-
Pittsburgh
"Thousands of persons of all faiths, attending the county fair, joined in a peace demonstration as Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany." -
Germany Invades Poland
The day after the Gleiwitz incident, German forces invaded Poland from the north, south, and west. As the Germans advanced, Polish forces withdrew from their forward bases of operation close to the Polish-German border to more established lines of defence to the east. After the mid-September Polish defeat in the Battle of the Bzura, the Germans gained an undisputed advantage. Polish forces then withdrew to the southeast. It ended on September 6, 1939. -
Pittsburgh
"The Pirates played their first night game in Forbes Field." -
France Surrender To Germany
A new government is formed with World War I hero Marshall Petain at its head. On June 17 the aging warrior announces in a broadcast to the French people that “It is with a heavy heart that I tell you today that we must stop fighting.” This is the final straw that breaks the back of the French resistance to the German invasion. The French government calls on the Germans for an armistice that will end the fighting. -
Pittsburgh
"Pittsburgh was shocked over the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor." -
Japenses Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the morning of December 7, 1941. The next day the United States declared war on Japan resulting in their entry into World War II. -
Battle of Midway
The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II.Between 4 and 7 June 1942. Approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea and six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Navy defeated an Imperial Japanese Navy attack against Midway Atoll, causing irrepairable damage on the Japanese fleet. -
Hitler Commits Suicide
The death of Adolf Hitler happened in Berlin, where he committed suicide by gunshot and cyanide poisoning. For many decades, a lack of public information as to the whereabouts of Hitler's remains, confused reports stemming from the "dual method" of suicide and other circumstances surrounding the event stirred rumors that Hitler may have survived the end of World War II. -
Pittsburgh
"Pittsburgh district industries laid off 7000 workers as the first cancellation of a war contract became effective," -
FDR dies
FDR served for 2 terms and during World War 2. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage (a stroke) (aged 63) while vacationing in Warm Springs, Georgia. Truman later became president on that same day and made his exceptance speech.