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Germany Invades Poland
The German army stretched across the 1,250 mile border of Poland and invades it. Soon as the French and British find out they tell the German army they have till September 3rd to stop the invasion or they will declare war on them. The Germans didn’t listen and Britain and France declare war on Germany. Germany uses their war tactic of Blitzkrieg and take over Poland in less than a month. -
Peace Demonstration at County Fair
Thousands of people at county fair joined in a peace demonstration as Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany. The people didn’t want war or to be a part of it. -
Forbes Field gets lights
The Pirates played their first night game in Forbes Field. Baseball was a very popular sport in Pittsburgh in the 1940’s and in the United States. -
France Surrenders to Germany
Hitler’s war style called Blitzkrieg forces France to retreat out of the country. Hitler captured two thirds of the country and France has no choice but to retreat and surrender. -
Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor
Surprise attacks were Japanese war planes attack American base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. In this attack the Japanese killed 2,403 people, destroyed 188 fighter planes, and a crippled Pacific Fleet that included 8 damaged or destroyed battleships. After this attack the United States declared war on Japan -
Enlisting for War
After the attack of Pearl Harbor more than 1200 men living in the city of Pittsburgh enlisted in the armed services in one day. Entering WWII helped unemployed men find jobs. -
Battle of Midway
The Central Pacific island of Midway was where the battle of Midway was fought. The Japanese were surprised attacked because the U.S. knew their plan and they sunk four Japanese carriers. The U.S. won this battle and from there on the Allies took the offensive in the Pacific. -
Blackout Practice
First "blackout" practice took place. The city had a blackout practice to prepare just in case a war was fought on U.S land. -
The Battle of Staingrad
In the Battle of Staingrad the Germans tried to take over the Soviet city named after their leader Joseph Stalin. Stain would not let the city fall and made anyone able to fight in the battle fight, The Germans could not deal with the cold temperatures and lack of supply and had no choice but to surrender in January. -
Steel Workers Wage Increase
United Steel Workers' wage policy committee, meeting at William Penn Hotel, accepted a 44-cents-a-day wage increase granted by War Labor Board to employees of "Little Steel" firms. -
D Day
D-Day is known to be the biggest sea, land, and air battle to ever occur in history. This battle was fought on the beaches of Normandy. -
Westinghouse Rally
In a mass rally outside the East Pittsburgh plant, 20,000 employees of Westinghouse reaffirmed a no-strike pledge for duration of the war. The employees of Westinghouse wanted to work not to support the war strikes. -
Allies Liberate (Free) Paris
After four years of occupying France the Germans are force to surrender when the French and American army gang up on them and force them to surrender. The Germans surrendered at Montparnasse station. -
Pittsburgh Gets Snow Storm
On this Monday night there was a 15-inch snowfall. From this huge snowfall downtown hotels were packed and mills, schools, and other thing were closed for over two days. -
Battle of the Bulge
Hitler had a major attack on the allies to try to break-up their alliance. The Germans had ran out of fuel for their vehicles and could not use them and were defeated by the allies. -
Pitt Chancellor Resigns
On February 16 1945 the nation’s highest-paid educator with a salary of $31,500 a year resigns. Dr. John G. Bowman resigned after being chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh for 15 years. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
The battle of Iwo Jima was a fight for the American army to overtake the Japanese base and control it to make it to hard for Japanese people to get food and supplies. This island could also be used for a place for damaged airplanes to go for emergency landings. The Americans lost more causalities in the battle, however they still managed to secure the island on March 16th . -
Mourning for FDR
In the city and county all business, schools, and all other activities were closed in mourning for the death of FDR. Churches were open though for prayer services for their deceased president Franklin Delano Roosevelt. -
FDR Dies Trumem becomes President
On April 12th 1945 FDR was sitting in his family room with friends and family talking and being painted by an artist. When suddenly he starts complaining of a sharp head pain. The president was having a cerebral hemorrhage and died. After FDR dies Truman is inherited president right before the end of World War II. Truman makes the decision to use atomic bombs on Japan to end the war. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
Hitler commits suicide along with his wife Eva. The Nazi army is outnumbered and soon to be defeated. Hitler knows that he will be killed by his enemies and doesn’t want to be embarrassed like Mussolini so he takes matters in his own hands and allows only himself to take his life not his enemies. -
VE Day
On this day the United States and Great Britain celebrate the victory in Europe. Also other cities in Europe that were captured by Nazi army celebrate after the Nazi army is defeated. -
Pittsburgh Celebrates Victory in Europe
Just like all the other parts of the United States Pittsburgh too was glad to see the war in Europe finally end. Also they were glad to see friend and family return home to. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima
The atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima Japan and killed over 70,000 people. Within minutes 9 out of 10 people died who were within a mile or less of the spot where the bomb was dropped. Also any building within a mile of the spot where the bomb was dropped was collapsed. The radiation of the bomb killed some of the victims weeks after the bomb was dropped. Also from the radiation some people suffered long term illness like cancer. -
Atomic Bomb Dropped on Nagasaki
Nagasaki was the location at which the second bomb was dropped on Japan. Japan surrendered after this attack on August 14, 1945 and suffered around 40,000 deaths. -
Russians Tour Steel Mills
Russian labor leaders arrived to tour the district's steel mills. They liked the way the mills worked and were run. -
VJ Day
The allies issued a declaration that said if Japan surrendered they would have peace with them and if they didn’t they would face destruction. The Japanese government didn’t surrender and on August 6 an American plane dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima and killed 70,000 people. Three days after the United States dropped another bomb that killed 40,000 people and the Japanese surrendered on Augest 14, 1945. -
Pittsburgh Celebrates Victory in Japan
Just like everyone else in the Allies Pittsburgh is glad to see the victory over Japan. This victory assures WWII is over and friends and family will return home. -
Pittsburgh Workers Get Laid Off
Pittsburgh district industries laid off 7000 workers as the first cancellation of a war contract became effective. Because the war ended they didn’t need those jobs any more so the workers were fired.
