1940: London Endures Blitz | CBS World News Roundup Broadcast

Historic CBS Radio news broadcast from September 20, 1940, during the height of the Battle of Britain and the opening weeks of the London Blitz. As German bombers continue their sustained attacks against Britain, CBS correspondents report from London, Berlin, Rome, and Washington, covering the air war, military developments in North Africa, Axis diplomacy, and growing American support for Britain. The broadcast features reports from Eric Sevareid in London, William L. Shirer in Berlin, and Albert Warner in Washington, providing a contemporary account from multiple fronts of the Second World War. 00:00 - Historical Context and Introduction 00:25 - European News and Diplomatic Developments 01:54 - London Endures Blitz 03:12 - London Endures Night Raids 04:28 - London Endures Blitz 06:11 - Berlin's Calm and Calls for Revenge 08:57 - German Perspective on the Blitz and Axis Diplomacy 10:48 - US Considers Transferring Flying Fortresses to Britain 13:54 - US Conscription Preparations and Broadcast Sign-off Key topics covered in this broadcast: London under continued aerial bombardment: • Eric Sevareid reports another German air raid over London after a relatively quiet night. Although weather limits the scale of attacks, Luftwaffe bombers continue targeting the British capital with high-explosive and incendiary bombs, while RAF fighters repel additional formations before they reach the city. Life during the Blitz: • The report vividly describes daily life in wartime London, including firefighters battling incendiary bombs, shelters struck by German explosives, delayed-action bombs threatening entire neighborhoods, and civilians adapting to nearly continuous nighttime raids. RAF attacks against Germany: • The Air Ministry announces fresh bombing raids against communications targets inside Germany, including the strategically important Dortmund-Ems Canal, as well as ports and airfields in occupied Europe, demonstrating Britain's growing offensive air campaign. German reaction to British bombing: • Reporting from Berlin, William L. Shirer describes the German government's outrage following the bombing of a children's hospital at Bethel. German newspapers demand harsh retaliation while continuing to report Luftwaffe attacks against London and British industrial centers. Axis diplomacy in Rome: • German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop continues high-level meetings with Benito Mussolini following discussions with Italian Foreign Minister Count Galeazzo Ciano. Reports suggest the leaders are coordinating Axis policy concerning Southeastern Europe and the future political order after a hoped-for British defeat. The North African Campaign: • Rome and Cairo issue competing reports on fighting between British and Italian forces in Libya and Egypt. British armored units are said to be inflicting losses on Italian mechanized forces, while Italy claims successes against British shipping and air attacks on its North African bases. Japan increases pressure in Southeast Asia: • The broadcast reports growing tension in the Far East as Japan demands additional military bases in French Indochina, raising international concern over Tokyo's expanding ambitions beyond China. American aid to Britain: • Albert Warner reports that officials in Washington are seriously considering transferring approximately forty Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers to Britain. The proposal reflects increasing American willingness to strengthen Britain's defenses while the United States remains officially neutral. The first peacetime draft in American history: • Washington also prepares for implementation of the recently enacted Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, with registration scheduled for October, marking a major step in America's military mobilization. Significance: Broadcast on September 20, 1940, this program captures the Battle of Britain as it transitions into the sustained bombing campaign known as the Blitz. It also documents growing cooperation between Britain and the United States, continued Axis coordination, and the widening global scope of the war as events unfold simultaneously across Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Subscribe for more rare radio broadcasts, historic news reports, and original recordings from the Golden Age of Radio. #BattleOfBritain #Blitz #CBSRadio #EricSevareid #WilliamLShirer #WWII #WorldWarII #HistoricBroadcast #OldTimeRadio #1940