`New York Times' Coverage of 1932 to 1948 History Revisited: Conclusion

Between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times newspaper claimed to always be providing its readers with accurate information about what was going on during the 1932 to 1948 period of world history. But between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times sometimes printed articles that turned out to be historically accurate; and sometimes also printed articles that turned out to be historically inaccurate.

In an October 19, 1945, headlined "Germans Indicted In Massacre Of 11,000 Poles In Katyn Forest," for example, the New York Times reported that "if the" July 1941 "crime was committed after the date when the Germans overran their last resting place it could not have been committed by the Russians" and "the Germans overran the Katyn Forest in 1941."

Then in a March 12, 1946 article, headlined "Pravda Denounces Churchill's Speech As Threat Of War," the New York Times reported that the then-Soviet Union's Pravda newspaper declared in an editorial:

"What does the proposal of Churchill come to? The formation of an Anglo-American military alliance that would assure Anglo-American rule throughout the world...and make a policy of force the dominant factor in the development of the world...

"...Churchill convulsively grabs for the coat-tails of Uncle Sam...in the hope that an Anglo-American military alliance would enable the British Empire, although in the role of a junior partner, to continue the policy of imperialist expansion..."

But in its October 16, 1946 issue, the New York Times printed an article about what eventually happened to some of the Nuremberg Trial defendants, following their convictions of war crimes and crimes against humanity, headlined "Goering Ends Life By Poison, Ten Others Hanged;" and which included the following names of the ten German war criminals who were hanged: "Joachim von Ribbentrop, former Foreign Minister; Field Marshal Gen. Wilhelm Keitel, chief of the German High Command; Ernst Kaltenbrunner, head of the Gestapo; Alfred Rosenberg, Minister for Occupied Territories; Hans Frank, who led in the killing of thousands of Poles; Wilhelm Frick, former Minister of the Interior; Julius Streicher, leader of Nazi anti-Semitism; Fritz Sauckel, director of the German General Staff; Col. Gen. Alfred Jodl, head of the German General Staff; and Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who sold out Austria..."

And in a December 12, 1948 article, headlined "Tojo And 6 Others Hanged By Allies As War Criminals," the New York Times listed the following names of the Japanese war criminals who were hanged: Hideki Tojo, former dictator of Japan; Koki Hirota, former Premier of Japan; General Kenji Doihara; General Iwane Matsui; General Akira Muto; Seishiro Itagati, former War Minister; and General Hitaro Kimwa. (end of article)

`New York Times' Coverage of 1932 to 1948 History Revisited: Part 9

Between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times newspaper claimed to always be providing its readers with accurate information about what was going on during the 1932 to 1948 period of world history. But between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times sometimes printed articles that turned out to be historically accurate; and sometimes also printed articles that turned out to be historically inaccurate.

In a February 14, 1945 article, headlined "RAF Hits Dresden Heavy Night Blow," for example, the New York Times reported that "The RAF...sent 1,400 aircraft over Germany last night and delivered a smashing blow to Dresden in support of the Red Army's drive on that city;" and in a February 17, 1945 article, the New York Times also noted that "The German-controlled Scandinavian Telegraph Bureau said today that 70,000 persons had been killed in this week's Allied bombings of Dresden."

Then, on March 16, 1945, the New York Times published an article that was headlined "Giant Tokyo Fires Blackened B-29's;  while on April 13, 1945, the New York Times published an article that was headlined "President Roosevelt Is Dead." And on May 1, 1945, the New York Times published an article headlined "Mussolini and Mistress Hang."

But in a May 2, 1945 article, headlined "Hitler Dead In Chancellery, Nazis Say Admiral In Charge," the New York Times next reported that "Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz, proclaiming himself the new Fuehrer by Hitler's appointment, said that the war would continue."

In a May 8, 1945 article the New York Times next reported that 4 million were killed at Oswiecim in Poland from 1939 to 1944 according to the Soviet Union's Extraordinary State Commission's findings. And around five weeks before Democratic U.S. President Harry S. Truman ordered the U.S. war machine to drop atomic bombs on civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in early August 1945, the New York Times published an article on July 2, 1945 which indicated in its headline that in Japan "4,000 Tons Of Fire Missiles Bring Ruin To Four Enemy Cities." (end of part 9)

`New York Times' Coverage of 1932 to 1948 History Revisited: Part 8

Between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times newspaper claimed to always be providing its readers with accurate information about what was going on during the 1932 to 1948 period of world history. But between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times sometimes printed articles that turned out to be historically accurate; and sometimes also printed articles that turned out to be historically inaccurate..

On August 11, 1943, for example, in an article headlined "Russia Still Asks For Second Front," the New York Times reported that "many believe Allies have the power to open big drive, yet are not willing to do so;" while a September 16, 1943 article in the New York Times was headlined "Mussolini `Sets Up New Kind of Regime'."

Then, on May 7, 1944, the New York Times published an article headlined "Gandhi's Release Widely Approved."

An article, written in Geneva, Switzerland by Daniel T. Brigham, headlined "Inquiry Confirms Nazi Death Camps: 1,715,000 Jews Said To Have Been Put To Death By Germans" (which may not have been featured much on the front page of the NYC-based newspaper) was also published in the New York Times on July 3, 1944.

Then, on July 21, 1944, the New York Times printed an article headlined "Fuehrer `Bruised;' Bomb Wounds 13 State Officers, One Fatality;" and on July 23, 1944, a New York Times article was headlined "Red Army Drives Show No Signs Of Flagging; German Debacle Worse Than That Of Russians In First Month Of War."

In its August 6, 1944 issue, the New York Times next printed an article headlined "Partisans Claim Much of Warsaw."

But on October 4, 1944, the New York Times published an article headlined "Warsaw Gives Up After 63-Day Fight Losses Put Above 300,000."  (end of part 8)

`New York Times' Coverage of 1932 to 1948 History Revisited; Part 7

Between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times newspaper claimed to always be providing its readers with accurate information about what was going on during the 1932 to 1948 period of world history. But between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times sometimes printed articles that turned out to be historically accurate; and sometimes also printed articles that turned out to be historically inaccurate.

In a June 13, 1942 article, for example, headlined "Gandhi Seeks To Oust U.S.-British Forces," the New York Times reported from New Delhi, India that "Mohandas K. Gandhi is about to unleash a large-scale `quit India' campaign in which American as well as British forces will be urged to get out of India immediately." And in an August 9, 1942 article, headlined "21 Seized In India," the New York Times reported that "Mohandas K. Gandhi and other Indian Nationalist leaders were arrested today within a few hours after the All-India Congress party had approved a resolution authorizing a mass campaign of civil disobedience to support its demands for immediate Indian independence."

Then, in a November 25, 1942 article by Jame MacDonald, a London-based reporter (that may not have been emphasized on the front page of the New York City-based newspaper), headlined "Himmler Program Kills Polish Jews: Slaughter Of 250,000 In Plan To Wipe Out Half In Country This Year Is Reported," the New York Times stated:

"...Polish authorities gave out statistics showing that up to Oct. 1 [1942] about 250,000 Polish Jews had been killed under the Himmler program, put into effect this year...Declaring that the Nazi program to reduce the number of Jews in Poland by 50 per cent this year was a `first-step toward complete liquidation,' the report said:

"`...The Germans have mobilized a special battalion under the command of S.S. men...The victims when caught are driven to a square where old people and cripples are selected, taken to a cemetery and shot there...The remainder are loaded into goods trucks [freight cars] at a rate of 150 to a truck that normally holds 40...The doors are sealed...

"`Whenever the trains arrive half the people are dead. Those surviving are sent to special camps at Treblinka, Belzec and Sobibar [in Southeastern Poland]. Once there the so-called settlers are mass-murdered...'"

And on December 18, 1942 the New York Times published an article headlined "11 Allies Condemn Nazi War On Jews: United Nations Issue Joint Declaration Of Protest On `Cold-Blooded Extermination;'" while on February 11, 1943 the New York Times pushed an article headlined "Gandhi Starts Fast To Protest Arrest."

On March 2, 1943, the New York Times then published an article, headlined "Save Doomed Jews, Huge Rally Pleads: 21,000 Filled Madison Square Garden Rally, in which it reported that a message was read from Chief Rabbi J.H. Hertz of Great Britain at this rally which said:

"It is appalling to think that whole of mid-European Jewry stands on brink of annihilation and that millions of Jewish men, women and children have already been slaughtered with fiendish cruelties which baffle belief, but equally appalling is the fact that those who proclaim the Four Freedoms have so far done very little to secure even the freedom to live for 6,000,000 of their Jewish fellow  men by readiness to rescue those who might still escape Nazi torture and butchery..."

Then March 3, 1943, the New York Times published an article headlined "Gandhi Fast Ends, Aim Not Achieved;" and on July 26, 1943 the New York Times published an article headlined "Mussolini Ousted With Fascist Cabinet." (and of part 7)

`New York Times' Coverage of 1932 to 1948 History Revisited: Part 6

Between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times newspaper claimed to always be providing its readers with accurate information about what was going on during the 1932 to 1948 period of world history. But between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times sometimes printed articles that turned out to be historically accurate; and sometimes also printed articles that turned out to be historically inaccurate.

In a December 5, 1941 article, headlined "Australia Girds For Pacific War," for example, the New York Times reported from Melbourne, Australia that "a War Cabinet meeting in which service chiefs participated has completed comprehensive plans to put Australia on a new emergency footing if war spreads to the Pacific."

And in a December 7, 1941 article, headlined "Japanese Herald `Supreme Crisis': U.S. Is Held Aggressive, Press Intimates Efforts For Negotiated Settlement May Soon Be Abolished," the New York Times reported that "Japan indicated early today that she was on the verge of abandoning efforts to achieve a settlement of Pacific issues by diplomatic negotiation at Washington."

Then in a December 8, 1941 article, headlined "Tokyo Acts First," the New York Times noted that "Japan went to war against the United States and Britain today with air and sea attacks against Hawaii, followed by a formal declaration of hostilities."

But in another December 8, 1941 article, headlined "Japan Wars On U.S. And Britain: Makes Sudden Attack On Hawaii," the New York Times stated:

"Sudden and unexpected attack on Pearl Harbor and other United States possessions in the Pacific early yesterday by the Japanese air force and navy plunged the United States and Japan into active war...There were unconfirmed reports that German raiders participated in the attacks...The news of these surprise attacks fell like a bombshell on Washington. President Roosevelt immediately ordered the country and the Army and Navy onto a full war footage...

"...The White House took over control of the bulletins, and the Navy Department, therefore, said it could not discuss the matter or answer any questions how the Japanese were able to penetrate the Hawaiian defenses or appear without previous knowledge of their presence in those waters..."

And in a third December 8, 1941 article, headlined "Hull Denounces Tokyo `Infamy': Brands Japan `Fraudulent' In Preparing Attack While Carrying On Parleys, the New York Times stated:

"Japan was accused by Secretary of State Hull of making a `treacherous and utterly unprovoked attack' upon the United States and of having been `infamously false and fraudulent' by preparing for the attack while conducting diplomatic negotiations with the professed desire of maintaining peace.

"But even before he knew of that attack, Mr. Hull had vehemently brought the diplomatic negotiations to a virtual end with an outburst against Admiral Kichisaburo Nomura, the Japanese Ambassador, and Saburo Kurusi, special envoy, because of the...reply they delivered to his document of November 26...

"...Japan charged that the United States was `conspiring' with Great Britain in the Far East...The document revealed definitely that the Japanese Premier had sought to meet President Roosevelt last August [1941] for a conference, but that this was refused..."

Then, in a June 8, 1942 article, headlined "West Coast Finishes Removing Japanese; 100,000 Sent Inland, Leaving Only The Incapacitated," the New York Times reported that "except for a handful of ill or otherwise incapacitated persons and a still smaller number considered irreplaceable in their work, not one of about 100,000 Japanese remained at liberty today in that roughly 150 mile-wide strip of the three coast states and Arizona which was their home when war began..." (end of part 6)

`New York Times' Coverage of 1932 to 1948 History Revisited: Part 5

Between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times newspaper claimed to always be providing its readers with accurate information about what was going on during the 1932 to 1948 period of world history. But between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times sometimes printed articles that turned out to be historically accurate; and sometimes also printed articles that turned out to be historically inaccurate.

In its July 27, 1941 issue, for example, the New York Times published an article from Tokyo, dated July 26,1941, by Otto Touschus which stated:

"Within a few hours after President Roosevelt's order freezing Japanese assets and credits in the United States was announced, the Japanese Government retaliated by freezing the assets and credits of American and Philippine nations and corporations within the Japanese Empire...Therewith...has begun an open economic war between the United States and the British Empire on the one hand and the Japanese Empire...It risks, in the words of the ultra-nationalist Nicki Nichi...but `one step from armed warfare.'...As regards the American and British freezing orders, it is generally admitted here that it is bound to have a crippling effect on Japan's trade..."

And in a September 21, 1941 article, headlined "Aim Of President Is War, Nye Says," the New York Times stated:

"Senator Gerald P. Nye appealed last night to `all loyal Americans' to oppose President Roosevelt's foreign policy program...on the grounds that it represented a deliberate attempt by the President and British leaders to involve this country against its will in the war...."

Then, in a November 1, 1941 article, headlined "Reuben James Hit: First American Warship Lost In War Torpedoed West Of Iceland," the New York Times stated:

"The United States lost its first warship in the Battle of the Atlantic when the destroyer Reuben James was torpedoed and sunk last night west of Iceland while on convoy duty...Forty-four members of the crew had been rescued. It was without word, however, as to the fate of the other members of the crew of 120 officers and men which make up her complement..."

And on November 5, 1941, the New York Times published an article headlined "Japanese Ask U.S. To Reverse Stand Or Face Conflict."

But in a November 12, 1941 article, headlined "President Warns Nation Is Facing World War Again," the New York Times reported that "President Roosevelt declared in his address that this country may be forced by Germany into another war..."

Then on December 1, 1941, the New York Times published an article headlined "U.S. Principles Rejected By Japanese As `Fantastic.'"

Yet in a December 4, 1941 article, headlined "Singapore Doubts Japanese Threats: Arrival Of The British Fleet Is Expected To Cause Tokyo To Order General Retreat," the New York Times stated:

"Political observers here say the arrival of the British fleet brought powerful new pressure on the Japanese in connection with the Washington negotiations and believe it may be decisive in forcing Japan to drop her plans for new aggressions and to begin a general retreat."  (end of part 5)

`New York Times' Coverage of 1932 to 1948 History Revisited: Part 4

Between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times newspaper claimed to always be providing its readers with accurate information about what was going on during the 1932 to 1948 period of world history. But between 1932 and 1948, the New York Times sometimes printed articles that turned out to be historically accurate; and sometimes also printed articles that turned out to be historically inaccurate.

Seven weeks before German Imperialism's Nazi war machine invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, for example, the New York Times published an article, from Berne, Switzerland and dated May 1, 1941 by Daniel T. Brigham, headlined "Russia Reported Bolstering Lines: Said To Be Increasing Forces In Ukraine, Poland And Estonia Against Reich," which stated:

"...Russia was reported here today to be taking extensive steps for the immediate bolstering of already strong Soviet forces in the Ukraine, Poland and Estonia in preparation for a worsening of Russian-German relations in the near future, which, it is said, might even lead to war...Russian apprehension is further heightened by an increasingly acrimonious tone in the Axis press in reference to the Soviet Union..."

Then, in a May 28, 1941 article, headlined "A Call To Nation: President Takes Step Permitted Only When War Threatens," the New York Times stated:

"President Roosevelt tonight proclaimed that `an unlimited national emergency exists,'...The United States, he declared, will not permit Germany to dominate the high seas...

"The President...stated that, with further American naval units transferred...to the Atlantic, this government intended to assure war supplies reaching Britain...`The delivery of needed supplies to Britain is imperative,' he declared. `This can be done; it must be done; it will be done.'..."

And in an article from Ankara, Turkey that was dated May 29, 1941, headlined "Nazi Troops Pouring To Russian Borders" and published, 23 days before German imperialist troops attacked the Soviet Union, on May 30, 1941, the New York Times stated:

"Further confirmation was received from diplomatic sources today that the German High Command is withdrawing German troops from the Balkans and concentrating a formidable army on the Russian frontier in Rumania and Poland..."

Then, on June 14, 1941, Daniel T. Brigham sent another article from Berne, Switzerland, headlined "Clash Is Expected Soon, Germans Are Expected to Attack," that the New York Times published on June 15, 1941 (a week before the Soviet Union was attacked) which stated that "indications point to military action, probably along the Russian-German dividing line in Poland, within the next 10 days."

Yet a June 17, 1941 article by Walter Duranty was headlined "Soviet-Nazi Deal Held More Likely Than Clash Despite Rumours" by the New York Times; although part of this New York Times article stated:

"...I have just received an uncensored letter from a competent friend in Moscow, dated April 27 [1941], stating:

"`Various indications are that the Germans intend eastward action in June [1941]. Many folks here now take it very seriously.'...

"There are other items that appear to herald a speedy Russsian-German clash...The presence of German troops in Finland is admitted..."

And in a June 22, 1941 article from Ankara, Turkey that was written by C.L. Sulzberger on June 21, 1941 and headlined "Big Armies Mass On `Eastern Front': All Along Russian Frontiers Troop Movements Suggest Clash May Be Near," the New York Times stated:

"For some time rumors have circulated setting the actual date for war's outbreak...German troops have been filing through Slovakia from the West...Sano Mach, the Minister of Interior, announced at Bratislava that a `German liberation' of the Ukraine was imminent..."

Then, in a July 9, 1941 article written by its London reporter and headlined "Litvinoff Exhorts Britain To Invade: Former Commissar In A Radio Plea From Moscow Advises Quick Drive On Reich," the New York Times stated:

"In a radio appeal by Maxim Litvinoff, Russia tonight urged Great Britain to hurl her full weight against Germany in the West while the Red Army withstood the shock of the Nazi war machine in the East and thus force Adolf Hitler to wage war on two fronts.

"The former Soviet Foreign Commissar and longtime foe of the fascist dictators, implying that the moment was ripe for a British invasion of the Continent, said that the battle of Russia was forcing Herr Hitler to `withdraw more and more forces from the West to the East.'..." (end of part 4)