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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 17, 2018 12:26:32 GMT -5
September 1, 1939: Invasion of PolandTensions reached their boiling point on this day, with Germany invaded Poland, eventually with the help of the Soviets. With this act, Germany had set the course of history for the next six years and plunged the world into a war on which a scale has never been seen before or since.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 17, 2018 12:36:02 GMT -5
September 7, 1940 - May 11, 1941: The BlitzPerhaps in preparation for an eventual invasion of the UK, Germany began a campaign of aerial bombings against the UK to weaken and demoralize them. The last major power to stand against Hitler in Europe, they refused to back down, and made an ultimately successful stand against Germany. The strategic failure of the campaign was clear: the UK would not fall easily, and by mid 1941 Germany turned its attention to the Soviet Union, in preparation for Operation Barbarossa.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 17, 2018 12:44:34 GMT -5
December 7, 1941: Attack on Pearl HarborThe United States was neutral for the first two years of World War II, with actions being limited to helping Britain by sending convoys under specific conditions and some Americans volunteering to fight in China (the flying tigers). But everything changed with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Recognizing the US Pacific fleet as the only true threat to their expansion of control, the attack was meant to demoralize the Americans and prevent them from taking action. Tactically successful, it was ultimately a failure strategically. The attack enraged, rather than demoralized the Americans, and the sinking of battleships proved pointless as the Aircraft carriers, which were not present at Pearl Harbor, survived and played a far more important role in the war. Furthermore, the oil reserves and repair yards were undamaged, meaning almost every ship attacked at Pearl Harbor could be repaired on the spot. Ultimately, bringing the United States into the war tilted the scales, and from that point on, World War II's path had been set.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 17, 2018 13:00:04 GMT -5
June 4-7, 1942: The Battle of MidwaySix months after Pearl Harbor, the war in the Pacific suddenly underwent a massive change in dynamic. By the conclusion of the battle the Japanese had lost four aircraft carriers and the Americans only one. the significance was undeniable: the loss of four aircraft carriers crippled Japan's naval air arm, with four of the six carriers that attacked Pearl Harbor sunk Japan could not be as aggressive as the United States from this point on. Japan would never launch another major offensive for the rest of the war.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 17, 2018 13:08:42 GMT -5
August 23, 1942 - February 2, 1943: Battle of StalingradThe defeat of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad was a heavy blow to the Nazis; all of the gains they had made on the Eastern front for the past year had effectively been wiped out, German morale had shattered and Germany's reputation as being invincible had been broken. Germany's offense against Russia had failed, and now it was on the defensive for the rest of the war.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 17, 2018 13:18:19 GMT -5
June 6th, 1944: Operation OverlordGermany was now fighting a two front war, as the Soviets came at them from the East and an allied attack came from the South via Italy. But when an allied force landed at Normandy on June 6, 1944 the stage was set for the fall of Germany, now forced into a three-front war. From Normandy the allies would liberate France and go on straight to Germany itself.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 21:56:35 GMT -5
August 6-9, 1945: Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and NagasakiFor the first and only times in human history, nuclear weapons were used in warfare. In a decision that changed the course of history, President Truman ordered the bombs be dropped. The use of these weapons was a contributing factor to the Japanese surrender in World War II, and the end of the war as a whole. Many argue the bombs should never have been dropped. Consider this though: other than the atomic bombings the United States only had three real options against Japan: 1) Naval blockade and starve Japan into submission. 2) Continue the conventional bombing campaign against Japan already taking place. 3) Amphibious land invasion of Japan. All three of these options had their flaws; namely, they did not provide for a quick conclusion to the war, and most estimates suggested that the casualties that would result from an invasion of Japan would be exponentially greater than the casualties that would result from the atomic bombs. The debate may never be settled, but it was these bombings that ultimately resulted in Japan's surrender and the end of World War II
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 22:16:31 GMT -5
October 16, 1946: 10 Prominent Nazis executedSentenced to death in the Nuremberg Trials, the hammer of justice fell hard on these war criminals. Although Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler and Joseph Goebbels all committed suicide before they could be brought to justice, 24 top Nazis were arrested and brought to trial. Although one was acquitted on account of poor health and another committed suicide before trials began, 21 were found guilty of various crimes and received sentences. 11 were sentenced to death and scheduled to be hanged on this day. In a final act of defiance though, Herman Goering swallowed poison before he could be hanged, leaving 10 others to be hanged. Though many Nazi war criminals remained on the run, the death of ten of the most prominent sent a clear message to the rest of the world: the Nazi's were defeated, and to any followers still alive: your leaders are dead
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 22:28:07 GMT -5
April 15, 1947: Jackie Robinson breaks the Color BarrierThe first African American to play for Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson made history when he made his MLB debut as a first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Despite resistance from some parties in the industry, ultimately he went on to become an iconic figure in sports and in 1997, the number 42 was retired across all baseball teams, in honor of the player who marked the beginning of the end of racial segregation in professional baseball.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 22:38:24 GMT -5
January 30, 1948: Gandhi assassinatedThe leader of the Indian Independence movement who advocated for nonviolent civil disobedience was assassinated on this day. A figure who many admired, and an eventual source of inspiration for Martin Luther King Jr. At his funeral, more than two million people joined a five mile long procession; a fitting farewell for one of the most prominent figures in Indian history.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 22:48:19 GMT -5
February 10, 1949: premiere of Death of a SalesmanConsidered one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, and perhaps even the Great American Play, Death of a Salesman received great acclaim and went on to become an important part of the American cultural tradition; with Willy Loman becoming one of the stage's most iconic characters, and Arthur Miller effectively reinventing the tragedy with this play. In the time of the Greeks and Shakespeare, tragedy often befell kings and others with great power, with their death impacting many and all. But Miller wrote a tragedy about an ordinary man, whose death left minimal impact on the world... perhaps even more tragic than the fates of Othello, Hamlet and Macbeth.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 23:02:01 GMT -5
March 29, 1950: "McCarthyism" is coinedDuring the period in American History known as the second red scare, Senator Joseph McCarthy became infamous for accusing many of people of having communist sympathies, destroying the lives of anyone and everyone he could. His accusations of subversion and treason with little regard for evidence became known as "McCarthyism" thanks to Washington Post editorial cartoonist Herbert Block. Although McCarthy's reign of terror was eventually brought to an end, his legacy of baseless accusations in the name of patriotism unfortunately continues to this day; contemporary playwright Arthur Miller even wrote his other great work, The Crucible, as an allegory of the McCarthyism of the time.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 23:07:24 GMT -5
April 1951: Release of Rocket 88Widely considered the first rock and roll song, this single by Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm (though credited to Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats) changed the sound of music in the American song catalog. The song hit number one on the Billboard R&B chart and went on to influence an entire generation of music to follow.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 23:18:57 GMT -5
October 6, 1952: The Mousetrap premieresThe play written by legendary mystery novelist Agatha Christie debuted on this day in London; where performances continue to this very day. It has had over 25,000 performances (the picture below is from 2006), and has become legendary for its twist ending (which audience members are asked to keep a secret when they leave) and has become an important part of British culture.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 23:29:34 GMT -5
April 13, 1953: Casino Royale is publishedThe first James Bond novel by Ian Fleming debuted on this day. From here, James Bond went on to become an important British cultural staple, spawning 11 more novels and more than two dozen films, with six men going on to portray the iconic MI6 agent to date.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 19, 2018 23:38:06 GMT -5
April 26, 1954- Seven Samurai is releasedThis universally acclaimed Japanese film is held in high regard among movie critics, and is one of the most remade, reworked and referenced films in history- including the American interpretation, The Magnificent Seven, which would be released in 1960. This story of seven samurai (technically ronin) hired by a town to protect them from bandits who threaten to steal their crops went on to influence many films to come... including Star Wars
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 20, 2018 0:03:00 GMT -5
July 17th, 1955: Opening of DisneylandThough not the first theme park, Walt Disney nonetheless made history with Disneyland, the first theme park built by Disney. It took 17 million dollars, one year and one day, but 15 acres of orange groves in Anaheim, California had been turned into Disneyland. Unfortunately the opening day of Disneyland is remembered as "Black Sunday" because: .The park was overcrowded due to counterfeit tickets .There were no working water fountains due to a plumber's strike; the fact that Pepsi was a sponsor didn't help the image .Stands began running out of refreshments .The asphalt did not set right the night before; the 101 degree weather made it soft and women's heels got stuck in it .A gas leak shut down half the park To save face, Walt invited the press for a private Disneyland experience some time later- and it was much better received. Disneyland has gone on to become an iconic staple of American culture and spawned what would eventually become a chain of parks around the world.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 24, 2018 16:21:21 GMT -5
June 29, 1956: Federal Aid Highway Act becomes law
Transportation in the United States would be made easier by the passage of this law. President Eisenhower signed this law with the intention of allocating money to build more than 40,000 miles of roadways across the country, which would become the Interstate Highway System.
Granted, planes are faster, but the roads constructed made driving from New York to Florida, and everywhere in between, much easier.
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 24, 2018 16:33:13 GMT -5
October 2, 1957: Premiere of The Bridge on the River KwaiTelling a fictional story inspired by the Japanese use of POWs to construct railways during World War II, the film went on to receive great acclaim and won seven academy awards, including Best Picture. Despite criticism from some British World War II veterans over the inaccuracies the film is regarded today as a classic
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Post by frankthetriviaman on Aug 24, 2018 16:45:56 GMT -5
July 9, 1958: Lituya Bay MegatsunamiMost tsunamis don't get much bigger than 30 to 50 feet. But on this day in Alaska, a megatsunami 1,722 feet tall formed due to a rock collapse into the bay. Thankfully because of the remote location, there were very few deaths. Even today the scars of the tsunami are seen; on the rocks you can distinctly see where the tsunami washed away the trees
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