Thelma and Lowell's Diary: September 8, 1943

Italy surrenders; FDR urges Americans to keep up the fight

Both Thelma and Lowell wrote in today’s journal. Lowell wrote tersely, “Italy surrenders at 11:30.” Thelma recorded the usual housewife stuff about washing clothes and hanging them on Vangie’s clothesline upstairs, going to bed at 10 and Lowell not getting in from work until 12:45 p.m. She doesn’t mention listening to the radio, which is surprising, because President Roosevelt gave a Fireside Chat that aired live about the time she was climbing into bed.

Italy’s surrender was huge news: it was the first of the Axis Powers to surrender unconditionally, though a German occupation force remained in Italy until May 1945. To read on about this major event of the war and learn about the German propaganda poster above, you’ll need to be a paid subscriber. Even if you don’t choose to upgrade, I encourage you to download the free Substack ap, so you can easily find me on your phone.