Monthly Archives: December 2016

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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