Articles from 1945
Who knows, perhaps the author of Bad Day at Black Rock
It was written by YANK MAGAZINE’s Len Zinberg (1911-1968; a.k.a. Ed Lacy, a.k.a. Steve April); by that time, Zinberg was already an experienced writer with impressive credits and the magazine was lucky to have him. His writings at YANK helped to open the door at THE NEW YORKER, where much of his work was to be seen following the end of hostilities.
Nesei Homecoming (Yank, 1945) Read More »
A review of the Stuart Davis (1892 – 1964) retrospective that opened at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in the fall of 1945. The artist referred to his influences:
In my own case I have enjoyed the dynamic American scene for many years, and all my pictures (including the ones I painted in Paris) are referential to it. They all have their originating impulse in the impact of [the]contemporary American environment.
Stuart Davis: Thirty Years of Evolution (Art Digest, 1945) Read More »
In the aftermath of World War II Germany found themselves occupied by four armies; in the attached article General Eisenhower explained what the policy of the German occupation was to be:
‘His idea is that the biggest job for right now is riding herd on the rehabilitation of Germany’s political and economic structure…We are working toward a government of Germany by the Germans under the supervision of the Allied General Control Council,’ he said. The government will pass more and more under German civil control. At first we’ll have to look down the German’s necks in everything they do.’
-To read more 1940s articles about General Eisenhower, click here.
The Policy Behind the Occupation of Germany (Yank Magazine, 1945) Read More »
When this small piece was published there was a lot of talk concerning the blessings of the tin can. Recycling was in its infancy on the home fronts during the Second World War and tin played a big part for both the military (you can read about that here) and civilly (the home preservation of fruits and vegetables). This short article will tell you more about this helpful invention that aided in the allied victory.
The Tin Can (Click Magazine, 1945) Read More »
In this article,YANK MAGAZINE correspondent Al Hine summed-up all the assorted happenings on the 1945 Big Band landscape:
The leading big bands now are Woody Herman’s, Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton’s. Benny Goodman, who broke up his own band for the umpteenth time, is a featured performer in Billy Rose’s super revue, ‘The Seven Lively Arts’, but the maestro is said to be thinking of turning over his Rose job to Raymond Scott and making another stab at the band business.
The Big Band Scene (Yank Magazine, 1945) Read More »
In Honolulu, where the war began for the U.S., the first news of it’s ending reached a sleepy-eyed Chinese-American radio technician shortly after 1200 hours (12:00 a.m.) when he had just finished making his regular weekly check on KGU’s station transmitter and was ready to leave for home.
Stand by for important news about the Potsdam ultimatum.
Flight nurse, WACs and GIs all streamed from their barracks and joined the howling procession…
VJ Day in Honolulu (Yank Magazine, 1945) Read More »
Some of the highlights: Firecrackers, hoarded in Chinatown for eight years, rattled like machine guns… Servicemen and civilians played tug-of-war with fire hoses… Market Street, the wide bar-lined thoroughfare that has long been the center of interest for visiting GIs and sailors, was littered with the wreckage of smashed War Bond booths … A plump redhead danced naked on the base of the city’s Native Sons monument after servicemen had torn her clothes off. A sailor lent the woman a coat, and the pair disappeared.
VJ Day in San Francisco (Yank Magazine, 1945) Read More »
The big question for the United States is how long American troops are to occupy Japan. The Potsdam Declaration says that the occupying forces of the Allies shall be withdrawn from Japan as soon as the objectives outlined are accomplished and ‘there has been established in accordance with the Japanese people a peacefully inclined and responsible government.’
U.S. officials appear to be thinking in terms of an occupation of only 5 or 10 years. Japanese officials, however, in looking ahead to a resurgence of Japanese power, appear to be thinking in terms of 50 to 100 years.
Read about the German POWs who were schooled in virtues of democracy.
Japan Has Been Beaten. Now What? (United States News, 1945) Read More »
Attached is a 1945 article written for the many homesick GIs who wondered what musical treats they were missing in their absence. All the great performers are cataloged as well as a list of many of the most popular home front hits from the top forty.
Popular music back home hasn’t changed much. The same familiar bands play the new hit tunes.
Would you like to read a 1941 article about Boogie-Woogie?
Home Front Ditties (Yank Magazine, 1945) Read More »
The man who saved France in 1916 was condemned to die for nearly destroying France at Vichy in 1940, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by General Charles de Gaulle.
Pétain was the twelfth marshal of France to be condemned by a French court since 1440. Eight of them were executed.
Pétain: ”Life in Prison” (Maptalk, 1945) Read More »
