This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 16 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 24, 1944
Page
1
Fragmentary notes reflect shifts in the neighborhood with mentions of residents, schools, and public spaces. The readable fragments hint at ongoing community concerns, tightening around local events and everyday life.
Sunday outlook calls for partly cloudy warm weather in the east and south with a high near 47 and a low around 33. Local items report Christmas travel, births at Decatur General hospital, ambulance transfers, and many residents visiting relatives over the holidays amid hospital stays and church plans.
The government banned horse and dog racing and warned businesses that materials fuel and transport would be denied if manpower rules are ignored. Selective Service reviewed professional athletes for military service. Byrnes directed intensified efforts by the War Mobilization and Reconversion Office and War Production Board to enforce ceilings and prioritize materials and transportation for war needs.
Washington dispatch reports the OPA plans to extend rationing by New Year for nearly all point free meats and canned vegetables. The move follows disputes with the War Food Administration over shortages and distribution, with a decision expected next Wednesday and likely affects beef veal lamb and pork.
Tom Roberts of the U S Navy on a 30 day furlough promotes bond sales with a plea to “Buy a bond and get us home soon.” He displays wartime souvenirs collected across Sicily, Africa, Italy, France and the South Seas, now in the window of First Federal Savings and Loan Co. in New York. The items include German gear, Allied currency, an Italian flag, a Jap flag fragment, and a variety of battlefield mementos from foxholes and prisoners of war.
In Greece ELAS forces storm the Ioannina area spurring nationwide fighting. North of Piraeus British Indian troops clash with ELAS as RAF and tanks bombard northern Athens suburbs. EDES leader Zervas appeals for British aid amid rising violence.
Allied reporting says American Liberators blasted Clark Field near Manila during a daylight raid destroying or damaging many grounded Nip planes. MacArthur notes Leyte cleanup continues with the 11th Airborne aiding the push toward Palompon while Iwo Jima raids persist with multiple strikes in December.
Morgan County pushes to hit a victory mark by year end with a door to door canvass planned between December 25 and 31. Chairman Ewell K. Gregg notes the county needs about 300 thousand dollars in series E bonds to meet the goal, while total bond investments approach two million dollars though E bond share remains short.
Alabama hosiery mill sends a $25 war bond to 63 employees serving in the armed forces as a Christmas remembrance. Bonds issued to all on the payroll, with amounts varying by service status and wartime role.
Soviet war report says Red Army thrusts west of the Danube reach up to 100 miles from Vienna and 72 from Bratislava, with heavy combat around Budapest. Moscow notes repulsed German tank counterattacks and claims 208 enemy tanks knocked out in two days amid ongoing fighting on multiple sectors.
Moscow radio, via Soviet monitor, reports Debrecen in liberated Hungary hosts a provisional national assembly. Delegates elected December 13 to 20 are authorized to establish a provisional government and urge Hungarians to break with Hitler's Germany and join the United Nations.
President Roosevelt signed a billion dollar flood control authorization as the largest such measure in U S history. The act creates no immediate funds but authorizes projects including Clark Hill reservoir in Georgia and Edisto river works in South Carolina. Alabama’s Allatoona reservoir on the Etowah river is also listed with a large appropriation.
Decatur holds two seats on the state judicial council, with Norman Harris as committee chairman and John A. Caddell appointed by Governor Sparks. The city is the only one outside Birmingham and Montgomery with more than one representative on the fourteen member council.
Thousands of gallons intended for Allied fronts are hijacked daily and fed into the French black market. American soldiers and others steal cigarettes and PX supplies for sale at high prices. Detentions surge with hundreds arrested for misappropriation. a French civilian is tried but acquitted in one case. Military officials say losses do not affect the Belgian Luxembourg battle.
Soviet commission reports 700000 killed in three camps in Lwow province Poland. Victims include civilians and prisoners of war from many nations. Gestapo devised human icicle punishments and Himmler allegedly inspected camps personally.
Allied reports say American and Allied columns pierced the German southern flank near Libramont and Stavelot, with 4 500 sorties hammering enemy lines. Malmedy snow battles claim German dead, while Stavelot and surrounding areas change hands amid intensified fighting near Luxembourg and Vith.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.