Top News Stories from 1941

World Events

World Statistics

Population: 4.378 billion
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  • Germany attacks the Balkans and Russia.
  • Japanese surprise attack on U.S. fleet at Pearl Harbor brings U.S. into World War II; U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan.
  • The first U.S. Lend-Lease shipment of food sent to Britain.

U.S. Events

U.S. Statistics

Vice President: Henry A. Wallace
Population: 133,402,471
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  • Roosevelt enunciates "four freedoms" in his Jan. 6 message to Congress.
  • Congress passes the Lend-Lease Act, giving President the power to sell, lend, and lease war supplies to other nations.

Economics

Federal spending: $13.65 billion
Federal debt $57.5 billion
Consumer Price Index: $14.7
Unemployment: 9.9%
Cost of a first-class stamp: $0.03

Sports

World Series
NY Yankees d. Brooklyn Dodgers (4-1)
Stanley Cup
Boston d. Detroit
Kentucky Derby Champion
Whirlaway
NCAA Basketball Championship
Wisconsin d. Washington St.
NCAA Football Champions
Minnesota (8-0-0)

Entertainment

Events

  • In Citizen Kane, Orson Welles subordinates all previous technological and cinematic accomplishments to his own essentially cinematic vision. Using newly developed film stocks and a wider, faster lens, Welles pushes the boundaries of montage and mise-en-scène, as well as sound, redefining the medium.
  • Actress Greta Garbo retires at age 36.
  • Edward Hopper completes the painting Nighthawks.

Science

Nobel Prizes in Science

Chemistry: None awarded
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