Anti-Communism Propaganda Newsreel

I think you will find this very interesting. If you really want a sense of how Americans viewed communism and the threat it represented, this newsreel certainly give you that. I found the commentary about the shopping centers strange and almost amusing. What are your impressions of this clip?

Japanese Surrender on the U.S.S. Missouri (Sept. 2nd, 1945)

Thanks to SM2 for sharing this video link. It is quite interesting to see and hear MacArthur speak. I also thought it was neat to see all of the individuals who signed the surrender document. Can you imagine what was going through the minds of the Japanese diplomats? How about the Americans?

Jackie Robinson (slideshow)

This slideshow provides a terrific photographic record of the amazing baseball player, Jackie Robinson. His story is a truly great one, and it would be well worth reading a good biography of him if you are interested.

The Berlin Airlift (Newsreel)

Described in the newsreel as "the most outstanding transport achievement in the history of aviation," the Berlin Airlift was critical to keeping West Berlin "alive." Until I watched this, I was unaware of the use of "flying boats" as part of the operation. If you watch carefully, you will see a young boy eating some of the chocolate that one of the pilots tosses from his cockpit window. Overall, I found this informative, even though it is far from being of documentary quality. Does anything stand out to you?

Nazi Labor Camp Survivor Makes Football History

Thanks to Mrs. Lewis for sharing this story. Of course, you knew that Texas football had something to do with it. I think you will find the story very interesting, even if you aren't a Texas fan.

"Iron Curtain" Speech (Winston Churchill)

This is one of the more famous speeches of the 20th century. Churchill delivered this speech on March 6th, 1946, at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. He was one of the first to recognize the new threat that was the Soviet Union. The Cold War would last for another 45 years ending in 1991. When you hear the cities he lists, see how many you can place in the proper country. Your 6th grade geography teachers would be happy to see you use what you learned last year.

The Nuremberg Trials (Newsreel Footage)

Based on our discussions in class about the trials, do you have additional comments or questions about anything you see or hear in this clip? I always find the newsreel music of the time to be distracting from the information being shared.

The Doolittle Raid (1942)

This clip gives a brief glimpse of the Doolittle Raid when American B-25 Mitchell bombers attacked the Japanese mainland. What made this raid so amazing is that the bombers were launched from the decks of an aircraft carrier. This also includes segments of an interview with General James Doolittle himself.

Adolf Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi Party

While this is brief, it should give you a good sense of the basics behind Hitler's rise to power. You might want to look up Joseph Goebbels and the Reichstag. Do you think a leader like Hitler could ever come to power again?

FDR Fireside Chat on Unemployment (1935)

People gathered around their radios to listen to the president. What do you think of his tone and/or message?

Scenes from the Great Depression

I also recommend you take a look at the video found at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4aPi0ZgN0E. I was unable to embed it on the Blog.

Al Capone (Prohibition and Gangsters)

While lengthy, this video thorougly covers the "career" of the famous gangster Al Capone. In addition the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Prohibition, and other gangsters are all discussed. I am still amazed by the wealth and power that gangsters like Capone were able to amass during this time period. Still, in the end, crime didn't pay for him, as he wound up in Alcatraz.

Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club

This is not a video but rather some of the Duke's music recorded live at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Enjoy.

The Paris Peace Conference at Versailles (1919)

You will find this informative and interesting, especially the part about the Germans scuttling the remaining vessels of their fleet. I also find it interesting to hear that Lloyd George of Britain was not interested in revenge (although the British people were). He, like Wilson, seemed to recognize the value of a revitalized, yet non-threatening, Germany.

The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

This is incomplete, but I found it covered much of the incident. I especially liked the way the clip used artwork combined with moving images and interviews to describe the incident. Is there anything here that surprised you or was different from what you have already learned?

Eddie Rickenbacker (WWI American Ace and Medal of Honor Winner)

Of course, given how much we like to talk about airplanes in class, I had to include this. I think you will find the information on Rickenbacker interesting. The Germans, you recall, had their own ace, the Red Baron. The following link takes you to Rickenbacker's memoirs online: http://www.richthofen.com/rickenbacker/.

The Christmas Truce of 1914

This photostory covers the Christmas Truce of 1914. The song is called "Christmas in the Trenches." If you listen to the lyrics all the way through (and view the accompanying images), you will have a pretty good sense of what happened that winter. I am always fascinated by stories like this one. If you want to learn even more about the Christmas Truce of 1914, take a look at: http://www.christmastruce.co.uk/article.html.

Last American Veteran of World War I

I posted this video for a couple of reasons. Frank Buckles is a veteran of World War I, the last surviving veteran, in fact. He was also born in 1901, which means he lived through the entire 20th century. Just think of the things he experienced in his lifetime (in addition to his wartime experiences). He is really right remarkable. Can you imagine living through an entire century?

The Lusitania (Toothpick Model--Really!)

This one is especially for you woodworkers and model makers, but I believe all of you will find this short clip amazing. It just shows what history can inspire someone to do. His creations really are amazing!

Trench Warfare in World War I

This short film by Claude Guilmain is very, very good. Through first hand accounts it gives a starkly realistic account of life in the trenches. How might you have handled such conditions? Can you even begin to imagine what it was like? For similar films, check out the following link: http://nfb.ca/film/front-lines-the-trenches/

The Great Train Robbery (1903)

This is the actual film we heard about in class. If you care to read more about the film, check out http://www.filmsite.org/grea.html
Movies sure have changed. Silent films must have required a different attention span than those we watch today. If you looked away, you might have missed a key event.

Read more about nickelodeon theaters here: http://tinyurl.com/ydaq5x9
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Spiral Island (Student Recommended Video)

Guys, I posted this just because it is unusual and interesting. A number of you also asked me to put it on the Blog. It certainly isn't a choice I would make, but you are certain to have a variety of reactions.

The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

This is a clip from a 1950's documentary on the earthquake. You will definitely get a sense of how devastating this earthquake was. Have you ever been to San Francisco? Have you ever experienced an earthquake? Other reactions? What do you think of the music or the voice of the narrator?

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Watch to find out more about a novel that was written with one goal in mind, but actually accomplished more than Sinclair originally planned. Safety and sanitary conditions in the meat industry have their origins here. Your reactions?

The Voice of President Theodore Roosevelt

I don't expect you to listen the this in its entirety, but it is pretty cool to be able to hear Roosevelt's voice. The sound quality is understandably poor, but you certainly can get a sense of what it would have been like to listen to him speak. Feel free to share any thoughts you may have on the speech itself or even just the sound quality of the recording.

The following link will take you to a page containing various quotations from Theodore Roosevelt: http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/life/quotes.htm

The Panama Canal (Time Lapse Video)

Mr. Schmick discovered this video clip a couple of years ago. While it obviously moves quickly, you can definitely get the sense of what is involved as one travels through the canal today. What are your reactions? Have any of you actually been through the canal?

The R.M.S. Titanic

This slideshow contains some terrific and powerful images of the RMS Titanic. In an introduction to Walter Lord's book "A Night to Remember", Nathaniel Philbrick suggests that reading such a work begs the reader to ask himself "What would I have done?" This is not an easy question obviously. Were there points in the book where you found yourself asking this question, and if so, what do you think you would have done? Explain.

"Sports Images of the 20th Century"

The good, the bad, the highs, and the lows of sports. Enjoy! (Only one question: Where are the soccer and cricket highlights?)

"A Short History of the 20th Century"

I found this was especially interesting given its focus on the 20th Century. What do you think?

"Eight Minute History of the United States"

What is missing here? What changes would you make? Would you use different music?

The Fascinating Story of Doug Hegdahl (from National Museum of Americans in Wartime website)

The man called “the stupid one” by his POW captors had a secret…

Written by Will Armstrong, History Associates Incorporated

19-year-old Seaman Apprentice Doug Hegdahl wasn’t your everyday Prisoner of War. Assigned to an ammunition handling room aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Canberra, Hegdahl was blown overboard by the blast of the ship’s guns as they fired on North Vietnamese positions in April 1967. As his ship sailed on, he was left adrift in the Gulf of Tonkin without a flotation device.

A North Vietnamese boat eventually picked up Hegdahl, who quickly dumbfounded his captors. With no identification, they assumed he was a covert operative, refusing to believe his true story. Hegdahl, however, began playing dumb. By playing up his humble rural South Dakota roots and claiming to be completely illiterate, he made himself appear useless to the North Vietnamese.

The Vietnamese moved Hegdahl from prison to prison before he ultimately wound up at the notorious “Hanoi Hilton.” It would prove to be a huge mistake for the North Vietnamese. There, Hegdahl met USAF Lt. Joe Crecca, an F-4 pilot who had been shot down in November 1966. Assuming that Hegdahl, so young and apparently useless to the enemy, would be a logical candidate for early release, Crecca helped him memorize the names and other vital information of more than 250 prisoners held in North Vietnam.

Hegdahl continued to keep his true aptitude hidden from his captors, who began referring to him as “The Incredibly Stupid One.” So unconcerned were they about Hegdahl’s activities that they allowed him to roam free around the prison courtyard—where he mentally recorded his most minute observations. While the North Vietnamese observed Hegdahl mindlessly sweeping the sidewalks, his fellow prisoners listened to the coded messages embedded in his sweeps. His American cellmate, Navy Lt.Cmdr. Dick Stratton, observed him disabling five North Vietnamese trucks by putting dirt in the gas tanks.

In August 1969, Hegdahl was indeed released by his captors. Of the three American POWs released that day, Hegdahl was the only one who was considered a legitimate “early release” by his comrades back in the Hanoi Hilton. Lt.Cmdr. Stratton, his superior, had ordered him to go. What the Vietnamese thought would be a propaganda coup quickly turned sour, when the unassuming Doug Hegdahl promptly revealed the names of his fellow POWs to American intelligence officials. He was the first to expose the harsh living conditions and brutal treatment that were a part of life at the Hanoi Hilton. At the Paris Peace Talks in 1970, he was present to confront his former captors directly.

After the war, Hegdahl served as a Navy survival instructor. He has never forgotten the list of names. Said his former cellmate, Dick Stratton, “’The Incredibly Stupid One’, my personal hero, is the archetype of the innovative, resourceful and courageous American Sailor…As long as we have the Dougs of this world, our country will retain its freedoms.”

The National Museum of Americans in Wartime honors the service of Doug Hegdahl and all other Americans who have served the cause of freedom.

By Elizabeth Newberry on March 16th, 2009 |

There is a film somewhere that goes into further detail about Hegdahl. I will try to find out the name for any who are interested.

Voices from the Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident (1979)

I found this fascinating. Be forewarned that you will need to be a good listener to get the most out of this. What do you notice about the various responses that are given to the incident? Do you have any other reactions?

For more on the actual event you might consult the following on the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission page: Voices from the Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident 1979.

The Fall of Saigon (1975)

NOTE: This video replaces the former one that is no longer available. For this reason, not all of the comments already posted may seem relevant to the new content. NOTE FOR THE ORIGINAL VIDEO CLIP: This short clip does a nice job not only of discussing the Fall of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) but also of providing an overview of the entire war. Based on our study of the Vietnam War, is there anything that wasn't mentioned that you feel should be included? Do keep in mind that this is meant to be a brief summary of the war. (I apologize for the sound fade at the end. In short, you hear that Saigon falls to the North Vietnamese in 1975).

The Watergate Scandal (1972-1974)

The Washington Post (online edition) has a very good series of web pages on the Watergate scandal. View the information at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/watergate/index.html

Kent State Shootings in Ohio (May 4th, 1970)

This is an extensive collection of images related to the incident at Kent State. The first song you hear is Ohio by Crosby, Still, Nash, and Young (we listened to it in class). You guys can help me identify the other song in the presentation. As we discussed in class, this event did much to solidify anti-war feelings among America's young people at the time.

Questions Surrounding Apollo 11

The following comes from the How Stuff Works website (link at
http://science.howstuffworks.com/lunar-landing.htm)
Was the Apollo 11 Moon Landing a Hoax?
Some skeptics still believe that the Apollo 11 lunar landing was simply a movie studio hoax staged by NASA. In 2001, the Fox television network aired a program that gave the hoax theory second wind.

Guests on the show suggested that NASA didn't have the technology to pull off a lunar landing in the late 1960s. They noted that the pictures of astronauts sent back from the moon didn't show stars in the sky. A NASA expert refuted this by explaining that the stars wouldn't have shown up on film because the foreground image (the astronauts' space suits) was so bright.

People who are still unconvinced by the overwhelming evidence of man's landing on the moon can visit the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., where samples of rocks taken from the moon's surface are on display.

You might enjoy exploring this topic a bit more on your own.

Apollo 11 Lands on the Moon (July 20th, 1969)

The historic significance of this moment is clear. Still there were many who felt this was all part of a government hoax (more on this in another post). Can you imagine watching this on a TV in 1969? You might be able to understand how some viewers might have been skeptical given that this took place almost 40 years ago.

Apollo 1 Tragedy (1967)

What do you think? This incident certainly points out just how dangerous the job of an astronaut can be. For those of you who read or are reading The Right Stuff, feel free to add your remarks.

"Troops Patrol L.A." (The Watts Riots of August 1965)

This is a newsreel reporting the famous Watts Riots of 1965. If you are interested, I would encourage you to read a little bit on the riots after you view this (the research database is a good place to start). Did you find any information that contradicted the video? Do you feel the video gave an accurate portrayal of the event?

"I Have a Dream" Speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. (August 28th, 1963)

This is one of the most famous speeches of the 20th century. As you listen to the speech, you might reflect on some of the following questions. Can you see why many describe King as charismatic? Which lines make the biggest impact on you as you listen today? Also, did you know that Mr. Clark (who works in the Middle School) was there as a young man? You may want to ask him what he remembers about the speech when you see him.