General Douglas Mac Arthur becomes commander of the Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific

FDR creates Office of War Information (OWI).

U.S. troops land on Guadalcanal.

Voice of America was organized under the Office of War Information with news programs aimed at areas in Europe and North Africa under the occupation of Nazi Germany. Transmitters used by VOA came from short wave transmitters used by the CBS and NBC.

Nationwide rationing of gasoline begins.

James Cagney wins an Oscar for his portrayal of George M. Cohan in the film Yankee Doodle Dandy. The film won Academy Awards for Best Actor in a
Leading Role (James Cagney), Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture and Best Sound, Recording. It was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Walter Huston), Best Director, Best Film Editing for George Amy, Best Picture and Best Writing, Original Story. The film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Anglo Soviet Treaty. (In a sense, the roots of the Cold War.) An agreement providing for a twenty military alliance between Britain and the Soviet Union.

The Second Front. The German armies seemed on the verge of crushing Russia. The Soviet Union pressured the United States and Britain to start operations in Europe, and open a second front to reduce the pressure of German forces on the Russian troops. An attack on French North Africa was proposed instead. Preparation for an invasion of Southern Europe were made in 1943.

The Battle of Stalingrad marked the beginning a Russian offensive, which eventually drove the Germans out of the Soviet Union and the ultimate victory over the Axis powers.