EVENTS WE'RE FOLLOWING FOR AUGUST

1^st, 1944 Warsaw, Poland:  Warsaw Uprising  Perhaps no other city in the Eastern Front suffered more total destruction than the Polish city of Warsaw. By the end of the war approximately 85% of the city was destroyed. The "Uprising" involved the Polish Underground and later the Polish First Army against the German Army. Polish forces were anticipating help from the Soviet Army, but their advance stalled and fell short. The Soviet failure was alleged to have been planned by Joseph Stalin in order to ultimately control the country at wars end. It is estimated that 16,000 Poles lost their lives in the aftermath. Today, the anniversary is celebrated each year in Warsaw with dignitaries from many nations in attendance.

6^th, 1945 Hiroshima, Japan:  The Bombing of Hiroshima  Was in necessary to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima to force a surrender on Japan? Yes. Without a doubt it would save the lives of up to 1 million American and Allied soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines by averting a protracted ground war by invasion of mainland Japan. It was also estimated to have taken up to one full year to defeat Japan on its own homeland by conventional bombing and warfare. President Roosevelt would agonize over the decision until his passing in 1945 and one which President Truman would finally agree to along with British Prime Minister Churchill before and during the Pottsdam Conference. The Soviet Union also played into the decision to deliver the bomb to Hiroshima. By finally withdrawing from its non-agression pact with Japan in 1945, the Soviet Union was now at war with Japan in late July and early August. This move by the Soviet Union also led Japan to surrender. It is widely thought that the Soviet Union wanted a piece of post-war Japan by its late entry into battle in Manchuria and Korea. The Soviet Union was now able to focus on its conflict against Japan now that Germany had surrendered in May of 1945.

7^th, 1942  Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands: "Operation Watchtower" aka The Battle of Guadalcanal begins  It was the first major offensive launched against the Empire of Japan. The victory would require the best from the U.S. Marine Corps, Navy and Army, and was key for further advance in the Solomon Islands. The Marine Corps would gain valuable jungle fighting experience which would be critical throughout the Pacific War. The Battle for Guadalcanal would further advance the downfall of Japan following the US victory at The Battle of Midway. The US Marine Corps would begin its legendary series of victories on the island and most notably its capture and defense of Henderson Field. Combined Marine and Army losses would exceed 7100 versus 31000 Japanese who gave their life for the Emperor. Many key naval battles would take place near Guadalcanal in support of the US forces on the island. Guadalcanal would make famous such names as Basilone, Edson, Carlson, Vandegrift, Geiger and others. Guadalcanal was recently featured in the HBO Miniseries 'The Pacific'.

9^th, 1945  Nagasaki, Japan:  The Bombing of Nagasaki  Just three days after the bombing of
Hiroshima, Emperor Hirohito and Japan still refused to surrender. In the weeks and months leading up to August, civilian men, women and children were being trained to fight with everything from thier bare hands to sharpened bamboo poles in advance of an Allied invasion. Rejecting the Pottsdam Declaration and not giving much credence to the Soviets entering the war against them, the dropping of a second atomic bomb nicknamed "Fat Man" for its odd shape would finally force the surrender. Kokura, Japan and not Nagasaki was the intended target of the second bomb. Due to cloud cover, the pilot of Bockscar flown by Army Air Force Major Charles W. Sweeney was forced to select the secondary target city of Nagasaki. Intending to land on Iwo Jima after the mission, Sweeney was forced to an emergency landing on Okinawa with no fuel remaining.

14^th, 1945 New York City and the World:  "VJ Day"  Following the catastrophic bombings of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki earlier in the month, both Japan and Emperor Hirohito were finally brought to surrender, ending World War II. Historians, authors and scholars have long debated the question, was it the dropping of both atomic bombs, or the entry into war against Japan by the Soviet Union or both which ultimately saw Hirohito decide to end the war. Whatever the final reason by Japan to cease its aggression, Japan announced its surrender and final acceptance of the Pottsdam Agreement terms on the 15th of August 1945. Because of the time zone differences, the 14th of August was recognized as "VJ Day" across the world. As evidenced in the iconic photograph referred to as the "VJ Day kiss", celebrations stretched from this location in New York's Time Square to San Francisco and around the world. Sadly, the nurse in the photograph, Edith Shain of Los Angeles California recently passed away on June 20th, 2010. She was 91 years old.

17^th, 1942 Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands area:  US Marine Raiders take Makin Atoll  The Raid on Makin Atoll was one of the first ground actions by US forces of the war. The other actions included the US Marine 1st Division along with the US Army Americal Division on Guadalcanal (also in August 1942), and US Army actions on New Guinea and in North Africa. The raid was led by Marine LtCol Evans Carlson and would be the first combat test for the new unit. The raid was delivered by US Navy submarines and would be the last occurrence of their usage for delivering US Marines to battle. The four Raider battalions were created in 1942, borne out of a friendship between Colonel Evans Carlson and Captain James Roosevelt, the son of President Roosevelt. In January of 1944 the four Raider Battalions were realigned in to the 4th Marines and newly formed 5th Marine Division, citing the lack of need for a specialized unit in an already elite fighting force by General A.A. Vandegrift.

25^th, 1944 Paris, France:  The Liberation of Paris  The Liberation of Paris was also referred to as the Battle of Paris. This was the final battle in the Normandy Campaign and marked the end of "Operation Overlord". Allied units would include the 2nd Armored Division and the 4th US Infantry Division. General Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe had Berlin as the main objective and wanted to reach the city before Soviet troops. The French Resistance fought alongside the Allied troops against the German Army. On the 25th of August, Charles De Gaulle made the following speech:

"Why do you desire that we hide the emotion which seizes us all, men and women, who are here, at home, in Paris that stood up to liberate itself and that succeeded in doing this with its own hands? No! We will not hide this deep and sacred emotion. These are minutes which go beyond each of our poor lives. Paris! Paris outraged! Paris broken! Paris martyred! But Paris liberated! Liberated by itself, liberated by its people with the help of the French armies, with the support and the help of all France, of the France that fights, of the only France, of the real France, of the eternal France! Well! Since the enemy which held Paris has capitulated into our hands, France returns to Paris, to her home. She returns bloody, but quite resolute.  Continued

31^st, 1941 Leningrad, Soviet Union:  Beginnings of the Siege on Leningrad The prolonged battle for the city of Leningrad was not only one of the longest (29 months) fights for a city in modern history but also one of the costliest in terms of casualties. (After Berlin and Stalingrad) The German forces were ultimately driven out by Soviet forces on the 27th of January in 1944. The Siege of Leningrad was key to Hitlers plan to take the Soviet Union. It was detailed in Operation Barbarossa - Hitler's initial invasion of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Leningrad was key due to its port facilities, industrial capacities and history as the capital. The Soviet Red Army alone would lose over 1 million soldiers on its way to an eventual victory.
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Live information feed of World War II articles from around the world.

The Enola Gay as it sits today at the NASM's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.

The best from 1940s Hollywood and Broadway

'Casablanca' opens 1942 »  The runaway hit from 1942 starred Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart and was set during World War II. Warner Brothers rushed release of the film to take advantage of the Allied invasion of North Africa. The film won three Academy Awards and tops the lists of "greatest films of all times". "Here's looking at you kid" is one of the Top 100 movie quotes of all time.

'Oklahoma!' opens 1943 »   Along with "Casablanca", "Citizen Kane" and "Meet Me in St. Louis", "Oklahoma!" would define the entertainment industry in the 1940s. The Rodgers and Hammerstein production would see a Broadway run of 2,212 performances. The "Oklahoma!" play would also spawn the 1955 hit movie adaptation starring Gordon McRae and Shirley Jones.

'Meet Me in St. Louis' premieres 1944 »  Judy Garland debuted her hit, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Trolley Song" in this Vincente Minnelli and Arthur Freed hit movie from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was also the second highest grossing film of 1944. Actress Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli would later marry after meeting on the movie set.

'Going My Way' opens in 1944 » Bing Crosby was the biggest movie star of the 1940s, and movie makers banked on his likeability factor and singing to bring war-weary movie goers to their local theatres. Bing would reprise his role as Father O'Malley in the 1945 hit "The Bells of St. Marys'. "Going My Way" was the highest grossing film of 1944. Crosby was also the biggest box office draw of 1944.
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 MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS: YANK Magazine » STARS AND STRIPES »
 Leatherneck Magazine » OTHER MEDIA: The Golden Era of Radio » Edward R. Murrow »
 MORE ARTISTS: George Baker's Sad Sack »

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ENTERTAINERS

Bob Hope » He performed his first USO show on May 6, 1941, at March Field, California. He continued to travel and entertain troops for the rest of World War II and later during the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War. When overseas he almost always performed in Army fatigues as a show of support for his audience.

Glenn Miller » Outside of the Andrews Sisters, no other musical sound has become more synonymous as the 'soundtrack' to the 1940's and WWII than Glenn Miller. As a jazz musician, composer and band leader, he helped usher in 'swing' music and the era of the 'Big Bands'. His patriotism led him to join the Army in 1942 and was later transferred to the Air Corps as a musician.

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 MORE ENTERTAINERS: Vera Lynn » Marlene Dietrich » The Andrews Sisters »
 Artie Shaw » VENUES: USO Camp Shows » The Hollywood Canteen »
 1940's ICONS: Rosie the Riveter » FDR »
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CORPORATIONS SUPPORTING THE WAR EFFORT

General Motors » GM produced vast quantities of armaments, vehicles, and aircraft during World War II for both Allied and Axis customers. By the spring of 1939, the German Government had assumed day-to-day control of American owned factories in Germany, but decided against nationalizing them.

 OTHER AUTO COMPANIES: Ford Motor Co. in WWII » Dodge trucks in WWII » Willys MB Jeep »

Ettore Boiardi » Better known as Chef Boyardee, Hector (Ettore) was also well known during the war years for bringing his wildly popular spaghetti meals to the troops fighting overseas during WWII. Many ground forces carried their P-38 can openers, or John Wayne can openers around thier necks to open the meals.

 FINE FIELD CUISINE: C-Rations » "Got your John Wayne? " »
 OTHER BUSINESSES: Hamilton Watch Co. »
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CORRESPONDENTS AND ARTISTS

Richard Tregaskis » Best known for his book Guadalcanal Diary which he wrote after spending six weeks with the U.S. Marines during and after the landing on Guadalcanal in 1942. Tregaskis would continue on to write Vietnam Diary after spending time with the U.S. Marines in Vietnam. In all, he wrote thirteen books from 1943 to 1975 on the subjects of military history and U.S. politics.

Robert Sherrod » Sherrod was best known for his years of writing and editing for TIME and LIFE magazines during WWII. He accompanied the US Marines at Okinawa, Iwo Jima, Saipan, Tarawa and Attu. Sherrod authored books on Tarawa , Saipan and Iwo Jima, and five total on World War II. He would later go on to cover the wars in Korea and Vietnam.

Ernie Pyle » was an American journalist who wrote as a roving correspondent for the Scripps Howard newspaper chain from 1935 until his death in combat during WWII. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944. His articles, about the out-of-the-way places he visited and the people who lived there, were a folksy style much like a personal letter to a friend. He enjoyed a following in some 300 newspapers.

Bill Mauldin » A two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist from the United States, he was most famous for his WWII cartoons depicting American soldiers, as represented by the archetypal characters Willie and Joe, two weary infantry troopers who stoically endure the difficulties and dangers of duty in the field. These cartoons were published and distributed in Stars and Stripes.