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Germany Invades Poland
This attack came without any warning or declaration of war. This was the spark plug of WWII. -
Peace Demonstration
Held at a county fair, were thousands of people arrived before Great Britain declared war on Germany. Was held for all faiths, no one was discluded. -
France Surrenders to Germany
Hitler unleashes his Blitzkrieg invasion and in less than a month Britain and France are pushed Dunkirk. Here is where the greatest rescue in war history was taken place. -
The Republican Convention Opening
Opened in Philedelphia, this event began under an "ominous shadow". The evening bulletin termed this event inauspicious. -
The Republican Convention
Nominate Wendall Willkie for U.S. president on 6th ballot. As we all know he was defeated by Franklin D. Roosevelt. -
Highland Park Zoo
Was overhauled and modernized. The same day it was reopened to the public. -
W.P. Witherow
W.P. Witherow was highly liked and known man in the city of Pittsburgh. This led him to becoming the president National Association of Manufacturers on this date. -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
This attack lasted less than two hours, but 2,400 Americans were killed and 1,200 wounded. The attack led to the involvement of the United States in WWII. -
Enlisting Men
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the city of Pittsburgh was shocked. Therefore, on Deceber 8, 1,200 men enlisted for the U.S. army -
The Father of Radio Broadcasting Dies
Dr. Frank Conrad was the founder of the well-known KDKA radio station. His death came from a heart attack that overcame him in November. -
Battle of Midway
Was a three day battle in which the Americans beat the Japanese. This American victory dealt a severe blow to Japan's ambitions to pass right through the Pacific to the U.S. Coast -
"Blackout" Practice
The first "blackout" practice took place. This was done in case the war came to the states. -
The Battle of Stalingrad
It was the key turning point in the war and was one of the most violent and bloody battles of the war. It ended on February 2, 1943. -
D Day
The original date of D Day was supposed to be June 5, due to weather Dwight Eisenhower changed the date to June 6. This became the largest land, air, and sea invasion in war history. -
East Pittsburgh Plant Rally
20,000 employees stormed the plant in strike. At Westinghouse, they reaffirmed a non-strike pledge during the duration of the war. -
Allies Liberate (Free) Paris
After four years of occupation Germany finally surrenders, and gives up Paris. The surrender of Germany was signed at Montparnasse station by General Dietrich von Choltitz. -
15-Inch Snowfall
This snowfall caused thousands of shoppers to be stranded downtown. Causing all hotels to be filled to their capacity. School was suspended for only two days -
Battle of the Bulge
This battle was the last major Nazi offensive against the Allies in WWII. It was the last ditch attempt by Hitler to split the Allies in two. This attack was first known as the Ardennes Offensive. -
Dr, John G. Bowman
The nation's highest paid educator to the day retires. He was the chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh. His successor was the vice chancellor, Dr. Rufus H. Fitzgerald -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima was stratigetically important becuse of the distance between Japan and the U.S. bases in Mariana Islands. The battle ended on March 26. With the Allied powers coming out victorious. -
The 100th Anniversity of the Great Fire
With high winds and a dry climate(2-3 weeks without rain) the fire spread easily. The total costs were anywhere from six to eight million dollars -
FDR Dies, Truman Becomes President
Franklin D. Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945 in Warm Springs, Georgia. He was succeeded by Vice President Harry S. Truman -
Pittsburgh in Mourning
All city and county governments, busineses, schools, amusement places, and all other activities were closed. Mayor Scully designed a mourning session for Franklin D. Roosevelt. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Hitler, after his lover Eva Braun took a cyaninde capsule, dressed in a Nazi uniform and put a single shot through his mouth into his brain. Their bodies were lathered in gasoline and set aflame. -
VE Day
Winston Churchill was the one who officially announced the end of the war with Germany. After the news, thousands of people dressed in red, white, and blue went and celebrated outside of Buckingham Palace in London. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
This was the first atomic bomb ever used in war. This bomb was 2,000x more powerful than the strongest bomb used in history. The bomb was dropped by an American B29 Superfortress. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki
This was the second attack on Japan in three days. The bomb was dropped by an American B29 Bomber. The city of Nagasaki was completely destroyed. -
The Tour of the Mills
Russian labor leaders came to take a tour of all the steel mills. They were amazed of the production and the workforce that Pittsburgh produced. -
Pittsburgh Celebrations
The city was jubilant do to the surrender of Japan. They had many parties and parades within the next couple of days. -
VJ Day
Japan finally surrendered to the Allies after almost six years of war. Japan had a full agreement with the Potsdam declaration which demands the unconditional surrender of Japan. -
Pittsburgh Industries
They had to lay off 7,000 workers. The reason was due to the first cancellation of a war contract became effective.
