Images of female factory workers have become shorthand for ever-growing mobilisation of USA for war; like this "We Can Do It!" poster by Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller, created to encourage workers at the Westinghouse Company. It was only on display for two weeks, last month. https://t.co/jirgWj9oqU
Up to five million women across the USA have joined war industry, taking opportunities for factory work left vacant by men joining military- including rare chances for black women to get well-paying jobs. https://t.co/DmxQQAEBP0
Over 300,000 women are now working in American aircraft industry, 65% of the industry’s total workforce- up from under 1% before USA joined the war. Like this Texan turret lathe operator building transport planes: https://t.co/hiCVgfFStP
LIFE magazine features American female factory workers, replacing men on the front line of US industry; like Florence “Woo Woo” DiTullio Joyce, one of 2000 "Winnie the Welders" working in the war effort. https://t.co/zugkZAXrl6
442 Royal Air Force aircraft have raided Essen, targeting the Krupp steel works. Only 153 planes dropped their bombs within three miles of the target- usual poor accuracy for British "strategic bombing". https://t.co/a5DTMYOWwl
British Bomber Command has launched the "Battle of the Ruhr", planning strategic air raids to cripple German industry in the Ruhr Valley. First target: Essen. New York Times map shows the Allied bombing targets in Europe since start of this year: https://t.co/GQYwUnhCV9
Indian independence campaigner Mohandas Gandhi has ended a 21-day hunger strike in British captivity, protesting his arbitrary detention by the colonial Raj government. He drank a glass of fruit juice. https://t.co/ryhyk4ZYKt
15th annual Academy Awards ceremony has been held in Los Angeles, USA; strong wartime flavour to this year's Oscars. Winner of Outstanding Motion Picture, Best Director & Actress is "Mrs. Miniver", drama about a British housewife during the Blitz: https://t.co/i8R3egMpyt
Stalin promotes himself to Marshal of the Soviet Union; Communist Party newspaper Pravda declare him to be the "greatest strategist of all times & all peoples." https://t.co/pkpawuotqq
Brilliant counterattacks by German Afrikakorps under command of Rommel have slowed the Allied advance into Tunisia- but now American, British & French are closing in: https://t.co/ho4dXWwb3Z
Mareth Line- built by French colonial government of Tunisia as the "African Maginot Line", & captured intact by Germans- stretches across the rocky Tunis desert in a network of trenches & bunkers: https://t.co/iyHhQJL4X5
In Tunisia, Allied advance has trapped German & Italian forces with their backs against the Mediterranean- British troops are closing on Axis defences of Mareth Line. https://t.co/mJRo7froZa
Cameras on Australian Air Force planes record “smashing of the Bismarck convoy” in an Allied propaganda coup (although they overestimate 22 . Japanese ships destroyed). Watch now: https://t.co/l3rObHYEn4
Battle of Bismarck Sea ends after three days of relentless Allied air attack on Japanese troop convoy headed for New Guinea. 12 Japanese ships sunk, more damaged, ~3000 troops killed, attempt to reinforce South Pacific outposts a failure. 6 US & Australian planes shot down. https://t.co/fn6mw7zixU
Stalin ordered Vlasov not to withdraw his Second Shock Army when Axis forces threatened to surround them near Leningrad; Vlasov refused to be evacuated away from his men, but now condemns "Stalin's disregard for the life of the Russian people." https://t.co/hanSc3aLji
Soviet General Andrey Vlasov, captured by Germans last year after his troops were encircled, has defected to the Nazis. He's published an open letter, "Why Have I Taken Up the Struggle Against Bolshevism", urging Russians to rise against Stalin. https://t.co/Qu8VZgZjqZ
Dr. Martin has been ordered to complete silence, as British government censors news of the disaster, for fear of inspiring German attacks- or embarrassment at admitting the death toll. More: https://t.co/8OLnxPooMk
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