Music of the WWII Era

Germany Invades Poland

Sep 1, 1939

The Invasion of Poland, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe. The invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week after the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, and ended 6 October 1939 with Germany and the Soviet Union dividing and annexing the whole of Poland.

WE'LL MEET AGAIN

Sep 2, 1939

"We'll Meet Again" is a 1939 song made famous by British singer Vera Lynn, music and lyrics by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles on 24 Jul 1907. The song is one of the most famous songs of the Second World War era, and resonated with soldiers going off to fight and their families and sweethearts. The assertion that "we'll meet again" is optimistic, as many soldiers did not survive to see their loved ones again. The song is featured in the final scene of Kubrick's 1964 movie Dr. Strangelove.

Britain, France, Australia and New Zealand declare war on Germany.

Sep 3, 1939

France and Britain issued an ultimatum to Germany demanding the immediate withdrawal of the German forces from Poland. When Hitler accused Britain of encouraging the Poles to pursue a policy of provocation, Britain, France, India, Australia, and New Zealand declared war on Germany.

IN THE MOOD

Dec 2, 1939

Although recorded in 1939, "In the Mood,"popularized by American bandleader Glenn Miller is one of the best-known arrangements of the big band era and is closely associated with the U.S. involvement in WWII.. Miller's rendition topped the charts one year later and was featured in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade.

Nazis Invade Norway and Denmark

Apr 9, 1940

Operation Weserübung was the code name for Germany's assault on Denmark and Norway. In the early morning of 9 April 1940, Germany invaded Denmark and Norway, ostensibly as a preventive manoeuvre against a planned, and openly discussed, Franco-British occupation of both these countries. After the invasions, envoys of the Germans informed the governments of Denmark and Norway that the Wehrmacht had come to protect the countries' neutrality against Franco-British aggression.

Nazis Invade Paris

Jun 14, 1940

Nazi Germany invaded France on 14 May 1940, and Paris fell a month later. Prime Minister Paul Reynaud resigned rather than seek armistice terms, so President Albert Lebrun appointed Marshal Philippe Pétain as his replacement. France capitulated on 22 June 1940. Under the terms of the armistice, France was partitioned: the northern region was to be occupied by Germany, and the remainder, with its capital at Vichy, was, ostensibly, to be governed by a French government under Pétain.

Battle of Britain

Jul 10, 1940

The Battle of Britain is the name given to the air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940. The objective of the campaign was to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF), especially Fighter Command. The name derives from a famous speech delivered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the House of Commons: "The Battle of France is over. I expect the Battle of Britain is about to begin..."

Italy invades Egypt

Sep 13, 1940

The Italian Invasion of Egypt was an Italian offensive action against British, Commonwealth and Free French forces during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. Initially, the goal of the offensive was to seize the Suez Canal. After numerous delays, the aim of the offensive was scaled back considerably.

Italy Invades Greece

Oct 10, 1940

The Battle of Greece was a World War II battle that occurred on the Greek mainland and in southern Albania. The battle was fought between the Allied (Greece and the British Commonwealth) and Axis (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and Bulgaria) forces. With the Battle of Crete and several naval actions, the Battle of Greece is considered part of the wider Aegean component of the Balkans Campaign of World War II.

BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY

Jan 2, 1941

The song written by Don Raye and Hughie Prince was recorded at Decca's Hollywood studios on January 2, 1941, nearly a year before the United States entered World War II but after the start of the draft to expand the armed forces in anticipation of American involvement. The Andrews Sisters introduced the song in the 1941 Abbott and Costello film Buck Privates, and was nominated for an Academy Award for best song.

Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor

Dec 7, 1941

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941. The next day the United States declared war on Japan resulting in their entry into World War II. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from participating in the war that Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against the British, the Netherlands and the U.S.

THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER

Sep 2, 1942

'he White Cliffs of Dover" was a popular World War II song made famous by Vera Lynn with her 1942 recording, one of her best known recordings. Written in 1941 by Walter Kent and Nat Burton, the song was also among the most popular Second World War tunes. It was written before America had joined World War II, to uplift the spirits of the Allies at a time when Nazi Germany had conquered much of Europe's area and was bombing Britain.

LILI MARLENE

Oct 2, 1942

Lili Marlene" was perhaps the most popular song of WW II with both German and British forces. Based on a German poem the song was recorded in both English and German versions. The poem was set to music in 1938 and was a hit with troops in the Afrika Korps. Mobile desert combat required a large number of radio units and the British troops in the North African Campaign started to enjoy the song so much that it was quickly translated in to English. The song was used throughout the war as not

D-Day

Jun 6, 1944

The Normandy landings were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944, beginning at 6:30 AM. The assault was conducted in two phases: an air assault landing of 24,000 British, American, Canadian and Free French airborne troops, and an amphibious landing of Allied infantry and armoured divisions on the coast of France.The operation was the largest amphibious invasion of all time with over 160,000 troops.

I'LL BE SEEING YOU

Dec 2, 1944

Recorded by Bing Crosby, the musical theme has emotional power, and was much loved during World War II. The song begins with I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places...
The song engs with the line, ...and when the night is new,
I'll be looking at the moom, but I'll be seeing you."

The Bomb

Aug 9, 1945

Together with the United Kingdom, and the Republic of China the United States called for a surrender of Japan in the Potsdam Declaration. The Japanese government ignored this ultimatum. By executive order of President Harry S. Truman, the U.S. dropped the nuclear weapon "Little Boy" on Hiroshima on Monday, August 6, 1945,followed by the detonation of "Fat Man" over Nagasaki on August 9. 6 days later, on August 15, Japan announced its surrender, officially ending WWII.