Category: World War II

Marking the 80th Anniversary of “an ever-famous American victory”: A Look at the US National Archive’s Battle of the Bulge Records

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, Military Records, World War II

Today's post was written by Duncan Bare, archives technician at the National Archives in College Park. Winston S. Churchill famously described the Battle of the Bulge as “undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and […] an ever-famous American victory.”[1]  As the German offensive commenced at around 5:30 am on December 16th, 1944, however, … Continue reading Marking the 80th Anniversary of “an ever-famous American victory”: A Look at the US National Archive’s Battle of the Bulge Records

Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, Military Records, World War II

Today’s post is by Rachael Salyer, Subject Matter Expert for Modern Military Records at the National Archives in College Park, MD. RG 498 UD 584 Box 4021 Artwork File This winter marks the 80th anniversary of the German attack that began the Ardennes Offensive, or the Battle of the Bulge, during World War II. In … Continue reading Honoring the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) in World War II

by ncurrie, posted in African American History, Army, Finding Aids, Hollywood and Film, Women's History, World War II

Today’s post is by Rachael Salyer, Subject Matter Expert for Modern Military Records at the National Archives in College Park, MD. Photograph of WAC Officers Inspecting the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, Feb 15, 1945 (NAID 531249, Local ID: 111-SC-200791) In early 1945, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion became the only Women’s Army Corps … Continue reading The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and the Women’s Army Corps (WACs) in World War II

The Values of an Index: A Statistical Analysis of the Index of Case Files from Record Group 228: Records of the Committee on Fair Employment preserved by the National Archives at Philadelphia

by John LeGloahec, posted in African American History, Civil Rights, Electronic Records, Executive Branch, World War II

Today's post is written by John C. Harris, Archives Technician at National Archives at Philadelphia with a special thanks to Michael Demofonte, Archives Technician, Archives II, Research Services, Digitization Division for his editorial feedback and helping me make sense of the data. Introduction: Data. It is a daunting word for those of us who entered … Continue reading The Values of an Index: A Statistical Analysis of the Index of Case Files from Record Group 228: Records of the Committee on Fair Employment preserved by the National Archives at Philadelphia

80 Years Later: Documenting the Loss and Honoring the Sacrifices of D-Day

by ncurrie, posted in Finding Aids, World War II

Today's post was written by Rachael Salyer, archivist in the Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Soldiers Presenting Arms on a Beachhead , Jun 12, 1944 (Local ID: 111-SC-320872; NAID 176888636) June 6, 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the start of the Allied invasion of Normandy during World … Continue reading 80 Years Later: Documenting the Loss and Honoring the Sacrifices of D-Day

“Blood and Determination and Then Victory” – Digitized Operations Reports Related to D-Day

by ncurrie, posted in Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, World War II

Today’s post is by Rachael Salyer, Archivist in the Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives in College Park, MD. End of First Phase Map of France, June 1944 (NAID 18558251) The Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives in College Park, MD (Archives II) has custody of numerous records that document U.S. Army operations … Continue reading “Blood and Determination and Then Victory” – Digitized Operations Reports Related to D-Day

Escape and Evasion Reports, World War II

by ncurrie, posted in Digitization Projects, Finding Aids, World War II

Today's post was written by Bob Nowatski, archivist in the Basic Processing and Textual Accessioning unit at the National Archives in College Park, MD. When we think of United States airmen in the European theater during World War II, we may picture rugged veterans who flew numerous missions, or soldiers who were killed in combat … Continue reading Escape and Evasion Reports, World War II

“Nuts” Redux

by ncurrie, posted in Cold War, State and Foreign Affairs, World War II

By late December 1960 and early January 1961, the last 30 days of the Eisenhower presidency, the U.S. relationship with Fidel Castro-led Cuba had deteriorated to the point where formal relations were about to be severed.  On December 31, 1960, the U.S. embassy in Havana reported that the Cuban “revolutionary press” was carrying stories that … Continue reading “Nuts” Redux

We Will Be Remembered: Taylor Swift’s Grandfathers and Their Unsung Military Service

by ncurrie, posted in Music, Navy, Marines, & Coast Guard, World War II

Today's post was written by Katherine Terry, archives technician at the National Archives at St. Louis Keep your helmet, keep your life, son Just a flesh wound, here’s your rifle Crawling up the beaches now “Sir, I think he’s bleeding out” And some things you just can’t speak about - “epiphany” In the vast landscape … Continue reading We Will Be Remembered: Taylor Swift’s Grandfathers and Their Unsung Military Service

cartoon w/Hoover in center surronded by vignettes of FBI agents duties

Happy Birthday FBI!

by ncurrie, posted in Crime, Justice, and Intelligence, FBI Records, World War II

Today's post was compiled by the Special Access and FOIA Program staff at the National Archives at College Park, MD "Warning from the FBI" ca. 1941-1945 (NAID 516039; Local Identifier 44-PA-2313) In the Special Access and FOIA Program at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland, we conduct a review of records for information protected … Continue reading Happy Birthday FBI!