Photo of the Day

Reading the paper on February 1, 1945.

As American infantry continued their drive toward the German Siegfried Line of western defense yesterday, Soviet tanks and infantry smashed through Berlin’s outer defenses along a sixty-mile-wide front in the east and are now within sixty-three miles of the Nazi capital.

German war refugees who have sheltered in Berlin as well as native Berliners can now hear the guns and see the red glow of battle on the horizon.

German government photos of Warsaw residents arriving at the Pruszkow camp.

The Red Army has freed thousands from detention at the Nazi’s Pruszkow camp, which has held Jews and others expelled from Warsaw after the 1943 ghetto uprising there.

Hitler presents medals to members of the Hitler Youth on his birthday, April 20, 1945. He will commit suicide in 10 days.

Hitler has called on every German to rise to the country’s defense, warning that those who refuse to report to duty with the peoples’ army will be shot as deserters.

A house-to-house search for men of all ages to serve was said to be underway.

Naval construction battalion begins work at Subic Bay, Philippines, 1945.

In the Pacific, American gains on Luzon, the largest of the Philippine Islands, have enabled naval construction crews to begin repairs to the old Subic Bay Naval Base.

Inland, the American infantry has advanced to within twenty-five miles of Manila.

Idaho identical twins Boyd and Ralph Henderson both served during the war and together celebrated their 100th birthday in 2018.

The War Department has sent condolence to the Texas parents of the Brock triplets, age twenty, who enlisted together, served in France in the same regiment, and became casualties last month within days of each other.

Floyd Brock was killed in action on November 19. His brother Boyd was seriously wounded on November 16, and Lloyd was reported missing in action on November 20.

Times Square, 1945.

The federal War Production Board has imposed a nationwide ‘brownout’ in a bid to conserve coal, the primary fuel used to generate US electricity.

While street lighting necessary for public safety is still permitted, the new regulations ban outdoor advertising, store show window lighting and limit theater markee lighting to sixty watts.

Left: Priest celebrates mass for a group of Nazi officers, 1941. German government photo. Right: Priest celebrates mass for a group of American troops.

Sixteen hundred Christian ministers and religious leaders have signed a letter addressed to FDR, Churchill and Stalin, demanding that any postwar ‘deals’ or arrangements not involve the Vatican or the leadership of any Protestant, Jewish or other religious group.

‘When religious institutions become involved in politics, they lose their integrity and their freedoms,’ the group’s spokesman said, adding ‘it is basic to democracy that religion not be involved in either national or international politics.’

Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in "Love Finds Andy Hardy," 1938.

After four years of Nazi occupation, the residents of Nice, Cannes, and other cities along the once glittering French Riviera are hungry, and the lack of transportation has made it difficult for the Allies to ship supplies there.

Recently, police were called to a Nice movie theater to restore order during the screening of “Andy Hardy Goes to Town,” after a riot broke out over the showing of a large plate of cold salmon and caviar on the screen.

Authorities have since banned the showing of “The Private Life of Henry VII,” which contains banquet scenes featuring roast beef, fowl and other food.

Left: Congressman Louis Ludlow, 1937. Right: Alice Paul, women's rights advocate who worked tirelessly for women's suffrage and the equal rights amendment. She is shown here in 1920.

Congressman Louis Ludlow of Indiana, a staunch supporter of women’s rights, has introduced in the Congress the equal rights amendment which aims to remove legal barriers across the country which discriminate against women.

Noting that the amendment was included in both parties’ political platforms in the last general election, Ludlow reminds congressmen that, beginning in 1932, he has introduced the measure in each of the eight congressional terms in which he has served.

He claims the measure has the support of seventy-four congressmen.

Rita Hayworth. Bob Landry photo for Life Magazine, 1941.

And finally…

Speakers at the four-day family life conference at Catholic University have decried the ‘indecent’ pin-up girl pictures sent to servicemen overseas and called upon radio broadcasters ‘to recognize the place which God deserves on the radio.’

Advertisements which appeal to ‘man’s lower nature,’ such as those for ladies’ undergarments and perfume, were also singled out for criticism, as were comic books which teach children ‘violence, crime and even lust.’

Catholics were urged not to patronize movies which promote lifestyles contrary to the teachings of the Church.

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Keep the faith!

I’ll see you on Monday.

— Brenda

Stories from the New York Times.