World War II
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These are mostly in chronological order.

 

1933

 

  1. Adolf Hitler Broadcasts.  Covering 1933 to 1945.  Mostly in German.

  2. Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  A compilation of his speeches, Fireside Chats, and news stories about him from 1933 to 1945.

 

 

1935

 

  1. Benito Mussolini.

    1. Mussolini announces the Italian invasion of Ethiopia.  In Italian and heard over EIAR (Ente Italiano Audizioni Radiofoniche - literally "Italian Entity for Radio Auditions"), an Italian broadcasting network, on October 3, 1935.  (24 seconds)

    2. Reporting of end of Ethiopian war.  English announcer reports on Mussolini's announcement.  Heard over EIAR on May 9, 1936.  (41 seconds)

    3. Coverage of Mussolin's address declaring war against the Allies.  Heard over WOR, New York.  Translations in English are provided.  Broadcast on June 10, 1940.  (16 minutes)

 

 

1936

 

  1. Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of Great Britain.  Several mostly short newscasts or clips about or featuring him.  From the BBC.

  2. King Edward VIII abdicates to marry Wallis Simpson.  Heard over NBC/WEAF at 5 p.m. on December 11, 1936.  (6 minutes, 51 seconds)

 

 

1937

 

  1. Father Charles Coughlin.  Five broadcasts by the controversial Roman Catholic priest who supported Hitler early on and expressed anti-semitism.

    1. Denounces the New Deal.  Heard over MBS/WOL, Washington, on April 11 1937 at 8 p.m.  (4 minutes)

    2. Jews Support Communism.  Heard over WHBI, Newark, New Jersey on December 11, 1938 at 7:30 p.m.  (58 minutes)

    3. Bonds and Neutrality.  Heard over WHBI, Newark, on March 12, 1939 at 7:30 p.m.  (62 minutes)

    4. Czechoslovakia Problems in America.  Heard over WHBI, Newark on March 26, 1939 at 7:30 p.m.  (62 minutes)

    5. Good Samaritan.  Heard over WHBI, Newark on September 3, 1939.  (64 minutes)

 

 

1938

 

  1. Bob Trout.  Two broadcasts from the famous World War II CBS newscaster who died in 2000 at the age of 91.

    1. January 1, 1938 over CBS/WBBM at 9:45 p.m.  Forecasting the news for 1938.  (45 minutes)

    2. May 22, 1943 over CBS/WNEW at 10:45 p.m.  News from London.  (15 minutes)

  2. Message from A. Harry Moore, Governor of New Jersey, during National Defense Week.  Gov. Moore exhorts the country to strengthen its defenses.  Heard over the Mutual Broadcasting System on WOR, New York on February 22, 1938 at 9:31 p.m.  (5 minutes).

  3. Raymond Graham Swing.  The well-known broadcast journalist comments on world events.  Heard over MBS/WOR at 6:45 p.m. on March 4, 1938.  (14 minutes)

  4. Czechoslovakia Radio (CZR) news clips.

    1. March 12, 1938.  Report on the Austrian Anschluss, the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany.  (9 minutes)

    2. May 23, 1938.  By shortwave radio.  German soldiers at the border.  (8 minutes)

    3. September 16, 1938.  War of words.  (5 minutes)

    4. September 18, 1938.  Refutation of German propaganda.  (2 minutes)

    5. September 18, 1938.  Speech by Milan Hodza, Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia.  (12 minutes)

    6. September 23, 1938.  On the brink of war over Sudetenland (regions of Czechoslovakia with heavy German populations).  (10 minutes)

  5. Commentary by Sigrid Schultz, Berlin correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.  Heard over MBS.

    1. From the Munich Conference.  August 18, 1938.  (8 minutes)

    2. Report from Berlin.  1 p.m. on March 1, 1940.  (10 minutes)

    3. Ravensbruck Concentration Camp for Women.  April 27, 1945.  (2 minutes)

  6. Eduard Benes, President of Czechoslovakia.  Two broadcasts.

    1. Appeal for calm and peace.  Heard over CBS/WABC at 1 p.m. on September 10, 1938.  (11 minutes)

    2. Czechoslovak army preparation for war.  September 13, 1938.  (32 seconds)

  7. Karl Henlein gives ultimatum to Eduard Benes.  Karl Henlein, leader of the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, gave an ultimatum to Czech President Eduard Benes: rescind martial law, recall the reserves to their barracks, withdraw the state police from the territory, and accept this by midnight or all negotiations would be called off. Czechoslovakia, he said, would be responsible for "further developments" if they failed to do so. And because Henlein took his lead from Hitler, the press and others concluded he meant war.  Heard over RRG at 6 p.m. September 13, 1938.  (3 minutes, 6 seconds)

  8. Fulton Lewis, Jr. reporting.  Several broadcasts between 1938 and 1942 by the Mutual Broadcasting System newscaster and heard over WOL, Washington.

  9. Jan Masaryk, Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia, speaks on the imminent invasion of the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia by Germany.  At the time of this speech, he was a Czechoslovak diplomat.  He served as Foreign Minister from 1940 to 1948, when he died in office at the age of 61.  The cause of his death has apparently never been satisfactorily settled.  From September 27, 1938.  (1 minute, 45 seconds)

 

 

1939

 

  1. German-American Bund Rally.  From Madison Square Garden, broadcast of a rally by the pro-Nazi group "German American Bund" (German American Federation).  From February 20, 1939.  (11 minutes)

  2. H. V. Kaltenborn.  Five programs from the famed radio commentator.

    1. Reports on the eve of war.  Heard over CBS/WABC at 10:30 p.m. on August 27, 1939.  Partial clip.  (5 minutes)

    2. European news commentary.  Heard over CBS/WABC at 6:45 p.m. on September 22, 1939.  (15 minutes)

    3. Edits the news.  Heard over CBS/WJR at 5:30 p.m. on October 16, 1939.  (15 minutes)

    4. Edits the news.  Heard over NBC/WMAQ at 6:45 p.m. on January 2, 1941.  (14 minutes)

    5. V.E. Day news.  With Morgan Beattty.  Heard over NBC/WEAF at 9:30 a.m. on May 8, 1945.  (25 minutes)

  3. German radio and reporting.  Several clips from 1939 to 1942.  Some are all in German, others have an English translation.

    1. August 27, 1939.  German foreign ministry warns Poland.  Heard over Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft (RRG), a German radio network.  (25 seconds)

    2. September 2, 1939.  Germany defends the invasion of Poland.  Heard over RRG  (2 minutes, 12 seconds)

    3. May 31, 1940.  Collapse of the Allied Forces on the Western Front.  Replayed by the BBC.  (37 seconds)

    4. May 24, 1941.  Reports the sinking of the HMS Hood.  Heard over RRG.  (49 seconds)

  4. King George VI of England.

    1. Declaration of war.  Heard over the BBC on September 3, 1939.  (1 minute, 54 seconds)

    2. Christmas message.  Heard over NBC/WJZ at 10 a.m. on December 25, 1939.  (7 minutes, 19 seconds)

    3. On victory in Europe.  Heard over ABC-Blue/WJZ at 3 p.m. on May 8, 1945.  (13 minutes, 50 seconds)

    4. The Royal Family greets VE day crowds.  Heard over ABC-Blue/WJZ at 3:16 p.m. on May 8, 1945.  (1 minute, 18 seconds)

  5. Fred Bates reporting the start of the war in Europe.  From London and heard at 1 a.m. over NBC/WEAF on September 27, 1939.  (10 minutes)

  6. Edward R. Murrow.  Several clips of the famed CBS newscaster and commentator from 1939-1945.

  7. BBC Newscasts by Alvar Lidell.  Announcements of major events during the war.  Covering 1939 to 1941.

  8. BBC News Clips.  1939 to 1945.

  9. Herbert Hoover.  Two speeches by the 31st president.

    1. Speech before a convention of the Christian Endeavor Society about the danger of the U.S. being dragged into war.  Heard at 10:30 p.m. July 6, 1939 over CBS/WABC.  (3 minutes)

    2. Speaking at the onset of the war and urges Congress to keep us out.  September 1, 1939.  (39 seconds)

  10. Jozef Lipski, Polish Ambassador to Germany  Brief clip of his speech on the war with Germany.  From September 1, 1939.  (1 minute, 4 seconds)

  11. New Bulletins.  Short, program-interrupting news bulletins heard over the various networks between 1939 and 1945.

  12. Dorothy Thompson comments on the German Invasion of Poland.  Dorothy Thompson was a highly regarded journalist and radio commentator of the time.  Heard at 1 p.m. on September 3, 1939 over NBC-Blue/WJZ.  (14 minutes)

  13. Elmer Davis and the News.  Five-minute newscasts heard at 8:55 p.m. over CBS/WABC.  These 77 newscasts are from 1939 to 1941.

  14. Charlie and His Orchestra.  Several recordings of the German Nazi propaganda swing band heard in Britain at 9 p.m., mostly on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Songs and broadcast dates are below.   These were often popular songs of the day interspersed with "Charlie's" (Karl Schwedler) anti-Allies and anti-British commentary.  Each is about 3 minutes in length.

    1. September 18, 1939.  "Who'll Buy My Bublitchky?"

    2. April 13, 1940.  "I'm Sending You the Siegfried Line"

    3. May 31, 1940.  "Thanks for the Memory"

    4. July 25, 1940.  "Nice People"

    5. February 10, 1941.  "The Sheik of Araby"

    6. June 22, 1941.  "Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen"

    7. July 10, 1941.  "Hold Tight"

    8. April 1, 1942.  "Japanese Sandman"

    9. April 19, 1943.  "Lill Marlene"

    10. August 27, 1943.  "Slumming on Park Avenue"

    11. March 1, 1944.  "I Double Dare You"

    12. April 17, 1944.  "Germany Calling" Newscast interspersed with song.

  15. Commercials and Public Announcements.  Commonly-heard announcements aired throughout the war (1939-1945) regarding conserving various materials, rationing, and so forth.   Some from the BBC.

  16. America's Town Meeting of the Air.  "What are the real issues in the European War?"  On NBC and heard over WJZ, New York at 9:30 p.m. on October 19, 1939.  (60 minutes)

  17. Lord Haw-Haw, German propagandist.  Lord Haw-Haw was the name of several announcers on the English language German propaganda program "Germany Calling."  The name was mostly applied to William Joyce, an American-born British citizen and German sympathizer.  The program was broadcast over German medium-wave station Reichssender Hamburg to Great Britain.  Mr. Joyce was ultimately hanged for treason by the British.

 

 

1940

 

  1. Prince Olaf of Norway.  Brief speech to Norwegians living abroad on the first day of 1940.  Heard over NBC-Blue/WJZ at 1:30 p.m. on January 1, 1940.  (2 minutes)

  2. Eleanor Roosevelt Show.  A series of shows discussing topics of interest to American women.  Heard in April and May of 1940 at 1:15 p.m. over NBC/WEAF.  (15 minutes each)

  3. Joachim von Ribbentrop, German Foreign Minister, makes a speech on Allied aggression toward Germany.  Heard on April 27, 1940 over Reichs-Rundfunk-Gesellschaft (RRG), a German radio network.  In German with English translation.  Not complete.  (3 minutes)

  4. Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State.  Two short broadcasts over the BBC.

    1. May 14, 1940.  Discusses local defense volunteers.  (1 minute)

    2. Jul 29, 1940.  Discusses the coming Battle of Britain.  (2 minutes)

  5. The Germans reach the English Channel at Abbeville.  Discussion and analysis by Major Leonard H. Nason and Colonel Charles Kerwood, analysts for Mutual news, of the event which occurred on May 21, 1940.  Heard over MBS/WOR at 9:15 p.m. on May 22, 1940.  (14 minutes)

  6. Princess Juliana of The Netherlands speaks about her asylum in Canada.  Juliana married a German, which caused some unhappiness among the Dutch people.  The Royal family left The Netherlands to avoid the German occupation.  Juliana would return in 1945, become Queen of The Netherlands in 1948, serve in that role until 1980, and ultimately pass away in 2004 at the age of 94.  Her husband died eight months later at the age of 93.  Heard over the CBC and WNYC at 4 p.m. on June 17, 1940.  Juliana  (5 minutes).

  7. European Comments.  Newscasts from Europe heard over CBS/WABC.  (about 15 minutes each)

    1. August 14, 1940, 8 a.m.

    2. August 16, 1940, 8 a.m.  Correspondent Larry LeSueur, who died in 2003 at the age of 93, is heard.

    3. August 19, 1940, 8 a.m.  Edward R. Murrow is heard.

    4. August 29, 1940, 8 a.m.  Eric Sevareid is heard.

    5. September 2, 1940, 7:45 a.m.

  8. WBBM (CBS) World News Today.  1940 through 1945.

  9. CBS Rebroadcast of Nazi announcment that Paris is an open city.  June 14, 1940.  (43 seconds)

  10. Arthur Mann in London.  Mutual newscast from London on Independence Day, July 4, 1940.  (14 minutes)

  11. Charles Lindbergh.  Five speeches by the famous aviator, who was opposed to U.S. intervention in the war in Europe.

    1. Partial speech on keeping American out of the war.  Heard at 11:15 p.m. over MBS/WOR on August 4, 1940.  (1 min, 12 sec)

    2. Speech from Manhattan.  Heard at 10:00 p.m. on April 23, 1941 over NBC-Blue/WMCA.  (25 minutes)

    3. Speech from Minneapolis.  Heard at 9:15 p.m. on May 10, 1941 over CBS/KMOX/WBBM.  (28 minutes)

    4. Speech from Madison Square Garden.  Heard at 9:30 p.m. on May 23, 1941 over MBS/WOR.  (23 minutes)

    5. Speech from Des Moines.  Heard at 11:05 p.m. on September 11, 1941 over MBS/WGN.  (9 minutes)

  12. "London After Dark."  A special broadcast about "life in a blackout" and what it was like to live in London, which had three air raid alarms this day.  Heard over WJSV/CBS (Washington, D.C.) at 5:30 p.m. on August 24, 1940.  (30 minutes)

  13. Paul Sullivan Reviews the News.  Comments, among other things, about the move toward a draft.  Heard at 5:30 p.m. on August 30, 1940 over CBS/WSJV/WBBM.  (14 minutes)

  14. J. Edgar Hoover giving a speech about the opponents of war.  From September 23, 1940.  (2 minutes, 4 seconds)

  15. Secretary of State Cordell Hull.  Portion of a speech to the National Press Club.  Heard over NBC-Blue/WJZ at 9:15 p.m. on October 26, 1940.  (2 minutes, 12 seconds)

  16. America First Committee.  "Defend America First."  Dedicated to a sane and sound defense for America. 

    1. Colorado Senator Edwin C. Johnson.  August 1940.  (14 minutes)

    2. Boake Carter, a news commentator who rose to fame covering the Lindbergh kidnapping, speaks against America going to war.  September 1940.  (14 minutes)

    3. James E. Van Zandt, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, interviews veterans of World War I.  Heard over NBC/WEAF at 9:30 p.m. on September 27, 1940.

    4. Col. Hanford McKnighter, past national commander of the American Legion and former Assistant Secretary of War speaking on HR 1776, a "war bill."  From 1941.

    5. Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana speaks about America's preparation for war.  Heard over CBS/WABC on February 1, 1941 at 2:30 p.m.  (14 minutes)

    6. Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana speaks about which countries could attack America.  Heard over NBC-Blue/WMCA on February 20, 1941 at 7:00 p.m.  (13 minutes)

    7. Arthur Capper, Senator from Kansas, advocates staying out of foreign wars.  Heard over CBS/WABC on February 7, 1941 at 10:30 p.m.  (14 minutes)

    8. Exhortation to elect candidates who will protect America from war.  Heard over CBS/WABC February 15, 1941 at 7:00 p.m. (15 minutes)

    9. Massachusetts senator David I. Walsh.  Heard at 10 p.m. over NBC/WEAF on February 20, 1941.  (14 minutes)

    10. Idaho senator David Worth Clark, who voted against Lend-Lease.  Preceded by the last 18 minutes of a speech by actress Lillian Gish urging the country to stay out of the war.  June 28, 1941.  (1 hour, 15 minutes)

  17. American Council of Education program about the Selective Service and the concerns and questions of college students.  Questions are answered by Lt. Col. Louis B. Hershey, Acting Director of National Selective Service and Frederick Osborn, Chairman of President Roosevelt's Advisory Committee on Selective Service.  Questions "most commonly heard on college campuses" are asked by Dr. Harry Woodburn Chase, Chancellor of New York University and Dr. Clarence Clement Williams, President of Lehigh University.  Heard on October 8, 1940 at 10:15 p.m. over CBS/WABC.  (15 minutes)

 

 

1941

 

  1. Alf Landon speaks against Lend-Lease.  Landon was a governor of Kansas and the 1936 Republican presidential nominee.  He is heard here over the NBC Blue network on WJZ, New York on February 24, 1941 at 10 p.m.  Landon died in 1987 at the age of 100.  (14 minutes)

  2. "News and Views with John B. Hughes."  News and commentary about the war in Europe.  Heard at 1:45 p.m. on June 23, 1941 over MBS/WGN.  (15 minutes)

  3. "Save Freedom Citizens Committee" is addressed by New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who was just appointed Director of the Office of Civilian Defense.  From Convention Hall in Philadelphia.  Heard over CBS/WNYC at 6:30 p.m. on July 19, 1941.  (13 minutes)

  4. General Charles De Gaulle.  Urges America to Join the Allies.  Heard on NBC/WEAF at 6:30 p.m. on July 14, 1941.  (4 minutes)

  5. Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, addresses the American Legion on the 23rd Armistice Day.  He discusses U.S. Navy encounters with German submarines.  Heard over MBS/WMPS (Memphis) at 9:30 p.m. on November 11, 1941.  (28 minutes)

  6. Arthur Hale, Confidentially Yours.  "Fifteen minutes of news behind the news."  Discussion of the growing Japanese threat.  Heard over MBS on WOR, New York at 7:15 p.m. on December 5, 1941.  (14 minutes)

  7. CBS News report on the fall of Wake Island.  December 23, 1941.  (29 seconds)

  8. December 6, 7, 8, & 11, 1941 CBS Broadcasts.  Begins with a newscast by CBS News from the day before covering the major issues around the world this day.  (188 minutes)

  9. December 7 & 8, 1941 NBC Broadcasts.

    1. Non-network-specific or combined network NBC broadcasts.  (59 minutes)

    2. NBC Red Network-specific broadcasts.  (568 minutes)

    3. NBC Blue Network-specific broadcasts.  (324 minutes)

  10. December 7, 1941.  Brief clip of a football game broadcast on WOR being interrupted to announce the Pearl Harbor attack.  (30 seconds)

  11. December 7, 1941.  Mayor Fiorello Laguardia addresses New York City over WNYC radio.  (9 minutes)

  12. December 7, 1941.  Sammy Kaye Sunday Serenade.  For the first 30 minutes, anyway.  On NBC.  After 30 minutes, initial reports about the bombing of Pearl Harbor that morning begin to come in.  Then there is a roundtable discussion from the University of Chicago entitled "Canada:  Neighbor at War."  (87 minutes, unscoped, tape 1526)

  13. December 8, 1941.  Address by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill about the attack on Pearl Harbor.  (21 minutes)

  14. News from Boston.  Heard over WEEI, Boston, at 7:15 a.m. on December 10, 1941 and featuring headlines from Boston newspapers and other news.  (16 minutes)

  15. John Daly.  The famed CBS reporter, newscaster, and later What's My Line Host reports on the Japanese attack on the Philippines.  Heard at 3:55 p.m. over CBS/WABC on December 10, 1941.  (4 minutes)

  16. Christmas In Europe.  Comment and features from London.  Heard on December 16, 1941 over WLW, Cincinnati.  Hosted by James Cassidy of WLW.  (14 minutes)

 

 

1942

 

  1. Gabriel Heatter.  Several programs featuring the famous news commentator.

    1. Outside the Astor Hotel in New York.  Heard in 1942 over MBS/WOR.  (14 minutes)

    2. One Year after Pear Harbor.  Heard December 7, 1942 at 3:15 p.m. over MBS/WWDC.  (3 minutes - not complete)

    3. Sinking of the U.S.S. Ranger.  Heard April 18, 1943 at 8:45 p.m. over MBS/WOR.  (10 minutes)

    4. Election Returns.  Heard November 7, 1944 at 8 p.m. over MBS/WCCO.  (14 minutes)

    5. On European Peace and Focus on the Pacific.  Heard May 8, 1945 at 9 p.m. over MBS/WOR.  (15 minutes)

    6. About VJ Day.  Heard August 13, 1945 at 9 p.m. over MBS/WOR.  (13 minutes)

  2. Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery.  Several announcements by Montgomery and heard over the BBC between 1942 and 1945.

  3. Command Performance. Ten shows over the period 1942 to 1945 with a war theme.  Heard over the Armed Forces Radio Service.

  4. America's Answer - Wartime Propaganda show.  Heard is Barry Woods on January 5, 1942 at 6:45 p.m. over CBS.  (15 minutes)

  5. "Don Winslow of the Navy."  By the makers of delicious Post Toasties.  The exciting adventures of naval intelligence officers, this time looking for submarines.  Heard at 5 p.m. on January 6, 1942 over NBC-Red/KFI.  (14 minutes)

  6. Lum and Abner.  Eleven shows between 1942 and 1944 with a war theme.

  7. Internment of Japanese-Americans.  Short radio segment of California Governor Culbert Olson discussing the internment of Japanese-Americans and the sensitive nature of the subject.  March 6, 1942.  (1 minute, 14 seconds)

  8. Robert H. Best, American-born Nazi propagandist, broadcasting from Europe. 

    1. Speaking against the actions of the U.S. in the war.  From Arpil 29, 1942.  (4 minutes)

    2. Running for every position everywhere.  From October 1944.  (4 minutes)

  9. Mutual Broadcasting System (MBS) reports.

    1. June 7, 1942.  Report on the Battle of Midway.  Heard at 2 p.m. over WIP, Philadelphia.  (20 minutes)

    2. August 26, 1943.  Paul Schubert comments on the latest news developments.  Heard at 10:30 p.m. over WOR.  (14 minutes)

    3. April 28, 1945.  Return home of prisoners of war.  From Camp Kilmer in New Brunswick, New Jersey.  (11 minutes)

  10. Dear Adolf--A letter to Hitler.  Presented by NBC in cooperation with the Council for Democracy.  This is a series of six letters written by poet Steven Vincent Benet (who died of a heart attack in 1943 at the age of 44).  The letter are based on real letters to Hitler written by real Americans.  Heard at 5 p.m. over NBC/WEAF.  Each is 15 minute in length.

    1. June 21, 1942.  Letter from an American farmer read by Raymond Massey. 

    2. June 28, 1942.  Letter from an American businessman read by Melvyn Douglas.

    3. July 5, 1942.  Letter from an American laborer read by James Cagney.

    4. July 12, 1942.  Letter from an American housewife read by Helen Hayes.

    5. July 26, 1942.  Letter from an American soldier read by William Holden.

    6. August 2, 1942.  Letter from a foreign-born American read by Austrian actor Joseph Schildkraut.

  11. Mobil Gas News.  "News While it is News."  Two broadcasts, each about 15 minutes, sponsored by Mobil Oil Company.

    1. April 20, 1942.  Report about Corregidor, among other things.  Heard at 7 a.m. over CBS/WBBM.

    2. August 16, 1943.  Well-known broadcast journalist Raymond Gram Swing comments on "History on the March."  Begins with advertisement about how to get more from every drop of gasoline as domestic rationing was about to get more severe.  Heard at 10 p.m. over NBC-Blue/WMAL.

  12. An American in England.  Written and directed by Norman Corwin, produced by Edward R. Murrow, and "broadcast from somewhere in the British Isles."  On CBS and heard over WABC, New York at 10 p.m.

    1. August 24, 1942.  "Women of Britain"  (30 minutes)

    2. August 31, 1942.  "The Yanks are Here"  (30 minutes)

    3. September 7, 1942.  "An Anglo-American Angle"  (28 minutes)

    4. December 1, 1942.  "Cromer, A Town in England"  (28 minutes)

    5. December 8, 1942.  "Home is Where You Hang Your Helmet"  (30 minutes)

    6. December 22, 1942.  "Clipper Home"  (29 minutes)

  13. Radio program "Big Town."  From September 1, 1942.  Starring Edward G. Robinson and featuring story with strange letters mailed from Occupied Paris.  (29 minutes)

  14. "Nazi Eyes on Canada."  A chilling, five-part CBC Radio production dramatizing what life in Canada might be like under Nazi rule.  From September and October 1942.   Each is about 30 minutes in length.

    1. September 27:  "Womanhood-Ellen Hayes"

    2. October 4:  "Flame in the House"

    3. October 11:  "Maritimes Under the Nazis"

    4. October 18:  "The Holly Metcalf and Bob Maxwell Story"

    5. October 25:  "Alameda"

  15. Canadian Prime Minister W. L. (William Lyons) Mackenzie King.  Two speeches heard over the CBC.

    1. September 27, 1942.  Speaking on Canada's three years at war.  (6 minutes, 20 seconds)

    2. May 13, 1945.  Speaking on V.E. Day.  (17 minutes, 40 seconds)

  16. Lux Radio Theater.  Four broadcasts with a war theme.  All heard over CBS/WABC at 9 p.m.

    1. October 26, 1942.  "Wake Island," starring Brian Donlevy, Robert Preston, and Broderick Crawford.  (61 minutes)

    2. February 28, 1944.  "Guadalcanal Diary."  Based on diary by Richard Tregaskis, a war correspondent for the International News Service who saw the action and recorded it in his diary.  Starring Preston Foster, William Bendix, and Lloyd Nolan.  (58 minutes)

    3. May 15, 1944.  "Action in the North Atlantic," starring George Raft, Raymond Massey, and Julie Bishop.  (55 minutes)

    4. January 8, 1945.  "I Never Left Home," based on a book by Bob Hope about his trip abroad.  Starring Bob Hope, Francis Langford, Jerry Colonna, and Tony Romano.  (57 minutes)

  17. Armistice Day Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.  Heard over the Mutual Broadcasting System on WOR, New York beginning at 10:57 a.m. on November 11, 1942.  (26 minutes)

  18. Army Hour Broadcasts.  Several from 1942 through 1945.

 

 

1943

 

  1. Mail Call.  Armed Forces Radio Service's program where mail from GIs is read by stars of the day.  Each program is about 30 minutes.

    1. January 9, 1943.  Groucho Marx and Judy Garland.

    2. June 30, 1943.  George Jessel and Paulette Goddard.

    3. January 5, 1944.  Jack Benny and Judy Garland.

    4. January 12, 1944.  Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.

    5. November 22, 1944.  Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters.

    6. January 31, 1945.  Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.

    7. March 21, 1945.  Burns and Allen and Harpo Marx.

  2. Madame Chiang Kai-shek (Soong May-ling).  Last of Chiang Kai-shek's four wives.  Born in 1898 and dying in 2003, she lived to be 105 years old.  Two speeches she gave while touring the U.S. in early 1943 lobbying for aid to the Chinese Nationalists.

    1. February 18, 1943.  Address to Congress.  Heard over NBC/WEAF at 12:30 p.m.  (3 minutes, 42 seconds)

    2. April 4, 1943.  From the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.  Heard over MBS/KHJ at 4:30 p.m.  (38 minutes)

  3. Roma Wine News.  Reports on the war from around the world.  Heard over MBS/KHJ at 6:15 p.m. on February 25, 1943.  (15 minutes)

  4. Fleetwood Lawton, Authority on European and Inter-American Affairs.  Mr. Lawton's commentary is heard over NBC-Red/KFI on March 19, 1943.  (14 minutes)

  5. "GI Jive."  A radio program first produced by the Office of War Information and then by the Armed Forces Radio Service.  "Presented by Yank, the army weekly."  Broadcast via shortwave.  A collection of 36 programs from 1943 to 1945.  Each is about 15 minutes in length.

  6. Kraft Music Hall with Bing Crosby.  Several programs with a war theme and/or wartime commercials.  Heard at 9 p.m. over NBC/WEAF.

    1. Guest is Bert Lahr.  Red stamp rationing.  March 25, 1943.  (27 minutes)

    2. Guest is Lucille Ball.  WAC promotion.  October 7, 1943.  (28 minutes)

    3. Guest is Bob Hope.  Fifth War Bond Drive.  June 15, 1944.  (29 minutes)

    4. Holiday Inn Christmas Program.  Buy war bonds.  December 14, 1944.  (30 minutes)

    5. Christmas program.  December 21, 1944.  (30 minutes)

  7. "Cavalcade of America."  Three broadcasts with a war theme.  Heard over NBC/WEAF.

    1. May 17, 1943, 8:00 p.m.  "Nurses Under Sealed Orders" starring Geraldine Fitzgerald.  (30 minutes)

    2. May 24, 1943, 10:00 p.m.  "Pharmacist's Mate First Class" starring Michael O'Shea and Alfred Drake. (29 minutes)

    3. September 20, 1943, 10:00 p.m.  "Vengeance of Torpedo Eight" starring Randolph Scott.  (29 minutes)

  8. Axis Sally (Mildred Gillars).  A broadcast from May 18, 1943.  (7 minutes, 23 seconds)

  9. Italian/Axis Propaganda Broadcast.  Heard in July 1943.  (4 minutes)

  10. "Battle Stations."  NBC's Department of Special Events cooperates with the U. S. Navy to produce the program.  Heard over NBC/WEAF.

    1. August 5, 1943 at 8:30 p.m.  Battle of the Atlantic.  (30 minutes)

    2. August 19, 1943 at 10:30 p.m.  The Navy's Air Arm.  (29 minutes)

    3. August 26, 1943 at 10:30 p.m.  Air Arm in World War II.  (30 minutes)

  11. John W. Vandercook news and comment.  Heard over NBC/WJZ at 10 p.m. on August 28, 1943.  (15 minutes)

  12. "Gerry's Front."  German propaganda broadcasts over both medium-wave and short-wave radio.

    1. September 21, 1943.  "To the Americans."  (63 minutes)

    2. May 19, 1944.  "To the British."  (46 minutes)

  13. "Dimes for Invasion."  October 2nd is National Newspaper Boy Day.  In cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, local newspapers and newspaper boys presented this program.  Hosted by Larry Elliot.  It starred Morton Downey and featured Associated Press war correspondent George Tucker, who had just returned from North Africa, and a boys choir.  Heard at 4:30 p.m. on October 2, 1943 over MBS/WOL.  (13 minutes)

  14. Dwight Eisenhower announces the surrender of Italy.  Heard over the BBC on September 8, 1943.  (18 seconds)

  15. "Crisco's Daytime Radio Newspaper."  Hosted by Bernardine Flynn with the news read by Durward Kirby (of later Garry Moore Show and Candid Camera fame).  Heard at 1:30 p.m. over CBS/WABC.  Each is 15 minutes in length.

    1. November 3, 1943.

    2. February 29, 1944.

    3. March 8, 1944.

  16. Christmas Eve in the Battle Zones.  Special program broadcast at 10 p.m. on December 24, 1943 over NBC/WEAF (pre-empting Amos 'n' Andy, Bill Stern's sports newsreel, and Fred Waring in "Pleasure Time").  Hosted by Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Bob Hope.  Also heard is President Roosevelt.  (1 hour, 15 minutes)

  17. CBC Foreign Correspondent Matthew Halton.  News reports by the Canadian correspondent.

    1. December 24, 1943.  Reporting on the attack by the 1st Canadian Infantry Division against the German 1st Parachute Division at Ortona, Italy.  (4 minutes, 29 seconds)

    2. January 4, 1944.  Report on the fall of Ortona.  (5 minutes, 11 seconds)

    3. August 26, 1944.  Report on the Liberation of Paris.  (3 minutes, 20 seconds)

    4. May 19, 1945.  Reporting on the difficult winter in Holland.  Heard over the BBC.  (44 seconds)

  18. "Christmas Reunion" with Robert St. John.  Heard at 2 p.m. on December 25, 1943 over NBC/WEAF.  Visits with "men in arms" all around the world, entertainment from Hollywood, and much more.  (114 minutes)

  19. "Special Christmas Package" for "you men in the armed forces of the United Nations."  Hosted by actress Linda Darnell.  Featuring the Andrews Sisters, Captain Robert D. Workman (Navy Chief of Chaplains), singer/actress Ginny Sims, Bob Hope, Lena Horne, General Arnold (Chief of Army Chaplains), and Fibber McGee and Molly.  Heard at 4 p.m. over CBS/WABC on December 25, 1943.  (31 minutes)

 

 

1944

 

  1. "Skelly News of the World with Alex Dreier."  Heard at 7 a.m. over NBC/WLS.

    1. February 5, 1944.  (15 minutes)

    2. May 13, 1944.  Lewis Roen sits in for Alex Dreier.  (15 minutes)

  2. "I Sustain the Wings."  This was a radio program featuring bands from the various armed services.  It was partly a recruiting effort, partly public relations, and partly entertainment.  Heard at 11:30 p.m. over NBC-Blue/WEAF.

    1. Band directed by Captain Glenn Miller.  February 12, 1944.  (15 minutes)

    2. Band directed by Captain Glenn Miller.  April 15, 1944.  (26 minutes)

  3. News from Norway.  Newscast, in English, about Germany's increasingly desperate situation in northern Europe.  Heard over the Norwegian radio network NRK (Norsk rikskringkasting) in March 1944.  (2 minutes, 13 seconds)

  4. "A Night in a Foxhole."  Recorded by Marine Combat Correspondent Technical Sergeant Fred Welker and Engineer Technical Sergeant Keen Hepburn right after the Marines swarmed ashore on one of the Marshall Island Atolls.  Made available by the public relations office of the Marine Corps.  Heard over CBS on March 24, 1944.  (15 minutes)

  5. Jill's All-Time Jukebox.  Four broadcasts of the music program heard over the Armed Forces Radio Service and directed to GIs.  All are 30 minutes in length.

    1. April 29, 1944.

    2. August 1944.

    3. September 12, 1944.

    4. November 21, 1944.

  6. Kay Kyser with the "Kollege of Musical Knowledge.  Heard at 10 p.m. over NBC/WEAF.  (29 minutes each)

    1. From El Toro marine base in California.  May 3, 1944. 

    2. From Ft. Bliss, Texas.  October 18, 1944.

  7. Colgate Sports Newsreel with Bill Stern.  Three shows with a war angle.  Heard over NBC/WEAF at 10:30 p.m.  (About 15 minutes in length each.)

    1. May 12, 1944.  J. Edgar Hoover is Mr. Stern's guest.

    2. July 6, 1945.  CBS commentator H. V. Kaltenborn is guest host.

    3. July 13, 1945.  CBS commentator H. V. Kaltenborn is guest host.

  8. "Report to the Nation" from CBS World News.  Hosted by foreign correspondent Quentin Reynolds with reports from CBS correspondents from around the world.  Heard at 10:30 p.m. over CBS/WABC on May 17, 1944.  (29 minutes)

  9. "At Ease."  Heard over the Armed Forces Radio Service.  Fifteen minutes of music to put you at ease.  No talking.  The song titles will be given at the end of the program.  From June 1, 1944.  (15 minutes)

  10. June 5, 1944.  General Eisenhower's speech to the American Expeditionary Force just before the D-Day invasion.  (1 minute, 40 seconds)

  11. June 6, 1944.  Collection of news clips on NBC and CBS reporting on the German broadcasts announcing the beginning of the Allied invasion of Europe.  Early on, these news reports from Germany are continually reported as unconfirmed by Allied headquarters in London or the War Department in Washington.  Heard are Morgan Beatty, Robert St. John, Richard Harkness, and Bob Trout.  (32 minutes)

  12. June 6, 1944.  Lowell Thomas News reporting on the invasion.  (12 minutes)

  13. June 6, 1944.  BBC newscast, including some coded "messages for our friends in occupied countries," reporting on the Allied capture of Rome, Eisenhower's D-Day announcement, Churchill's well-wishes to the Allied forces, a brief announcement in French, and reporting from the battlefield.   (12 minutes)

  14. June 6, 1944 CBS Broadcast Day.  Covers Eisenhower's pre-D-Day announcement, President Roosevelt's Fireside Chat from the day before about the fall of Rome, and most of the coverage by CBS News (referred to mostly as "Columbia's" coverage) on June 6.  Runs roughly 3:00 a.m. to 12 midnight, but not continuously.  Pretty cool stuff, and really not that much different in form from what we get today.  Reading of raw news off the wire interspersed with commentary by both CBS correspondents at home and in Europe and former and current military officers serving as analysts.   (557 minutes)

  15. June 6, 1944 NBC Broadcast Day.  Partial coverage of NBC's broadcasts of the D-Day invasion.  Begins with Robert St. John reporting the first bulletins to reach the U.S. about the Normandy invasion that had just begun.  Mr. St. John, who was born in 1902 and was thus 42 years old at the time of this broadcast, lived to be 100 years old and died in early 2003 just a month or so before his 101st birthday.  (248 minutes)

  16. June 7, 1944, CBS Broadcasts.  A little less than two hours' worth of regular CBS programming beginning at 12 noon with Kate Smith's show on the day after D-Day.  The programs are interrupted and sometimes preempted for invasion coverage.  (117 minutes)

  17. June 7, 1944.  Recorded report from George Hicks aboard the USS Ancon describing first-hand the action at Normandy.  (14 minutes)

  18. June 8, 1944.  Collection of BBC newscast clips.

  19. June 8, 1944.  CBS News. 

    1. 6:45 p.m.  Recorded Charles Collingwood report from a Normandy beach from June 6.  (15 minutes)

    2. 9:30 p.m.  Dinah Shore program interrupted for the final five minutes for a report from Bob Trout.  (29 minutes)

  20. June 8, 1944.  Canadian Broadcasting Corporation news clip.  Matthew Halton describes the welcome by French civilians of the Canadian army.  (39 seconds)

  21. Combined American Network (CAN) Broadcasts.  1944 and 1945.

  22. June 9, 1944.  Mutual Broadcasting System news carrying BBC's Radio Newsreel.  Fair quality.  (13 minutes)

  23. Amos 'n' Andy.  Two broadcasts with a war slant.  Heard at 10 p.m. on NBC over WEAF, New York.

    1. June 2, 1944.  "Nazi spy."  (26 minutes)

    2. June 9, 1944.  "Four shirts."  Not war-specific, but broadcast begins with a five-minute interruption by NBC News for an update by Don Hollenbeck on D-Day and other war events at the time.  (26 minutes)

  24. "Radio Newsreel."  Presented by MBS.  Aired at 11 p.m.

    1. June 9, 1944.  The sounds of battle in France via the BBC.  (13 minutes)

    2. May 5, 1945.  From the Belsen concentration camp via the BBC.  (30 minutes)

    3. May 9, 1945.  Paul Manning from Allied Supreme Headquarters.  Howard K. Smith describing the destruction of Berlin.  (14 minutes)

  25. New World A-Coming.  An African-American ("Negro")-oriented program originating on WMCA, New York, and hosted by Roi Ottley.  Heard at 3 p.m. over NBC-Blue.

    1. A statement by the Negro community concerning D-Day.  June 11, 1944.  (26 minutes)

    2. Tribute to Franklin D. Roosevelt.  April 15, 1945.  (30 minutes)

  26. Fifth War Bond Rally.  From Soldier Field in Chicago.  Heard over NBC-Blue/WJZ at 9:30 p.m. on June 19, 1944.  (29 minutes)

  27. WOR (Mutual Broadcasting System) Sinclair Headliner with Frank Singiser.  Except as noted, 6:30 p.m. broadcasts.  (HD)

    1. July 1, 1943.  Mr. Singiser substitutes for Gabriel Heatter.  (14 minutes)

    2. July 18, 1944.  (15 minutes)

    3. December 23, 1944.  (15 minutes)

    4. July 26, 1945 at 8:30 p.m.  (12 minutes)

  28. "GI Journal -- The radio newspaper of the AEF."  Three programs heard over the Armed Forces Radio Service.  Each is about 30 minutes in length.

    1. Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.  October 20, 1944. 

    2. Fibber McGee and Molly and Frank Sinatra.  January 12, 1945.

    3. Mel Blanc.  June 8, 1945.

  29. "Atlantic Spotlight."  NBC and the BBC combine their facilities to present a half-hour of "high spot" entertainment.  Ben Grauer in New York and Leslie Mitchell in London are hosts.  As heard over WEAF at 12:30 p.m. on October 21, 1944.  (30 minutes)

  30. BBC Interview of Bomb Victim.  Brief clip of the BBC's Audrey Russell interviewing a woman who had been pulled from under the rubble of her house, which had been bombed.  From November 1, 1944.  (32 seconds)

  31. Democratic National Committee program the day before the 1944 elections.  Introduced by Judy Garland.  Also heard are Humphrey Bogart and testimonials from soldiers.  Heard at 10 p.m. on November 6, 1944 over NBC/WEAF.  (53 minutes)

  32. "German Wehrmacht Hour."  Three broadcasts by the Allies and directed to German citizens.  Featuring the music of Major Glenn Miller and his band.  In German.

    1. November 8, 1944.  (41 minutes)

    2. November 15, 1944.  (29 minutes)

    3. November 22, 1944.  (23 minutes)

  33. NBC Radio Newscasts.

    1. Patton at Metz, France, among other stories, including not paying too much for your Thanksgiving dinner and the severe shortage of truck tires.  Heard at 6 p.m. over KSWO, Siskiyou County, California.  November 11, 1944.  (6 minutes)

    2. News from Around the World with James Stevenson.  Heard at 8:55 a.m. or WJZ on December 25, 1944.  (3 minutes)

    3. Success of Allied armies as the war winds down.  Liberation of Vienna.  April 13, 1945.  (13 minutes)

    4. Regular programming interrupted.  American and Russian armies meeting south of Berlin.  Heard at 11 a.m. over WMAQ.  April 26, 1945.  (9 minutes)

  34. "Thank You America."  "Let's Talk Turkey Turkey to Japan."  Presentation of NBC's War Bond Day and KPO, San Francisco.  With George Mardikian (owner of the Omar Khayyam's Restaurant in San Francisco), Rudy Vallee, Tony Freeman, and the KPO Orchestra.  Presented on Thanksgiving Day (November 23) 1944.  (14 minutes)

  35. "Five Years of War."  Special broadcast on November 24, 1944 and featuring NBC's top newscasters and war correspondents from around the world.  Hosted by Don Goddard, who spends the first few minutes talking about the significance of NBC's fourth chime.  (29 minutes)

  36. "Christmas on the Blue." Heard at 2 p.m. on December 25, 1944 over NBC Blue/WJZ.  This recording contains "Two full hours of the greatest Entertainment has to offer, brought to you by the Blue Network from Hollywood, New York, San Francisco, Paris, Pearl Harbor, and the European Battlefront. To make your Christmas a merrier one, you'll hear Paul Whiteman and his orchestra, Wendell Niles and Don Krendle, Lawrence Tibbets and Reese Stevens, Walter Winchell, the Andrews Sisters, Alan Young, The 'Life of Riley,' starring William Bendix, Andy Russell, Charlotte Greenwood, the Fred Waring Chorus, Ed Wynn and his son Keenan, Joe E. Brown, the Paul Taylor Chorus, Herbert Marshall, Westbrook van Voorhis, the famous voice of the March of Time, who will introduce our fighting men and women who are spending Christmas on far-flung battlefronts all around the world, and last, but not least, the woman who heads our cast of over 200 actors, singers, and musicians, our mistress of ceremonies, known to servicemen everywhere as "Our Gracie," Miss Gracie Fields!" (112 minutes)

  37. "Swing Around the Clock."  New Year's Eve program hosted by long-time Jack Benny announcer Don Winslow featuring bands and vocalists from around the country.  Heard at 11 p.m. on December 31, 1944 over the Armed Forces Radio Service.

 

 

1945

 

  1. Dorothy Kilgallen, the Voice of Broadway.  Guest is Bob Hope with much war conversation.  Miss Kilgallen died of "undetermined causes" in 1965 at the age of 52.  Heard over MBS/WOR at 6:15 p.m. on January 18, 1945.  (14 minutes)

  2. The Jergens Journal with Walter Winchell.  Short, rapid-fire news stories from around the world Apread by the famous commentator.  Heard at 9 p.m. over NBC/WJZ.

    1. May 18, 1941.  (15 minutes)

    2. February 25, 1945.  (10 minutes)

    3. April 22, 1945.  (11 minutes)

    4. April 25, 1945.  (15 minutes)

    5. April 29, 1945.  (12 minutes)

    6. May 6, 1945.  (11 minutes)

    7. July 15, 1945.  ABC/WJZ.  (15 minutes)

  3. "Headlines of Tomorrow" with Sidney Moseley.  Mr. Moseley was a "famous lecturer, author, and journalist.  Heard at 6 p.m. on February 26, 1945 over MBS/WOR.  (13 minutes)

  4. Battle of Iwo Jima.  A series of broadcasts about, during, and after the famous battle which began February 19, 1945 and concluded on March 26, 1945.

  5. General Douglas McArthur.  Two clips of this speeches.

    1. March 4, 1945.  At the flag-raising ceremony in Manila.  (49 seconds)

    2. September 1, 1945.  On the end of the war.  "The Holy Mission has been completed."  (2 minutes)

  6. "Feature Story," a "daily newsreel of events here and abroad" and featuring newscaster Harry Marble.  This installment features discussion of an upcoming (April 25) U.N. conference in San Franscisco.  Heard over CBS/WABC at 4:30 p.m. on March 20, 1945.  (14 minutes)

  7. Death of FDR.  Report from Dora Bateman of the BBC on British reaction to the death of FDR on April 12, 1945.  This broadcast was heard at 1 p.m. on April 13, 1945 over NBC-Blue/WLS.  (5 minutes)

  8. "Our Hour of National Sorrow."  Lengthy tribute to FDR heard at over NBC/WEAF at 8 p.m. on April 17. 1945.  (2 hours, 7 minutes)

  9. Harry Truman.  Several broadcasts featuring the new president.  All were heard over NBC/WEAF.

    1. Addresses Congress after FDR's funeral.  Heard at 1 p.m. on April 16, 1945.  (6 minutes)

    2. Expresses wish that FDR could have lived to see V.E. Day.  Heard at 9 a.m. on May 8, 1945.  (27 minutes)

    3. Awarding of the Medal of Honor to Jake W. Lindsey, who was a U.S. Army soldier and the only MoH recipient to receive the award before a joint session of Congress.  General George C. Marshall presented the award.  Heard at 1 p.m. on May 21, 1945.  (14 minutes)

    4. Announces dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.  Heard at 10:39 a.m. on August 6, 1945.  (21 seconds)

    5. Describes effort to defeat Japan's ability to make war.  Heard at 10:40 a.m on August 6, 1945.  (30 seconds)

  10. Report of the death of Ernie Pyle.  Pyle, probably the most famous reporter of the war, died in the fighting on Okinawa on April 18, 1945.  Heard over MBS and announced by Dave Driscoll.  (13 minutes)

  11. Drew Pearson and the News.  Two newscasts heard at 7 p.m. over NBC-Blue/WJZ.  (11 minutes each)

    1. April 22, 1945.

    2. May 6, 1945.

  12. Roger Krupp reports the news.  Reports on premature reports of Germany's surrender.  Heard over ABC-Blue/WJZ at 6 p.m. on April 28, 1945.  (4 minutes)

  13. Adolf Hitler is dead.  The radio program Symphonic Swing is cancelled for reporting on the death of Adolf Hitler.  Heard at 5:15 p.m. on May 1, 1945 over MBS/WOL.  (14 minutes)

  14. Dick Tracy.  Two episodes with a connection to the war.  Heard at 5:15 p.m. over NBC-Blue/WJZ.

    1. May 1, 1945.  Episode "Empty Safe."  Interrupted at the beginning for about 90 seconds with an announcement of reports of Hilter's death.  (15 minutes)

    2. May 8, 1945.  Episode "On the Trail of the Nighthawks."  Begins with mention of 7th War Bond Drive.  (14 minutes)

  15. CBS Report on the German surrender in Italy.  May 2, 1945 at 12:30 p.m.  (11 minutes)

  16. Coverage of tributes to the King and Queen and VE Day celebrations.  Reporting by Howard Marshall.  May 8, 1945.

    1. ABC-Blue/WJZ at 3:15 p.m.  (1 minute, 18 seconds)

    2. BBC at 11 p.m.  (1 minute, 17 seconds)

  17. KOIN, Portlant (CBS) report on what will be the official V-E Day.  May 7, 1945 at 12 noon.  (14 minutes)

  18. Ben Grauer.  Two special reports hosted by the NBC radio personality and heard over WEAF.

    1. President Truman speech to the United Nations Conference on International Organization from the War Memorial Opera House in San Francisco.  Broadcast at 7:30 p.m. on April 25, 1945.  Not complete.  (14 minutes)

    2. Coverage of the homecoming of "the liberator of Europe," General-of-the-Army Dwight D. Eisenhower from Tom Smith Stadium in Abilene, Kansas.  Broadcast at 1:15 p.m. on June 22, 1945.  (30 minutes)

  19. Jane Cowl.  The actress hosts a show with guest Frederick March featuring speculation about the imminence of V.E. Day.  Heard at 2:15 p.m. on May 4, 1945 over MBS/WOR.  (15 minutes)

  20. V-E Day News Broadcast.  May 8, 1945 at 9:45 a.m. over the ABC network and heard on WABC, New York.   (58 minutes)

  21. Norman Corwin "On a Note of Triumph."  Heard over CBS/WABC at 11 p.m. on May 13, 1945.  (59 minutes)

  22. "The Eddie Cantor Show."  From Camp Pendleton, California.  Heard at 9 p.m. on May 16, 1945 over NBC/WEAF.  (28 minutes)

  23. "Something to Think About."  Heard over NBC.

    1. May 29, 1945.  "Unlucky 13."  (5 minutes)

    2. May 30, 1945.  "American Vice-Presidents."  (5 minutes)

  24. "Voices of the Purple Heart Marines of the Fighting 4th Division."  "How much fear grips an American in combat?"  Special broadcast hosted by Paul Killiam.  Heard over WOR on June 1, 1945.  (15 minutes)

  25. Glenn Miller War Bond Show at Paramount Theater.  7th War Bond Drive.  A tribute to Glen Miller with many big band stars heard at 8:00 p.m. on June 5, 1945 over WNEW in New York.  (219 minutes)

  26. WMAQ (NBC) Alex Drier Weekly News Analysis.  11:00 a.m. broadcasts.  (HD)

    1. June 16, 1945  Discussion of the remaining war effort against Japan.  (14 minutes)

    2. August 11, 1945.  Much discussion of Japanese surrender terms.  (14 minutes)

  27. Robert St. John with the news.  From Des Moines, Iowa.  Commenting on the victory at Okinawa.  Heard at 10 a.m. over NBC/WEAF on June 20, 1945.  (14 minutes)

  28. "Soldier, novelist, historian, and humorist" Rupert Hughes comments on the news.  Heard over NBC/KFI at 3:30 p.m. on June 23, 1945.  (14 minutes)

  29. Chuckles in the News.  "Five minutes of the most unusual happenings of the day."  Some are war-related.  Hosted by Don Dowd and heard over ABC/WLS at 9:25 a.m. on September 25 and 26, 1945.  (4 minutes each)

  30. B-25 Bomber Crashes into Empire State Building.  Five newscasts covering the event which occurred on July 28, 1945.

    1. MBS at 11:00 a.m.  Paul Kilyen news report.  (13 minutes)

    2. NBC/WEAF at 11:00 a.m.  Don Goddard interviews by phone a man named Bill Kirby of the Grant Advertising Agency whose office was on the 76th floor.  (9 minutes)

    3. ABC/WJZ at 11:42 a.m.  Interview of John McTeague, who was in the building at the time.  (4 minutes)

    4. MBS at 12:25 p.m.  Barry Gray summarizes and reports the latest developments.  Ends with a very interesting recording of the crash itself.  In what more or less presages what we have today with video cameras on every street corner managing to capture almost anything that happens, it so happens that, a few blocks away from the site of this crash, someone in the offices of the American Society of Civil Engineers was dictating a letter and had his window open, and the sound of the plane's engines and the crash can be clearly heard in the background of the recording.  (6 minutes)

    5. NBC/WEAF at 1:15 p.m.  Herb Sheldon interviews two eyewitnesses to the event, Charlie Vail reports from the site, and Ray Barrett reports generally about the incident.  (14 minutes)

  31. RAF Group Captain Leonard Cheshire witnesses and describes the dropping of the Nagasaki atomic bomb.  Mr. Cheshire was in a B-29 at the time.  August 9, 1945.  (2 minutes)

  32. August 10, 1945, NBC/WEAF Broadcast Day.   Almost continuous recording from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. this day.  Coverage of the first news of the surrender of Japan along with regular NBC programming.   (about 800 minutes)

  33. "14 August" by Norman Corwin.  From CBS.  "A message for the day of victory by Norman Corwin."  Spoken by Orson Welles.  (16 minutes)

  34. The War is Over!  From August 11 and August 15, 1945.  A dial scan of the major networks on the end of World War II.  (55 minutes, tape 1527/CD139-mp3/CD 153-audio)

  35. "The Zero Hour with Ann and Her Orphans."  Japanese propaganda radio broadcasts with Iva Toguri ("Tokyo Rose") on 15.325 megacycles shortwave.  Recorded from a distance (DX) on what was undoubtedly not the best recording of equipment.  (all HD)

    1. August 14, 1944 (28 minutes).

    2. August 15, 1944 (52 minutes).

    3. August 16, 1944 (17 minutes).

    4. September 10, 1944 (31 minutes).

    5. June 15, 1945 (50 minutes).

    6. August 9, 1945 (51 minutes).

    7. August 11, 1945 (52 minutes).

  36. Richard Harkness on the Japanese surrender.  Have they really surrendered?  Heard over NBC/WRC at 11 p.m. on August 16, 1945.  (11 minutes)

  37. Japanese Surrender.  Two broadcasts from September 2, 1945 on NBC.

    1. From the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri.  9:30 p.m.  (33 minutes)

    2. Recap of the event.  10:16 p.m.  (17 minutes)

  38. Congressional Medal of Honor presentation.  To General Jonathan Wainright and heard over NBC/WEAF at 11:30 p.m. on September 19, 1945.  (28 minutes)

  39. Ad Club of Los Angeles World War II Recap.  Heard over KFI in October 1945.  (13 minutes).

  40. Final Broadcast of the American Broadcasting Station in Europe.  This station went on the air on April 30, 1944, and this final broadcast was made on December 31, 1945.  (43 minutes).

 

 

1946

 

  1. Sentencing of Hermann Goering and Rudolph Hess.  Read by Geoffrey Lawrence, main British judge during the Nuremberg Trials.  October 1, 1946.  (32 seconds)

  2. Goering Commits Suicide.  Arthur Gates reporting for the Combined American Networks from the Nuremburg trials on the suicide of Hermann Goering, Commander-in-Chief of the German Luftwaffe, the night before he was to be hanged.  From October 16, 1946.  (35 seconds)

 

 

1947

 

  1. George C. Marshall first proposes the now-famous "Marshall Plan" at the Harvard Commencement, June 5, 1947.  (43 seconds)

 

 

1948

 

  1. Edward R. Murrow.  "I Can Hear It Now--The Last Thirteen Years.  From 1948.  This is one of a series of narrated "historical albums" made by Mr. Murrow for Columbia Records.  (49 minutes)