The Great Strike Wave of 1945-1945 expanded as Ford Motors was idled due to wildcat strikes.
Contrary to the universal bliss myth so often assumed about the postwar world, the lid was coming off of labor relations as soldiers returned and wartime compromises, which oddly approached a sort of corporatism that fascist states had aspired to, ceased. It was flying apart.
The Japanese garrison on Celebes surrendered at Manado.
The Government of Belgium announced a 17,000 man commitment to the occupation of Germany.
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French and German troops withdrew from the Ruhr.
The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was organized by A. Philip Randolph, Milton Webster, and C. L. Dellums.
The Spanish Navy leveled Al Hoceima, Morocco.
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This entire controversy, largely forgotten outside of Belgium, where it would simmer for years, is hard to grasp, but it started with the unpopular move of surrendering to Germany, which was not supported by the Belgian people. He did not cooperate with the Nazis during the war and in fact was imprisoned during the war, but that did not suffice for people to forgive him. Additionally, he remarried during the war, being a widower, which people also held against him, as the poster above alludes to.
Churchill, Truman and Stalin continued to confer on politics and strategy,
US troops landed and took Balut Island in the Philippines.
Air raids over Japan continued, with P-51s now joining the effort as fighter bombers.
President Truman informed Prime Minister Churchill that the atomic bomb test had been successful in a stating: "Babies satisfactorily born."
Not so coincidently, American interest in Soviet participation in the war against Japan was noticeably lessened.
A fire broke out on the jetty of the Bedford Magazine during the evening causing a chain reaction of fires, explosions, and concussions that continued for more than 24 hours. Fifteen people were killed.
Captured German mines in Italy exploded destroying an American Red Cross club resulting in the death of 36 people.
Aircraft from the USS Wasp attacked Wake Island.
The U.S. Army Air Force, flying out of Okinawa, bombed Kiangwan airfield near Shanghai.
The Brazilian Expeditionary Force parades through Rio de Janeiro marking its return from Italy.
The Belgian senate voted to forbid the return of Leopold III.
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The U.S. surface naval raid on the Japanese home islands continued with the bombardment of Muroran, a steel making location. Air Force and Navy air raids also continued.
Australian troops captured Mount Batochampar on Borneo.
Blackout restrictions on London's West End were lifted.
Belgium's King Leopold III again refused to abdicate.
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Today in World War II History—June 16, 1940 & 1945: 80 Years Ago—June 16, 1945: US Tenth Army takes Yuza-Dake Hill on Okinawa. “Bell Bottom Trousers” becomes final military-themed song to hit US charts in WWII.
Lots of versions of this song were recorded in 1945, and all in close proximity. The one above is the one that hit the charts on this date.
Here's another version, same year.
Once there was a little girl who lived next to meAnd she loved a sailor boy, he was only threeNow he's on a battleship in his sailor suitJust a great big sailor, but she thinks he's very cute(With his bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue)(She loves her sailor and he loves her too)When her sailor boy's away on the ocean blueSoldier boys all flirt with her, but to him she's trueThough they smile and tip their caps, and they wink their eyesShe just smiles and shakes her head, then she softly sighs(Oh, bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue)(She loves her sailor and he loves her too)Then her sailor went to sea to see what he could seeShe saw that he ate spinach, now he's big as he can beWhen he's home they stroll along, they don't give a hootShe won't let go of his hand, even to saluteIf her sailor she can't find on the bounding mainShe is hopeful he will soon come home safe againSo they can get married and raise a familyDress up all their kiddies in sailor's dungarees(Oh, bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue)(She loves her sailor and he loves her too)
The song was hugely popular (I can recall my mother singing it), and was recorded five times in 1945. Interestingly, the last recording, in February 1945, by Louis Prima recalled the more bawdy earlier version.
When I was a lady's maid down in Drury Lane
My mistress, she was good to me; my master was the same
Along came a sailor, happy as could be
And he was the cause of all my misery
With his bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue
(She loved her sailor and he loved her too)
He asked me for a candle to light him up to bed
He asked me for a kerchief to tie around his head
And I, like a silly girl, thinking it no harm
Lay down beside him, just to keep him warm
With his bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue
(She loved her sailor and he loved her too)
(Trumpet Solo)
Early in the mornin', before the break of day
A sawbuck note he left for me before he went away
And he wrote a message that if I have a son
Let him be a sailor if he wants to have some fun
With his bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue
(She loved her sailor and he loved her too)
(Saxophone Solo)
LOUIS:
If it is a daughter, bounce her on your knee
And if it is a boy, send the begger out to sea
Singin' bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue
Oh, he'll climb the riggin', like the sailors used to do
LILYANN:
If my sailor I can't find on the bounding main
I am hopeful he will soon come home safe again
So we can get married, and raise a family
Dress up all our kiddies in sailor's dungarees
When I was in service in Rosemary LaneI won the goodwill of my master and did ITill a sailor came there one night to layAnd that was the beginning of my misery
He called for a candle to light him to bedAnd likewise a silk handkerchief to tie up his headTo tie up his head as sailors will doAnd he said my pretty Polly will you come too
Now this maid being young and foolish she thought it no harmFor to lie into bed to keep herself warmAnd what was done there I will never discloseBut I wish that short night had been seven long years
Next morning this sailor so early aroseAnd into my apron three guineas did throwSaying take this I will give and more I will doIf you'll be my Polly wherever I go
Now if it's a boy he will fight for the kingAnd if it's a girl she will wear a gold ringShe will wear a gold ring and a dress all aflameAnd remember my service in Rosemary Lane
When I was in service in Rosemary LaneI won the goodwill of my master and did ITill a sailor came there one night to layAnd that was the beginning of my misery
The 10th Mountain Division adopted the song during the war for their own fighting song, and produced these lyrics:
I was a barmaid in a mountain inn;
There I learned the wages and miseries of sin;
Along came a skier fresh from off the slopes;
He’s the one that ruined me and shattered all my hopes.
Singing:
[Chorus:]
Ninety pounds of rucksack
A pound of grub or two
He’ll schuss the mountain,
Like his daddy used to do.
He asked me for a candle to light his way to bed;
He asked me for a kerchief to tie around his head;
And I a foolish maiden, thinking it no harm;
Jumped into the skier’s bed to keep the skier warm..
Singing:
[Chorus]
Early in the morning before the break of day,
He handed me a five note and these words did say,
“Take this my darling for the damage I have done.
You may have a daughter, you may have a son.
Now if you have a daughter, bounce her on your knee;
But if you have a son, send the young man out to ski.”
Singing:
[Chorus]
The moral of this story, as you can plainly see,
Is never trust a skier an inch above your knee.
For I trusted one and now look at me;
I’ve got a bastard in the Mountain Infantry.
Singing:
President Coolidge signed the Federal Arbitration Act into law, allowing contractual facilitation of resolving private disputes through arbitration.
For some reason, I don't see the GOP supporting that today.
Imperial Russia's last Prime Minister Nikolai Golitsyn was arrested by the Soviets. He'd be tried and, of course, executed.
German miners in Dortmund stopped work in sympathy with the victims of the Stein mine explosion and a protest against dangerous mining conditions.
The Belgian airline SABENA (Societé anonyme belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation aérienne) started the air travel between Europe and Central Africa, the first airline to do so.
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The Red Army captured Gumbinnen, crossed the Warthen and approached Poznań. They also took Tannenberg, the site of a major German victory in World War One, where the Germans had begun demolishing key structures of the Tannenberg Memorial and where they also disinterred the remains of Paul von Hindenburg and his wife ahead of the Red Army's advance.
The U.S. Army took Titiz in the Ardennes.
The U-1199 was sunk by the Royal Navy off of Sicily.
The British landed on the northern tip of Ramree, Burma.
The US took Tarlac on Luzon.
The USS Ticonderoga was hit by two kamikazes.
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His address.
The Almighty God has blessed our land in many ways. He has given our people stout hearts and strong arms with which to strike mighty blows for freedom and truth. He has given to our country a faith which has become the hope of all peoples in an anguished world.So we pray to Him now for the vision to see our way clearly to see the way that leads to a better life for ourselves and for all our fellow men—and to the achievement of His will to peace on earth.
Roosevelt would be the only US President to be elected to more than two terms, and after him jealous Republicans caused the Constitution to be amended to prevent that reoccurring, which we can now all be grateful for as it will theoretically prevent Donald Trump from trying for a their term, should old age or dementia not remove him from politics before the end of his claimed current term. While still hated by some conservatives, FDR is the last American President who might be regarded as "great", although that status can be debated. He certainly was one of the best Presidents in the nation's history, and his long administration fundamentally altered the country and shaped the post war United States up until, it would seem, today.
Outgoing Vice President Wallace administered the oath to his successor Harry S. Truman, which had been the long standing tradition. It was the last time it would be observed. Wallace was dumped as insiders, including FDR, knew that FDR was on death's door and that the incoming Vice President would become President. Wallace was feared by many because of his very far left views.
The Germans started evacuating East Prussia.
The evacuation of East Prussia would be a major human tragedy, although one that receives very little attention as the Germans brought it upon themselves. The mass migration into the Reich would end centuries of German presence in what is now once again part of Poland.
The Red Army took Prešov, Slovakia.
The Hungarian Provisional Government entered into an armistice with the Allies.
The Allies progressed in the Ardennes and the French 1st Army commenced an offensive in the Vosges region.
The Nationalist Chinese took Muse, Burma.
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