Today in World War II History—December 31, 1940 & 1945
Wednesday, December 31, 2025 by Sarah Sundin
US poster encouraging conservation of rubber, WWII
85 Years Ago—Dec. 31, 1940: Three French scientists who specialize in High-Frequency Direction-Finding equipment (HF/DF) arrive in New Jersey, having escaped German-occupied France; they will work with the US Navy.
80 Years Ago—Dec. 31, 1945: US National War Labor Board is disbanded.
US ends tire rationing. [Read more: “Make It Do—Tire Rationing in World War II”]
British Home Guard is officially disbanded.
Australian Women’s Land Army for farm workers is disbanded.
Radiation Laboratory at MIT is closed; the Rad Lab had completed over 100 radar systems, half of the systems used by the US in WWII.
