Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 139
March 27, 2022
Today in World War II History—March 27, 1942
Generals Thomas Blamey and Douglas MacArthur, and Australian Prime Minister John Curtin, Australia, 26 Mar 1942 (Australian War Memorial: 042766)
80 Years Ago—Mar. 27, 1942: Gen. Sir Thomas Blamey assumes command of Australian forces.
US Navy approves convoys along East Coast, starting with “bucket brigades” April 1 and full convoys by May 5.
Congress grants free mail privileges for military personnel on first-class materials.
Johnny Mercer and Buddy DeSylva found Liberty Records; will be renamed Capitol Records in May.
The post Today in World War II History—March 27, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.
March 26, 2022
Today in World War II History—March 26, 1942
US tanker Dixie Arrow sinking after being torpedoed by German submarine U-71, off North Carolina, 26 Mar 1942 (US National Archives: ARC 520607)
80 Years Ago—Mar. 26, 1942: Manuel Quezon, president of the Philippines, and his family are evacuated by B-17 to Australia.
The US Navy and the Army Air Force agree to give the Navy command of aircraft operating over sea to protect shipping and hunt submarines.
Off North Carolina, U-71 sinks US tanker Dixie Arrow.
The post Today in World War II History—March 26, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.March 25, 2022
Today in World War II History—March 25, 1942
US Army poster for the Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber, WWII
80 Years Ago—Mar. 25, 1942: US Naval Task Force 39 leaves Maine for Britain to protect Allied convoys to the USSR, relieving the Royal Navy to protect the Mediterranean and to invade Madagascar.
First Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers arrive in a combat theater, at Brisbane/Archerfield AF, Australia.
The post Today in World War II History—March 25, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.March 24, 2022
Today in World War II History—March 24, 1942
Japanese-American farmer and his daughter on their strawberry farm before being relocated, Bainbridge Island, WA, 23 Mar 1942 (Library of Congress)
80 Years Ago—Mar. 24, 1942: In the Philippines, the Japanese begin intense artillery and air bombardment of Bataan and Corregidor.
Adm. Chester Nimitz is appointed Commander in Chief of US Pacific Theater.
US issues first exclusion order which will force removal of Japanese from Military Zone 1 (western halves of CA, OR, WA, southern portion of AZ).
All Japanese-Americans on Bainbridge Island near Seattle are ordered removed under military guard within a week.
The post Today in World War II History—March 24, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.March 23, 2022
The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan
In postwar Vienna, Simon Barre and Sophie Villiers, who formerly cracked codes at Britain’s Bletchley Park, are now fighting a new war, a cold war. Simon is determined to bring down a ring of communists who want to cause an uprising in Vienna and turn the nation to their cause. He begins receiving cryptic notes using chess notation from a man called “Das Flüstern” – The Whisper – a man who seems to know his strengths and weaknesses. Meanwhile, Simon’s weaknesses come to a head – his antagonistic relationship with his stepfather – and his complicated relationship with Sophie. A relationship neither one of them dares to label as “love.”
Sophie is following her own agenda in Vienna, returning artifacts scattered during the war to their rightful owners. Her work brings her in contact with characters whose motives aren’t always pure, many of whom long to use the artifacts for political purposes. When Sophie receives requests from two separate sources to find Mozart’s death mask, which might not even exist, the dangers increase as she journeys between Vienna and Prague, unable to take even Simon into her confidence.
Deftly traversing the lushness of Vienna and Prague and upper-crust England, The Mozart Code brings to life the glories and devastation and intrigue of postwar Europe. Shady characters and cryptic codes and mixed motives and double-crosses make for a pulse-pounding read. And oh, the romance! Simon and Sophie’s story is one for the ages, crackling with electricity and witty banter and buried hurts and guarded emotions. Rachel McMillan’s beautiful writing encourages you to read slowly, to savor the lines and ponder the clues—but the story propels you to flip pages faster than a Mozart arpeggio! Enjoy the journey.
The post The Mozart Code by Rachel McMillan first appeared on Sarah Sundin.Today in World War II History—March 23, 1942
Members of the Imperial Japanese Navy disembarking during the occupation of the Andaman Islands, March 1942 (Japanese government photo)
80 Years Ago—Mar. 23, 1942: Japanese seize Andaman Islands to protect route from Singapore to Rangoon, Burma.
Off of San Francisco, US blimp TC-13 accidentally bombs and damages sub USS Gato.
The post Today in World War II History—March 23, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.March 22, 2022
Today in World War II History—March 22, 1942
Sir Stafford Cripps and Mohatma Gandhi in India, 1942 (British government photo)
80 Years Ago—Mar. 22, 1942: British cabinet member Sir Stafford Cripps meets with Gandhi to try to gain support in India for war effort.
Allies abandon Magwe Airfield in Burma—US “Flying Tigers” evacuate to Loiwing and RAF evacuates to Akyab.
The post Today in World War II History—March 22, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.March 21, 2022
Today in World War II History—March 21, 1942
US War Relocation Authority Center at Manzanar, CA, 3 July 1942 (Photographer: Dorothea Lange; US National Archives: 538128)
Insignia of the US 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment
80 Years Ago—Mar. 21, 1942: Manzanar Relocation Center opens to house interned Japanese-Americans.
First US paratroopers receive wings—in the 501st Parachute Battalion at Fort Benning, GA.
The post Today in World War II History—March 21, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.March 20, 2022
Today in World War II History—March 20, 1942
Gates at Auschwitz concentration camp, 1945 (public domain via WW2 Database)
80 Years Ago—Mar. 20, 1942: Nazis first use gas chambers to murder Jews at Auschwitz concentration camp.
In Australia, Gen. Douglas MacArthur makes “I shall return” speech, promising to return to the Philippines.
In Nazi-occupied Copenhagen, the Danish government dismisses their ambassador to Britain, Count Eduard Reventlow, for siding with the Free Danes.
The post Today in World War II History—March 20, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.March 19, 2022
Today in World War II History—March 19, 1942
US soldiers listening to radio broadcast on Bataan Peninsula, 1942 (US Army Center for Military History)
80 Years Ago—Mar. 19, 1942: On the Bataan Peninsula, US and Filipino troops are put on quarter-rations.
Lt. Gen. William Slim assumes command of British forces in Burma.
Japanese begin drive in Sittang Valley in Burma, opposed by Chinese troops.
The post Today in World War II History—March 19, 1942 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.
