Author Archives: secondbysecond

This week in the War, 25–31 December 1944: Christmas Day in Athens

Posted on December 25, 2016 by secondbysecond

Winston Churchill was enjoying a family Christmas Eve—which included the gift of a Christmas tree from President Roosevelt—when, after reading the last of the day’s telegrams, the Prime Minister realized that the situation in Greece required his urgent attention. This week … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 18–24 December 1944: The Siege of Bastogne

Posted on December 20, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 18 December 1944, the US 101st Airborne Division was ordered to Bastogne in Belgium to defend that town’s important crossroads against the recently launched German offensive in the Ardennes. By 20 December, the town was completely … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 11–17 December 1944: Deaths of painter Wassily Kandinsky and band leader Glen Miller

Posted on December 12, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war saw the deaths of one of the world’s great artists, Wassily Kandinsky, and one of the world’s great performers, Glen Miller. They died within a two days of each other. As a student, Moscow-born Kandinsky abandoned … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 4–10 December 1944: Phasing out the Blackout

Posted on December 9, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war throughout the British Isles from 9 December 1944 on, premises were no longer required to be blacked out when the air raid sirens sounded. The Luftwaffe was no longer perceived to be a threat, and light … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 27 Nov—3 Dec 1944: Britain’s Home Guard stands down

Posted on December 2, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 3 December 1944, Britain’s Home Guard stood down. The Home Guard (originally called the Local Defence Volunteers) had been formed when the British Isles were threatened by invasion. In 1944, the tables were turned … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 20–26 November 1944: Henry the Fifth—the Movie

Posted on November 24, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war saw the release, on 22 November 1944, of the movie Henry V—based upon the play by William Shakespeare. The movie won an Oscar (in 1946) for Laurence Olivier, who was the director and also played … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 13–19 November 1944: Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo—The Movie

Posted on November 17, 2016 by secondbysecond

Barely two months after the Pearl Harbour attack, the United States began planning a reprisal raid against Japan. The result was the attack against Tokyo and other targets in April 1942. The so-called Doolittle Raid was led by Lt. Col. … Continue reading →

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In the news: Remembrance Day/Veterans Day—11 November

Posted on November 11, 2016 by secondbysecond

Friday 11 November 2016 — Remembrance Day Once again, we gather to remember that eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, when the guns fell silent and the Great War ended. It is time to honour and … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 6–12 November 1944: United States presidential election makes history

Posted on November 9, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 7 November 1944, Franklin Delano Roosevelt made history by becoming the first (and last) president of the United States to be elected to a fourth term in office. Roosevelt defeated the Republican challenger, New … Continue reading →

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This week in the War, 30 Oct–5 Nov 1944: RAF raid Gestapo headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark

Posted on November 3, 2016 by secondbysecond

This week in the war, on 31 October 1944, the RAF launched a precision bombing raid against the Gestapo headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark. The Danes had appealed to Britain to bomb the headquarters to destroy files that were being used … Continue reading →

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