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Declaration of United Nations
January 1
In Washington, D.C., representatives of 26 countries sign the Declaration of United Nations. -
Auschwitz
Mass murder of Jewish people at Auschwitz begins. -
First around world flight
January 6
First around world flight -
auto factories
US auto factories switch from commercial to war production. -
feb 19
February 19
Over 100 Japanese planes attack Darwin, Australia, to destroy its usefulness as a reinforcement base for the East Indies. [10]
Dutch actors protest obligatory membership of Culture Chamber. [1]
US President Franklin Roosevelt orders detention and internment of all west-coast Japanese-Americans. [1]
Japanese troops land on Timor. -
The Star
April 27
Belgium Jews are forced to wear stars -
Battle of Coral Sea
May 4
Battle of Coral Sea begins -
Losses at the Battle of Midway
June 7
(morning) The US aircraft carrier Yorktown sinks near Midway Island. [10]
Losses at the Battle of Midway: -
Pinsk, Russia
October 29
16,000 Jews killed in Pinsk, Russia -
Total War
January 13
Adolf Hitler declares "Total War" -
Stalingrad.
February 2
The remainder of the German 6th Army surrenders at Stalingrad. About 150,000 Axis soldiers died in the battle, another 150,000 were taken prisoner. In total, about 450,000 on both sides died. -
Take it to the Air
March 5
The Gloster Meteor jet aircraft makes its first flight in the United Kingdom. [5]
Anti-fascist strikes take place in Italy. [1]
(evening) British Air Chief Marshal Arthur Harris begins "The Battle of the Ruhr" -
LSD/Bombers
April 16
40 New Zealand bombers attack Haarlem Netherlands (85 killed). [1]
In Basel, Switzerland, Albert Hoffman, a Swiss chemist working at the Sandoz pharmaceutical research laboratory, accidentally consumes LSD-25, a synthetic drug. He experiences hours of unusual sensations and hallucinations. -
Tunis and Bizerte
May 7
American and British forces capture Tunis and Bizerte in North Africa. 160,000 German and Italian soldiers surrender at Tunis. -
Synagogue of Warsaw
May 16
German troops destroy synagogue of Warsaw. [1]
Jewish resistance in Warsaw ghetto of Poland is crushed. -
Düsseldorf, Germany
June 11
(evening) 783 British bombers attack Düsseldorf, Germany. 130 acres of the city are destroyed, in 882 separate fires. 1300 people are killed, and 140,000 made homeless. -
Operation Husky
July 10
(0245 hours) Operation Husky begins, with an Allied invasion of Sicily. -
air raid
August 2
(evening) British Bomber Command makes one last air raid on Hamburg, Germany, -
surrender of Italy
September 8
(1830 hours) On Algiers radio, US General Dwight Eisenhower announces the surrender of Italy. -
British bombers
British bombers attack Kassel, Germany -
Battle of Berlin
444 British heavy bombers attack Berlin, Germany, in the first attack of the Battle of Berlin -
supreme commander
December 24
US President Franklin Roosevelt appoints General Dwight Eisenhower supreme commander of Allied forces. -
Battle of Eniwetok Atoll
February 17
Battle of Eniwetok Atoll begins -
D-Day
June 6
(0000-0100 hours) Pathfinders of the United States 101st Airborne Division begin parachute landing in Normandy to set up the Drop Zones for the following main force -
The Gratest Show
July 6
In Hartford, Connecticut, USA, the world's largest circus tent catches fire at Ringling Brother's Barnum and Bailey Circus, killing 167 people and injuring 682. -
Allied land forces cross into Germany
September 11
Allied land forces cross into Germany. -
US troops capture Aachen, first large German city to fall.
October 21
US troops capture Aachen, first large German city to fall. -
First US units reach east coast of Okinawa, Japan.
April 2
First US units reach east coast of Okinawa, Japan. -
US President Harry Truman announces the end of the Second World War
August 14
(evening) US President Harry Truman announces the end of the Second World War -
CIA
January 22
US President sets up Central Intelligence Group, forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency -
Atomic Energy Commission
April 9
Atomic Energy Commission is formed. -
NAACP petition on racism,
October 23
NAACP petition on racism, "An Appeal to the World" presented to United Nations. -
First color newsreel is filmed, in Pasadena, California, USA
January 1
First color newsreel is filmed, in Pasadena, California, USA. -
First civilian to exceed speed of sound
March 10
First civilian to exceed speed of sound - Herb H Hoover, Edwards Air Force Base California. -
Israeli Air Force
May 20
First use of Israeli Air Force and first war victory, defeating Syrian army. -
First automatic street light
March 2
First automatic street light -
hydrogen bomb
January 31
US President Harry Truman reveals that he ordered the Atomic Energy Commission to develop the hydrogen bomb. -
Korean War.
July 3
First time US and North Korean forces clash in the Korean War. -
Communist imperialism
December 16
US President Harry Truman proclaims state of emergency against "Communist imperialism". -
"Cloud of Death"
January 15
"Cloud of Death" rolls down Mount Lamington, New Guinea, killing 3,000-5,000 -
Seoul
March 14
During Korean War, US/UN forces recapture Seoul. -
600,000 march for peace and freedom in Germany.
May 1
600,000 march for peace and freedom in Germany. -
First hydrogen bomb test
May 12
First hydrogen bomb test, on Enewetak Atoll -
First battery to convert radioactive energy to electrical is announced.
December 31
First battery to convert radioactive energy to electrical is announced. -
Puerto Rico approves their first self-written constitution
March 3
Puerto Rico approves their first self-written constitution -
Japan and the United States sign a formal peace treaty.
April 28
Japan and the United States sign a formal peace treaty. -
First video recording on magnetic tape
October 3
First video recording on magnetic tape, Los Angeles, California. -
US President-elect Dwight Eisenhower visits Korea to assess the war.
US President-elect Dwight Eisenhower visits Korea to assess the war.
