#OTD 1940: Hitler orders preparation of plans for the invasion of Britain. Our archive contains a barograph from the Aviso Grille, a yacht supposedly meant to transport Hitler to Windsor after an invasion. Read how Ernest Fisher obtained the barograph: portal.sds.ox.ac.uk/articles/onlin…

We recently appeared on That's TV Oxfordshire & South Midlands to discuss Their Finest Hour and the reasons why we embarked upon this journey to digitize #WW2 public history and memory over the past two years.

#OTD 1940: Cardiff is bombed by the Luftwaffe for the first time. Tales and objects relating to the Cardiff Blitz were brought along to a #WW2 Digital Collection Day at Llandaff Memorial Hall on 11 November 2023.  Click here to view the collection👇 portal.sds.ox.ac.uk/projects/Lland…

The support of specialists in the field of women's history and the cultural history of women at war were invaluable to the success of our project. We owe them a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay!

Happy #IndependenceDay to our American friends! To celebrate, why not browse our archive for US-related stories/items? We have content relating to USAAF bases in East Anglia, US Army experiences in the UK and Europe, and much more... Click for more 👉portal.sds.ox.ac.uk/search?q=:keyw…

"My mum and dad delighted because #Labour got in. Some people devasted that Churchill lost the election."* The 1945 UK general election, which saw Labour defeat the #Conservatives, was held #OTD 1945 (though the counting of votes was delayed). *portal.sds.ox.ac.uk/articles/onlin…

81 years ago, #OTD, the Allies landed in Sicily, beginning the process of liberating Western Europe from Fascism. Royal Navy telegraphist, Alec McCreedy, was serving aboard on one of the ships in the task force that landed that day. Read his story here: doi.org/10.25446/oxfor…

84 years ago #OTD, the Luftwaffe commenced "Kanalkampf" - an air campaign on British shipping in the Channel. This begins the Battle of Britain and the Blitz! Visit portal.sds.ox.ac.uk/Their_Finest_H… and search "Battle of Britain" and "Blitz" to read stories and view photos and artifacts.

Today is Bastille Day! To celebrate France 🇫🇷 and all things French 🥖, we invite you to browse our collection! Read two moving stories about the liberation of France in #WW2, 80 years ago! Visit portal.sds.ox.ac.uk/Their_Finest_H… and search for "Hester Kennard" and "Michelin Bartlett"!

#OTD, 16 July 1945, U.S. scientists detonated the first atomic bomb. A year earlier, the Allies formed T Force - a team of scientists responsible for securing Nazi nuclear, chemical and rocket research. John Bradley was part of this team. Read his story: doi.org/10.25446/oxfor…

Their Finest Hour extends warm congratulations to Group Captain John Hemingway, #TheLastOfTheFew and one of the last #WW2 pilots, on his 105th birthday! We have stories of pilots who flew during #BattleOfBritain! Visit portal.sds.ox.ac.uk/Their_Finest_H… and search "Battle of Britain"!

79 years ago #OTD, Royal Signal Corps Sergeant, Ken Lally, found himself serving on the communications staff of UK Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, as he opened the Potsdam Conference with U.S. President Truman and Premier Stalin. Read Ken's story here: doi.org/10.25446/oxfor…

#OTD 1943, #25Luglio, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was ousted from power and arrested. One of the more curious stories in our archive is that of Fred Long (Royal Ulster Rifles), who claimed to have stolen Mussolini's hat! Read Fred's story at portal.sds.ox.ac.uk/articles/onlin…

#OTD, 79 years ago, the results of the "Khaki election" of July 1945 were announced! 7-year-old Sylvia Middleton was staying with the family of Archibald Carter (below) at No. 10 Downing Street, and saw the black door open for a new PM! Read her story: doi.org/10.25446/oxfor…

Blogged: 'Lorna Lloyd’s ‘Diary of the war’ features in the ‘Their finest hour’ archive'. hazelhall.org/2024/07/30/lor… Edinburgh Napier University Delighted our WW2 podcast series supported by Creative Informatics features in Their Finest Hour's archive of previously inaccessible wartime stories/artefacts.

Yesterday was #YorkshireDay! Our archive has many fascinating stories related to people from #Yorkshire, including an RAF pilot from Doncaster who served in India and Burma and then witnessed the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. More 👇 yorkshirepost.co.uk/heritage-and-r…

Today marks the anniversary of #VJDay, the day on which Japan surrendered in #WW2. On this historic day, why not visit theirfinesthour.org and discover newly uncovered stories and objects from the Pacific War?

We're excited to share that our archive has surpassed 75,000 views and 65,000 downloads! 🎉 A huge thank you to everyone who has visited the archive. If you haven’t yet, visit theirfinesthour.org and discover the #WW2 stories and artefacts that have captivated so many. 👇

"The vicar [...] turned to the congregation and said, "you all must go home", and when I got home, I realised what it was." Ian McKay, aged 7 on the day the UK declared war on Germany, 3 September 1939. Read more of Ian's memories at portal.sds.ox.ac.uk/articles/onlin…

Huge congratulations to the project team who ran a fantastic Their Finest Hour event in Edinburgh! They've been nominated for the 'ISG in the Community Award', and Eden Swimer has been shortlisted for Student Staff Member of the Year! #WW2 #History