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	27 Dec 2009

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Morale, Propaganda, and the U.S.A.
The Battle of the Atlantic raged on into1941 but at home people were relying on the arts to keep their spirits up. Noel Coward's Blythe Spirit opened in London. Tommy Handley's show It's That Man Again was broadcast by the BBC and a musical programme to boost Forces' morale was heard for the first time - it was called Sincerely Yours

In December 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour. America could no longer stay out of World War II. The following day Britain declared war on Japan in support of the United States.

Vera Lynn
Vera Lynn (born 1917) 'The Forces' Sweetheart'

A singer who did much to boost the morale of troops during World War Two
Among her songs were We'll Meet Again and The White Cliffs Of Dover
Made Dame of the British Empire in 1975

did you know?
In 1941 A Ration-Time Cookery Book was published called A Kitchen Goes To War. The war-time diet is considered healthier than many followed in the Nineties.

1936	George V dies Edward VIII becomes King Edward VIII abdicates George VI becomes King
1937	Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister
1938	The Munich Agreement is signed Germany annexes Austria
1939	World War II begins Conscription is introduced
1940	Churchill becomes Prime Minister Rationing is introduced
1941	The Atlantic Charter is formed Anglo-Soviet Treaty is signed
1942	The Beveridge Report is published
1944	Butler's Education Act
1945	Attlee becomes Prime Minister World War II ends
1946	National Insurance Act is passed National Health Act is passed The United Nations is founded

War Diary 1941
• January 22 Australian and British troops capture Tobruk

• January 14 Afrika Korps lands in Tripoli

• March 11 Lease Lend Agreement signed with US, Bulgaria joins Axis

• April 6 Germany invades Yugoslavia and Greece

• April 17 Yugoslavia surrenders

• April 26 Germans march into Athens

• May 10 Commons destroyed by bombing

• May 10 Rudolf Hess flies to Scotland

• May 20 Germans bomb Crete

• May24 HMS Hood sunk by Bismarck. More than 1300 dead

• May 27 Bismarck sunk. 1000 dead

• June 1 British and NZ troops evacuate Crete

• June 22 Germans invade USSR

• December 7 Pearl Harbour attacked by Japanese

• December 8 Britain declares war on Japan

• December 25 Japanese take Hong Kong

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