Historical Context: February, 1943

Bob’s Theatre in Twin Bridges, Montana offered the film noir The Glass Key in February of 1943, featuring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake.

Historically that month, the Soviet Union reported the surrender of the German Sixth Army forces on Feb. 2, effectively ending the Battle of Stalingrad, which had been ongoing for 163 days.

Friedrich Paulus, German commander at Stalingrad, had refused a Russian offer to surrender his forces earlier in the year. Hitler told Paulus to remain in place “to the last man standing.”

In other war news, the Japanese evacuated Guadalcanal, ending the epic World War II battle on the Solomon Islands in the Pacific.

In the world of entertainment, young crooner Frank Sinatra made his debut on radio’s “Your Hit Parade” in February of ’43.