1939-1941
I tried to picture this chain of events from my parents perspective- which meant not knowing what might happen next from day to day. Newspapers, radio broadcasts, and the occasional newsreel at the cinema would have vied with rumors and chatter on the street.
I thought I might get an idea of what they may have been seeing with front page newspaper headlines from the Brooklyn Eagle....
An ominous cloud had been gathering in Europe for some time. Hitler and the Nazi party had been increasing their power in Germany since the early 1930's, but in September, 1939, the same month that my parents celebrated their wedding, Germany invaded Poland, a British ally. Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand and Canada declared war on Germany. Still, many Americans felt far removed from the situation as FDR vowed to keep America out of the war in Europe.
Shipping across the Atlantic was no longer safe, as German subs and U boats attacked vessels.
1940
In the spring of 1940 Italy joined the war. German soldiers cut a pathway through Europe, attacking and conquering country after country. President Roosevelt was jolted out of isolationism and America moved rapidly into a defensive position.
By June, the Germans had entered Paris, forcing France to sign an armistice.
By July, the Battle of Britain had begun. Soon the "Blitz" produced air raids on major British cities. Between 1940 and 1941, over a million homes were destroyed, and 40,000 civilians killed.
Battle of Britain - Churchill's speech
In September 1940, Japan joined the Axis, bringing the war to the Pacific.
It became increasingly clear that America might headed toward war.... and in that case, New York City would be a prime target for enemy aggression. German U-boats were already plying the Atlantic. A draft was set up that fall to provide for U.S. troops in the event of a war. A generation of young men now registered for the draft.
In the midst of this tension, America faced a presidential election in November 1940. Roosevelt won and began his third and final term of office.
1941
In response to America's financial aid to Britain, German aggression struck closer to home.
As the war raced through the mideast and Africa, on Long Island, preparations for defense began amidst continued hopes for peace.
Pacific Concerns
July 1941
Aug 1941
Nov 26 1941
Nov 27
Nov 28
Nov 30
Dec 2
Dec 4
Dec 5
Dec 6
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. People in NY who had radios would have listened to the emergency broadcast by the government, telling of the attack, and advising local citizens to remain calm and wait for any emergency instructions.
Newsreel of Pearl Harbor Attack
Dec 11
America was at war and life in NY was changing. The next day, panic struck Long Island, as air raid sirens blasted amidst rumors of attack. The mayor ordered a million gas masks for civilians and evacuation plans were made to be put in to place in case of an attack.
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