing of the armistice, 2/3 of France would be occupied by the Germans. France was taken over by the German Blitzkreig invasions. France abandoned Paris to the Germans making it easier for Germany to take over France. -
Highland Park Zoo Reopens
Highland Park Zoo was reopened to the public. It has been completely overhauled and modernized, -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
A junior officer had ignored a report stating that the Japanese air attack was approaching. Less than an hour later, the Japanese had arrived. The first attack targeted airfields and battleships and the second targeted other ships and shipyard facilities. The attack lasted less than 2 hours and resulted in 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians killed, with 1,178 wounded. -
Voluntary Enlistment
One this day, more than 1,200 men volunteered for enlistment in armed services. These men were all from Pittsburgh. -
Philip Murray Driven Out
Philip Murray was driven out of his place as vice-president of the United Mine Workers. John O'Leary, of Pittsburgh, was appointed to succeed him. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway was fought near the Central Pacific island of Midway.The battle was fought betwen the US Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Frank Fletcher and the Army, Navy and Marine Corps defenders of Midway Island against Vice Admiral Chiuichi Nagumo's invasion fleet. It lasted until June 7, 1942 and was considered the decisive battle of the war in the Pacific. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
The Battle of Stalingrad is considered to have been the turning point in World War Two in Europe. The battle was fought between the Russian and German Army. It lasted from July 17, 1942 to February 2, 1943.The casualties for Germany were about 850,000 military troops. The casualties for Russia were more than 750,000 miliary troops and more than45,000 civilians. -
Wage Increase
United Steel Workers' wage policy committee, accepted a 44-cents-a-day wage increase granted. This was granted by the War Labor Board to employees of "Little Steel" firms -
D Day
On June 4, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed and invaded Normandy, France. It involved five separate landings by American, British, and Canadian troops and was commanded by American General Dwight D. Eisenhower. By August 1944, all of Northern France was under Allie control. This event was considered the beginning of the ended of Nazi Germany. -
Mass Rally
A mass rally took place outside of the East Pittsburgh plant. About 20,000 employees of Westinghouse reaffirmed a no-strike pledge for duration of the war. -
Pittsburgh Survey
A survey in Pittsburgh was taken. It showed that war contracts in Pittsburgh district plants totaled $903,398,644, with $322,000,000 of it delivered to the front lines. -
Allies Liberate (Free) Paris
When the Germans surrendered to the Allies, Paris was freed from the Nazi power. Paris was under German occupation for 4 years. -
Shoppers Stranded Downtown
Thousands of Christmas shoppers were stranded Downtown by a 15-inch snowfall. All the hotels were filled lobbies were used as shelters. -
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was Hitler's last attempt to split the Allies in two in their drive towards Germany and destroy their ability to supply themselves. The battle was the largest battle fought by the Americans. Out of 600,000 American troops, 81,000 were killed. -
Dr. Bowman Resigns
The nation's highest-paid educator, Dr. John G. Bowman, resigned. He was the chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The capture of Iwo Jima was a part of the American's plan in winning the war. The Americans had cut the island in two by the end of the first day. It took the Americans over a month to take. The Marines lost 6,891 men killed and 18,070 wounded. Out of the 22,000 Japanese soldiers on the island, only 212 were taken as prisoners. -
100th Anniversary of the Great Fire
April 10, 1945 was the 100th anniversary of its great fire of 1845. They celebrated with a parade and pageantry. -
Truman Becomes President
After the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Vice President Harry S. Truman becomes president. He was the 33rd President of the United States and was in office until January 20, 1953 -
FDR Dies
Franklin D. Roosevelt was 63 years old when he died on April 12, 1945. Cerebral hemorraging, or a medical condition caused by the rupturing of a blood vessel in the brain, was the cause of death. -
Mourning the President
In order to mourn for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the city and county governments, business, schools, and all other activities were suspended, all churches scheduled special prayer services. Mayor Scully asked all amusement places to close. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
In Berlin, Adolf Hitler commited suicide by swallowing a cyanide capsule and shooting himself in the head. Shortly after, Germany surrendered to the Allied forces, ending Hitler's dreams. -
Annie Dillard was Born
Annie Dillard was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 30, 1945. She is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American author and is best known for her narrative nonfiction. -
VE Day
VE Day is short for Victory in Europe Day. This is when the Allies finally defeated the Germans led my Hitler. -
Douglas R. Nowicki
Douglas R. Nowicki was born on May 8th, 1945, in Everson Pennsylvania. Nowicki later became the Archabbot, Chancellor, and the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at Saint Vincent College in Pennsylvania. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
An American B-29 bomber dropped the world's first atom bomb over the city of Hiroshima. Approximately 80,000 people were killed as a direct result of the blast, and another 35,000 were injured. At least another 60,000 died by the end of the year from the effects. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki
A second atom bomb was dropped on Japan by the United States, at Nagasaki, resulting in Japan's surrender. The explosion unleashed the equivalent force of 22,000 tons of TNT. The number of people killed is estimated between 60,000 and 80,000 -
Russian Laborers Arrive
Russian labor leaders arrived in Pittsburgh. They came to tour the district's steel mills. -
VJ Day
VJ Day is short for Victory over Japan Day. On this day Japan had surrendered to the Allies. This event officially ended World War II. -
City Celebrates
The city celebrates because Japan had finally surrendered. This meaning World War II was over. -
Workers Laid Off
Pittsburgh district industries laid off 7000 workers. This was the first cancellation of a war contract became effective.