1941
Contents
1941
DECEMBER 26
Churchill addresses Joint Session of Congress and receives a rousing ovation, but says allied offensive must wait until 1943.
DECEMBER 23
Concerned about the safety of the founding documents of the United States in wartime Washington, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are removed from their display space at the National Archives and are transported in a special sealed container to temporary storage at the U.S. Gold Depository at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. On Oct. 1, 1944, with the danger to the mainland United States passed, the documents are returned to public display in Washington.
DECEMBER 22
Prime Minister Churchill arrives at the White House as the guest of President Roosevelt for the Washington Conference.
DECEMBER 19
Colombia severs diplomatic relations with Germany and Italy.
DECEMBER 15
US Secretary of the Navy tells Congress that 2,729 were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.
DECEMBER 12
US declares war on Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria after receiving those country's declarations of war against the US.
DECEMBER 11
In response to Germany and Italy's declaration of war, the US reciprocates and declares war on both Germany and Italy. Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua also declare war on Germany and Italy.
DECEMBER 08
President Roosevelt addresses the U.S. Congress, saying that December 7 is "a date that will live in infamy." After a vote of 82-0 in the U.S. Senate, and 388-1 in the House, in favor of declaring war on Japan, Roosevelt signs the declaration of war.
DECEMBER 07
The US begins mobilisation.
DECEMBER 06
President Roosevelt sends a last minute plea to the Japanese Emperor for peace.
DECEMBER 04
The Japanese Embassy in Washington begins to leave, destroying code books and personal files in the process.
DECEMBER 01
US-Japanese talks continue, Roosevelt curtails holiday.
