Category: – World War II
Strange-but-true stories from World War II
A hot dog for the King
Following upon the spate of movies in recent years about British female royalty (the Elizabeths and Victoria), we now have one about British male royalty, The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth as George VI. It focuses on George VI (the current monarch's father) and his struggle to overcome stuttering and stammering, especially when he spoke … Continue reading A hot dog for the King
FHF: Merry Christmas … Or else
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. While the holiday season is a time for togetherness and reflection, some holiday posters leave you wondering, "did Santa just threaten me?" Yes, even bearded Old St Nick was recruited during World War II to keep the war factories churning, but … Continue reading FHF: Merry Christmas … Or else
Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Carolyn Grey, you hit our funny bone hardest last week, when you added a snappy caption to a Civil War telegraph snipper. While we're not sure whether Apple will be rolling out the iPole anytime soon (though ostensibly it would have fewer … Continue reading Thursday’s Photo Caption Contest
War Comes to America
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. Sixty-nine years ago today, the Congress of the United States declared war following the delivery of a speech by Franklin Delano Roosevelt that included these words: "Yesterday ... a date which will live in infamy -- the United States of … Continue reading War Comes to America
Thanksgiving: Another FDR Experiment
Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving, as usual, on the fourth Thursday of November. Today shoppers are hitting the stores for "Black Friday" super discounts to kick off holiday shopping. But until 1939, Thanksgiving Day was traditionally the last Thursday in November. That year there were five Thursdays in the month, and concern about a shortened shopping season prompted … Continue reading Thanksgiving: Another FDR Experiment
The Venus Fixers: The Remarkable Story of the Allied Soldiers Who Saved Italy’s Art During World War II
Ilaria Dagnini Brey is the author of The Venus Fixers, an account of the Monuments Officers, who were assigned by the Allies to preserve and protect the artwork and monuments of Europe from looting and destruction. She is the featured Author on the Record for the Fall 2010 issue of Prologue. We invited her to do … Continue reading The Venus Fixers: The Remarkable Story of the Allied Soldiers Who Saved Italy’s Art During World War II
President Truman at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. To all who serve and all who served, thank you.
The Fighting Lady: The Lady and the Sea, 1945
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Xs5bJVUx8_w?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0 Strafing and bombing missions over Japanese-held islands? Aerial dogfights? Classified destinations in the Pacific? All in a day's work for the Fighting Lady. This vintage film captures life aboard the Yorktown aircraft carrier during World War II.
The orphan called Tokyo Rose
Today's post comes from National Archives Office of Strategy and Communications staff writer Rob Crotty. The story of Tokyo Rose is the stuff of legends—an English-speaking Japanese woman who seduced the airwaves of the South Pacific with tales of Japanese success, Allied failures, and honest encouragement to give up the fight and return home. The … Continue reading The orphan called Tokyo Rose