1944: ADOLPH HITLER GIVES HERMAN GOERING DICTATORIAL POWERS

July, 1944: The writing was on the wall. As the allied military of American, French, and British troops moved ever closer to Berlin from the west, the Russians were moving toward Berlin from the east. This graphic was re-formatted to fit the computer screen.

1995: WARTIME HAMILTON-WARTIME TRENTON

The Alice Mount in the article above was the fictional Hamiltonian whose name was the name of my Mom, Alice Mount Glover. Even though the keeper of this diary is fictional, the persons, places, and things written in this fictional diary are accurate accounts taken from the newspapers of the era, along with the memories of her then ten year old son, "Tommy" Glover. 

1943: THE VERY SCARY FIRST YEARS OF WWII ON THE HOME FRONT

I have written many columns dealing with life in Hamilton Township (and all of America) recalling sugar rationing, coffee rationing, rationing in general, Nazi submarines off the Jersey Coast, Japanese shelling Pacific Coast refineries, Japanese floating huge gas balloons armed with explosives and sent aloft to reach the west coast of the U.S., and as above, the AIR RAID! What a scary event that was to me as a young boy of 10! In my over indulgence of my comic book heroes Captain America, Captain Marvel, The Human Torch, and other comic characters who were also fighting the Axis powers during that era, my imagination ran amok. I was sure there were Nazi spies over at Kuser Farm.....and what about Vosseler's Grove over on Watson Avenue? The advent of that dreaded "AIR RAID!" signal from both Colonial and Rusling Volunteer fire companies added to that fear.

1944: AIR FORCE WWII SHOULDER PATCHES

1943: REMEMBERING WWII "RECYCLING"

Oh yes.....I remember it well. I suspect that there are not too many visitors to this blog who were around during World War II. For the younger set I recall how we flattened tin cans for the war effort. First we removed the paper  labels, washed any remaining food residue from the lid and interior of the can, opened the bottom of the can, inserted the 2 lids into the cylindrical can, stepped on it,and voila! Another bit of scrap for Uncle Sam to transform into reusable metal for war materiel. I also remember walking all over the neighborhood picking up discarded cigarette packs and gum wrappers, removing the foil lining by soaking the backing paper off, and rolling the foil into a round ball. At one point, I had a heavy "lead foil" ball of around 3 inches. Finally, I remember my Mom doing her part with a large coffee can on top of our kerosene stove. (no gas or electric for the Glover family back then, just that smelly old relic).After she fried eggs, bacon, or any greasy, fatty food, she drained the excess fat into the coffee can and saved it for the war effort. The glycerin in the grease was an integral part of the manufacture of explosives. Ahh, the memories!

1944: WORLD WAR II - THE FUTURE OF TELEVISION

"Even small television sets will probably have screens about 8 x 10 inches....in more expensive television sets, screens will be as large as 18 x 24 inches..." Mention "Coaxial Cable," Alliance "TENNA-ROTOR," Philco, Capehart, and DuMont, to any of us "old timers" and we will regale you with stories of our struggles to point that antenna toward Philadelphia or New York for the perfect picture. I remember seeing the very earliest 6 inch television sets; indeed, I picked one up at a flea market back in the 1960's, but lost it in a flooded basement a year or so later. My very earliest experience with television was on a Trenton Transit bus going down Liberty Street toward town. At the bus stop, a television set was on and through the open window I had a chance to get a very fleeting glance at the picture. Result: complete infatuation with the new medium. It would be 1948 before brother Bud went to Bond's Electric on Hamilton Avenue and purchased a 10 inch "Admiral Consolette."
Those MEMORIES DO LINGER!
Email me and tell me about YOUR first television set.
Our visitors will be interested.

1942: EARLY WWII SECURITY THREATS

My over-70 generation vividly recall those air raid sirens, blackouts, and the dreaded
"Fifth Column." The above article tells of the numerous threats to America during those few months following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although Russia was an ally fighting with us against the Axis powers, America still recognized the threat that the rampant Communist infiltration was bringing. As to the "Fifth Column," every industrial city and town worried that one of their major industries would be attacked.

1940: PATRIOT NUNS AT ST. HEDWIG'S TRENTON

These brave Sisters from St. Hedwig's Church in Trenton witnessed the horror of the Nazi Blitzkrieg back in the early years of World War II as the Nazi juggernaut smashed through Europe. Poland was the first victim of World War II beginning with the September 1939 bombing of the country.

1944: SGT. JACK POLITI

"There's no place like home for the holidays, and no matter how far away you roam. It's so nice to be happy in a million ways, for the holidays you can't beat home sweet home.."

Above is a photo of still another of our heroes from WWII. When this photo was taken before Christmas and after Thanksgiving, I would bet that Sgt. Puliti was doing his chores with memories of his family during the Thanksgiving-Christmas holidays of 1944.
As a soldier in Uncle Sam's regular army who spent 3 years away from the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I know the very deep emotional longing for home our military men and women experience when the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas come around. Say a prayer of thanks and gratitude to our brave young men and women who are serving our country all over the world in this year of 2009; especially those in harm's way in middle east. I know I will.

THE FOLLOWING RECEIVED FROM JIM POLITI, JACK'S BROTHER: (AUGUST 4, 2010)
Tom: thanks for your work, always admire your wonderful energy, and active life.
Posted a comment under anonymous regarding my Brothers photo, cleaning the barrel of his machine gun in Italy WWll in 1944 . I was out of high school in 43, and in gunnery school at the time of the photo. I'm a bit confused in signing in for a comment to any article, so I signed as anonymous. Regards and keep it going. I do have the clipping from the Trenton Times paper, of this picture

1945: WII TRENTON AREA GI'S MEET IN CHINA AND HAWAII

If you have been a regular visitor to this site you know of the undying love and respect I have for those members of "The Greatest Generation," most of whom are in their mid to late 80's, and passing on at an alarming rate. The above graphic is from the "World War II" folder in the Hamilton Library's digital data base.

1946: JUDGEMENT AT NUREMBURG

From the extensive "WWII" folder, this article on the pending sentences of the Nazi war criminals. Goering would committ suicide a very short time after these trials, escaping the hangman's noose.

1945: 44th INFANTRY BOYS RETURN TO CENTRAL JERSEY

I would bet that the hundreds of visitors to this site will see at least one name with which they are familiar. I note that Captain Ralph Abel, one of our Physical Education teachers at Hamilton West was among the first in the extensive list of World War II heroes who came back home to Trenton, Hamilton and central Jersey, many to be "mustered out."

1940: The War Clouds are Forming In Hamilton

Beginning in the 1930's when Adolph Hitler came to power, more and more articles were being written as the National Socialists took control of Germany and began to threaten world peace. Here in America, the German-American Bund openly demonstrated their allegiance to National Socialist Germany. Threats of the "fifth column" and sabotage were more and more prominent in the news. In Hamilton, the forward thinking town fathers decided to organize a municipal defense council.

1937: POLITICALLY CORRECT SECRETARY OF STATE CORDELL HULL

HOW PROPHETIC! BEFORE AMERICA'S ENTRY INTO WWII, AND WHILE THE ANTI-SEMITIC NAZI PARTY WAS COMING TO POWER IN POST WORLD WAR I GERMANY, MAYOR FIORELLO LAGUARDIA HAD ADOLPH HITLER'S "NUMBER" FROM THE GET-GO. FDR'S SECRETARY OF STATE CORDELL HULL WAS INCENSED THAT THE MAYOR WOULD INSULT "DER FUHREUR," CALLING HIM A "BROWN-SHIRTED FANATIC." WE LATER LEARNED THAT HE AND HIS FOLLOWERS WERE INDEED "BROWN-SHIRTED FANATICS.

1945 WWII: TOBACCO WAS ALL THE RAGE

MANY OF THOSE GI'S IN WWII GRATEFULLY OPENED THOSE LITTLE PACKS OF 4 CIGARETTES WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THEIR "C-RATIONS." HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN A MOVIE WHERE A WOUNDED GI IS LYING ON A GURNEY TO BE SENT TO A MEDICAL FACILITY, AND A BUDDY PUTS A CIGARETTE IN HIS LIPS. CIGARETTES WERE AN IMPORTANT PART OF MANY A FIGHTING MAN. THE HEALTH RISKS WERE JUST AS DANGEROUS AS TODAY, EVEN MORESO. THE WWII CIGARETTE DIDN'T HAVE FILTERS.

1940: LEADING UP TO THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN

This is one of the many articles I transcribed by typewriter Prior to my acquisition of a computer, OCR software and a scanner. It was transcribed in August, 1986. It is from the Trenton Evening Times of July 19, 1940.
It is a precursor to the historic “Battle of Britain.”

====================================================

FUEHRER MAKES IT
CLEAR HOSTILITIES
CAN END ONLY
ON TERMS OF
GERMANY
________________________
PUTS BLAME ON CHURCHILL

BERLIN, July 19 (AP):
Adolf Hitler, the conqueror of France, and the controller of a continent,
Tonight offered Great Britain a last chance to withdraw from the conflict or see destruction of her world empire and terror for millions.
He spoke for an hour and thirty­ five minutes before the Reichstag, to offer "still another appeal; this time the last-to reason."
He did not outline the conditions for a peace that will end a conflict which, he said, it is senseless to prolong. But he made it perfectly clear that any peace must be on the terms of Germany.
He set no time limit for Britain's answer to this "last" appeal, and gave no clue to the conditions un­der which he might be disposed to open peace talks. In this respect his "peace ap­peal" was simply in appeal to the British to come to their senses and sue for peace before it is too late.
He emphasized that "I am not the vanquished, begging favors, but the victor, speaking in the name of reason." Supreme Confidence suggested Hitler's every word, every ges­ture suggested the most supreme con­fidence as he warned Prime Min­ister Churchill that if he insists on a fight to the finish "I prophesy destruction of a great empire, an empire it was never my intention to destroy or even harm."
With a stab of his hand Hitler swept back the lock of hair which regularly falls over his forehead, and continued: "Possibly Mr. Churchill will again brush aside this statement of mine by saying it is merely born of fear and doubt in our final vic­tory. In that case I shall have re­lieved my conscience in regard to things to come. ”Hitler warned the people of Great Britain that their leaders "probably have no real conception of what it will mean, once the German offensive begins in earnest against the British Isles." Referring to Britain's air war against German munitions centers and other strategic points, Hitler said: "A short time ago Churchill be­gan to bomb the civilian popula­tion in Germany.”
Answer to Be Terrible
"I have thus far hardly answered this bombardment. But when my answer comes it will be terrible for millions of people."Churchill should for once be­lieve me; a great world empire then. will be destroyed. And this war will not be ended before one of the two combatants is down and out. "Churchill may think it will be we who will be down and out. But I will make a prophecy, just by way of exception: I know that destruction of England will be the end of further struggle. My conscience compels me to appeal once more to England's common sense. I am not doing that as a defeated man, but as a victor."
Briefly touching on Russo-German relations, Hitler declared, these had been "fixed once and for all by a clear delineation of spheres of interests," and that British efforts to lure Moscow into an anti-German front were not only futile but foolish. Victory in this war, Hitler also asserted, will be a victory for both Italy and Germany, and "the wrongs of both will be righted."
Italy, the Fuehrer said, had en­tered the war entirely of her own accord without any pressure from Germany. his action, however, had helped to make the French realize more speedily the hopelessness of fur­ther resistance. And, once Italy was in the war, Italo-German military and political cooperation was complete, "and the end of it will be a joint victory."
Arriving today from Rome, Count Galeazzo Ciano; Italian for­eign minister and son-in-law of Premier Mussolini, occupied a place of honor in the front row of the diplomatic corps box. Ciano will discuss axis problems with German officials tomorrow and will catch a night train home. Says Bloodshed Unnecessary
All the bloodshed of the past 10 months could have been avoided, Hitler said, for it was not Germany who wanted war. The great aim of the Nazi movement, he ex­plained, was simply to "strike off the shackles of Versailles;" and it would have been possible to achieve this aim peacefully. His pre-war policy in pursuit of this aim, he said, was two-fold: "Real friendship with Italy and a similar relationship with Eng­land."
At Munich, in September, 1938, it even seemed as though this peaceful revision actually would be realized, he told his uniformed audience. It was a time when, "thanks to growing common sense, it ap­peared as though international co­operation might lead to peaceful solution of the remaining prob­lems. But the agreement to this end, signed in Munich on Septem­ber 29, 1938, by the four leading interested States, was not only not welcomed in London and Paris but was actually condemned as a sign of abominable "weakness."
The Munich agreement was con­demned and sabotaged, he went on, because peaceful revision threatened to upset the plans of "Jewish capitalist war-mongers, free-Masons, armament manufacturers and war profiteers, international business men, and Stock Exchange jugglers."
And so it came about that Po­land was "pushed into war" and the peace offer Germany made after conclusion of the Polish cam­paign denounced as "cowardly."
Hits British Troops
In the subsequent Norwegian campaign, which he explained was necessary because of an Allied at­tempt to hit at Germany through Scandinavia, German soldiers met “very brave" resistance from Nor­wegians troops. But the British there, he continued, were poorly trained, badly equipped and "defi­nitely inferior in every respect."
Turning to the great westward push through Holland, Belgium and France, Hitler disclosed that the capture of Paris was not in the original plan of campaign, but after Paris was taken, encircle­ment tactics made possible the rushing of organized French military resistance and left Mar­shal Henri Petain no choice but to sue for peace.
In asserting there was "no real round for prolongation of the war," Hitler confessed he felt only "disgust" at the prospect of a fight to the finish. But "from Britain I now hear only a single cry; not from the people but from the politicians ­that the war must go on. In neither this world nor the next," he exclaimed bitterly, "can (Prime Minister) Churchill and Reynaud (former French Premier) answer for the suffering they have brought upon their people.”
Hitler said German losses, "from the polar regions to the Spanish border, were extraordinarily small. We are prepared for much greater losses," said Hitler. “The men saved now are available to carry on the fight for freedom." At the moment many of our di­visions are returning from France. Many are on leave. Weapons and equipment are being repaired or being replaced by new. The loss of weapons in Norway and especially in Holland, Belgium and France was extremely insig­nificant, and in no proportion to the results achieved. The army and air force are stronger than they were at the beginning of the action in the West. War materials are being pro­duced in such quantities that in some departments it actually is necessary to slow down manufac­ture because of a lack of storage facilities. Thanks to the four-year plan, Germany is prepared to assume the heaviest burdens. We possess today the two most im­portant raw materials: coal and iron in, I dare say, unlimited quantities."
Reviewing the latest revelations in the German white book, Hitler said "Churchill will not be able to lie away" messages allegedly ex­changed by French Generalissimo Maxim Weygand, former French Premier Daladier and others in con­nection with the alleged planned northern campaign of the Allies. He charged the "misuse" of Scandinavian lands by the west­ern powers was particularly ob­vious."
The Fuehrer said German meas­ures anticipating the English and French occupation of Norway con­stituted "one of the boldest strokes of German arms,"
Even while the Norwegian cam­paign still was under way, he said reports became "more and more threatening."
Says Allies Make Task Easy
"On the French-Belgian border a great concentration of French troops took place with the obvious purpose of striking a lightning blow at Germany over Belgian ter­ritory," he declared. But, Hitler asserted, the enemy actually made the German task easy by the vast concentration of western forces in a limited area. "I saw there the necessity of two military actions," he went on. "First, the smashing of mechanized forces on our right wing; second, reaching the sea:"
Hitler went back to his original aims.
"Since establishment of the Na­tional Socialist regime its foreign policy has had two objectives he told the Reichstag.
"First, true friendship with Italy; second, the establishment of simi­lar relations to England. I have published these thoughts and defended them in countless speeches. I am still sad today that despite all my efforts it hasn't been possible to achieve that friendship with England which 1 believe would have been a blessing for both peoples,
"But I am happy the first part of the foreign policy has been realized. I am thankful first of all to the genius who stands today at the head of the Italian people. Only due to him has it been possible to bring together the two revolutions which have so much in common, and now finally by a common flowing of blood to seal the bond which is destined to bring Europe together in a new life."
Declares Italy Great Aid
Hitler said Italy's attitude had been a great aid to Germany. "From the beginning Italy took from our enemies the freedom of strategy;" he declared, "It entered the war on its own free decision.
Our gratitude must, therefore, be so much greater. Our coopera­tion in political and military fields is complete. At the end stands common victory."
Throughout Hitler's speech ran a high note of personal praise for the armed forces and the German people; capped by the announce­ment that Field Marshal Hermann Wilhelm Goering has been ele­vated to the position of Reich's marshal of Greater Germany In addition, may now wear the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. Colonel General_ Wa1ther Brauchitsch, the army commander ­in-chief, and Colonel General Karl Rudolf Gerd von Runstedt,
Commander-in-chief in Poland, were made field marshal generals, and other generals were promoted field marshal.
Goering closed the Reichstag session after the singing Deutschland Ueber Alles and the Horst Vessel song.
"Never before has there beet such a session," the newly-pro, noted marshal general said. "You my Fuehrer, again and again stirred the German people up. To the world you even gave prophesies of vast magnitude,
"Today nobody can deny all your prophesies had usual fulfill­ment."

1947: ANOTHER POST WAR HOUSING PROJECT

CHECK OUT THE RENTAL RATE ON THESE APARTMENTS, STILL STANDING ON SOUTH OLDEN AVENUE BETWEEN LIBERTY STREET AND CEDAR LANE. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF HOUSING BEING BUILT IN THESE EARLY POST WWII YEARS. HOUSING WAS IN GREAT DEMAND AND THERE WAS A TERRIFIC SHORTAGE FOR RETURNING VETERANS.

1945: THE USS INDIANAPOLIS TRAGEDY

OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD MANY REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION ON THE TERRIBLE LOSS OF LIFE ON THE USS INDIANAPOLIS JUST BEFORE THE END OF THE WAR. THE LATE BOB MCLAUGHLIN WAS A FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR OF MINE FOR OVER 45 YEARS. HE WAS ON A MISSION WHICH BROUGHT HIM AND HIS SHIP TO THE SCENE FOR A POSSIBLE RESCUE MISSION.

1945: VJ DAY AT STATE AND BROAD

UNFORTUNATELY, MY WEBMASTER DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO ARRANGE GRAPHICS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER. THIS, AND THE FOLLOWING GRAPHICS ARE CENTERED AROUND THE SURRENDER OF THE JAPANESE AND VJ DAY AS SEEN LOCALLY IN THE MERCER COUNTY AREA.
TIMES SQUARE IN NEW YORK WAS CROWDED, AS WAS STATE AND BROAD STREETS IN CENTER CITY TRENTON.

1945: THE END IS NEAR FOR THE SONS OF NIPPON

NO, THE GRAPHIC ABOVE IS NOT A TORN PAGE. IT IS JUST A PORTION OF THE FRONT PAGE OF THE TRENTON EVENING TIMES WHICH IS IN MY COLLECTION. THE FULL PAGE IS TOO LARGE TO BE LEGIBLE WITHIN THE CONFINED SPACE OF A COMPUTER SCREEN.