Best of the Day: ‘75th Anniversary: The Day the World Changed’ – May 12, 2015
Welcome to Best of the Day, our daily recommendation for what to check out around town. If you do one thing in Boston today, consider this.
Poster featuring Winston Churchill / Image courtesy Museum of World War II
May 10, 1940, was a momentous day in World War II history: On the same day that Hitler gave the “Danzig” command and launched Germany’s Blitzkrieg attacks to invade Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and France, Winston Churchill became prime minister of the U.K. “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat,” Churchill announced in his famous first speech to the House of Commons. “You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.” To mark the 75th anniversary of this pivotal moment for both the Axis and Allies, Natick’s Museum of World War II is debuting a special new exhibit that examines the confluence of Germany’s invasions and Churchill’s ascent to power. Highlights of “75th Anniversary: The Day the World Changed – Hitler Attacks, Churchill Rises from the Ashes of Appeasement” include:
• Original German invasion maps of Belgium, Holland, and France.
• Photographs taken by German soldiers.
• Churchill’s letters.
• Wartime posters of Churchill and German anti-Churchill posters.
• Churchill artifacts, including his “siren suit”—a wartime onesie Churchill designed to be speedily donned during air raids.
Exhibit runs May 12-September 1, $25 for admission, Museum of World War II, 8 Mercer Rd., Natick, 508-651-1944, museumofworldwarii.com. To visit the exhibit, contact the museum to arrange a tour in advance.
