Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 14

Today in World War II History—June 1, 1940 & 1945

Launching of battleship USS Washington, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, PA, 1 Jun 1940 (US Navy photo)

85 Years Ago—June 1, 1940: British troops withdraw from Dunkirk perimeter, leaving defense to the French.

USS Washington is launched at Philadelphia Navy Yard, America’s first new battleship since 1921.

80 Years Ago—June 1, 1945: British 12th and 14th Armies link in Burma.

British force Cossacks (White Russians who opposed communism and fought for Germany) to Soviet zone in Austria, and 700 Cossacks are killed or commit suicide; many of the 32,000 sent back to USSR will disappear.

Denmark decrees prison for war profiteers and for those who aided Germans or joined German military or police units, and the death penalty for those in Danish Nazi terror organizations.

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Today in World War II History—May 31, 1940 & 1945

American officer standing by the bell from Shuri Castle on Okinawa, 1945 (US Army Center of Military History)

85 Years Ago—May 31, 1940: Gen. Bernard Montgomery, British commander Lord Gort, and Gen. Oliver Leese are evacuated from Dunkirk, along with 68,014 troops.

In Italy, civilians are banned from driving private cars, and a gasoline conservation plan is announced.

Britain orders removal of road and railway signs that show name, direction, or distance, to confuse potential invaders.

80 Years Ago—May 31, 1945: British negotiate cease fire in Syria between Syrian nationalists and the French.

US Marines & Army troops occupy Shuri town on Okinawa.

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Today in World War II History—May 30, 1940 & 1945

British troops line up on the beach at Dunkirk to await evacuation, May 26-29, 1940 (Imperial War Museum: NYP 68075)

85 Years Ago—May 30, 1940: Britain orders modern destroyers to leave Dunkirk due to heavy losses.

First French troops are evacuated from Dunkirk.

Germany increases food rations due to increased supplies from newly conquered countries.

Canada bans Communist Party and National Unity Party (Nazi).

80 Years Ago—May 30, 1945: Iran demands removal of all American, British, and Soviet troops.

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Today in World War II History—May 29, 1940 & 1945

Destroyer HMS Wakeful, sunk by a German torpedo boat off Dunkirk, 29 May 1940 (British government photo)

85 Years Ago—May 29, 1940: Off Dunkirk, German torpedo boats and the Luftwaffe sink British destroyers Wakeful, Grafton, and Grenade, and many other ships, killing over 1,000 Allied troops.

US Marine Lt. Col. R. P. Ross Jr. raising the US flag over Shuri castle on Okinawa, 29 May 1945 (US National Archives: FMC 42043)

80 Years Ago—May 29, 1945: In Syria, fighting erupts between French troops and Syrian nationalists; French bomb Damascus, destroying Syrian parliament building.

Filipino guerrillas take Cervantes, Luzon.

US Marines take Shuri ridge and Shuri Castle on Okinawa.

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Today in World War II History—May 28, 1940 & 1945

Tamzine, one of the “little boats” used in the evacuation of Dunkirk, at the Imperial War Museum (Photo: Sarah Sundin, September 2017)

85 Years Ago—May 28, 1940: Belgium officially surrenders to Germany.

British pleasure craft and fishing boats start aiding the Dunkirk evacuation.

Norwegian and French forces land at and take port of Narvik, Norway, the first Allied infantry victory of WWII.

80 Years Ago—May 28, 1945: British capture William Joyce (broadcast for Germany as “Lord Haw Haw”) in Flensburg, Germany, to be hanged in 1946, the last person to be executed by Britain for treason.

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Today in World War II History—May 27, 1940 & 1945

British prisoners of war in Calais, France, May 1940; Panzer I light tank in foreground (German Federal Archive, Bild 183-B14898)

85 Years Ago—May 27, 1940: Germans take Calais, France.

German Waffen-SS murders 97 British POWs at La Paradis.

The FBI receives 2,900 reports of espionage and sabotage after President Roosevelt’s Fireside Chat the night before warning about “fifth columnists,” enemy sympathizers within the country.

British weekly sugar ration cut from 12 oz to 8 oz per person. (Read more: Food Rationing in Britain in World War II)

US poster, 1940s

80 Years Ago—May 27, 1945: Due to mines, Tokyo harbor is closed for the duration of the war.

US Sixth Army takes Santa Fe, Luzon, securing the Villa Verde Trail.

US Marines take Naha, the capital of Okinawa.

Sherman tanks of US 6th Marine Division at Naha, Okinawa, Japan, 27 May 1945 (US Marine Corps photo)

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Remembering the Fallen

US Coast Guardsman honors the fallen in the Pacific, Memorial Day, 30 May 1944 (US Coast Guard photo)

On Memorial Day, we remember those who gave their lives in defense of our country.

We live in freedom because they fought tyranny.We live without fear because they faced danger.We live in comfort because they gave up all comforts.We live because of their sacrifices.

 

Let’s never take these gifts for granted. They were purchased at high cost.

Over 1 million Americans have given their lives in war (Source: English, June A., Jones, Thomas D., Scholastic Encyclopedia of the United States at War, New York NY: Scholastic Reference, 1998).

American Revolution: 4,435War of 1812: 2,260Mexican-American War: 13,283Civil War: 498,332Spanish-American War: 2,446World War I: 116,708World War II: 407,316Korean War: 33.651Vietnam War: 58,168Gulf War: 293War on Terrorism (Source: icasualties.org): 4586 in Iraq, 2465 in AfghanistanOn this Memorial Day, take a moment to remember. And take a moment to thank God for freedom and life.The post Remembering the Fallen first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—May 26, 1940 & 1945

British troops in a ship evacuating from Dunkirk, France, late May 1940 (US War Department photo)

85 Years Ago—May 26, 1940: Operation Dynamo, the evacuation at Dunkirk begins in the evening: 338,226 British and French troops will be evacuated from French beaches by everything from destroyers to civilian fishing boats, through June 4.

In Britain, Empire Day is declared a national day of prayer.

British Gen. Sir John Dill is named Chief of Imperial General Staff.

80 Years Ago—May 26, 1945: Chinese nationalists capture Nanning, cutting off Japanese forces in Indochina.

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Today in World War II History—May 25, 1940 & 1945

British Cruiser Mk IV tank crew repairing tank track, Blangy-sur-Ternoise, France, 26-29 May 1940 (Imperial War Museum: 2012-11-26)

85 Years Ago—May 25, 1940: Germans take Boulogne, France.

British troops are ordered to retreat to Dunkirk.

First clinical use of penicillin: Howard Florey successfully treats mice.

The Golden Gate International Exposition opens on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay, will run through September 29.

Aerial view of Tokyo following bombing by B-29 Superfortress bombers, night of 26 May 1945 (Library of Congress: LC-USZ62-111427)

80 Years Ago—May 25, 1945: Last major US B-29 fire raid on Tokyo; in the campaign, 50% of city has been burned.

The Imperial Palace in Tokyo is hit in the B-29 raid, just missing Emperor Hirohito and his family.

Heavy kamikaze attack off Okinawa sinks two US ships and damages eight ships.

Movie premiere of The Clock, starring Judy Garland & Robert Walker.

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Today in World War II History—May 24, 1940 & 1945

Lt. Gen. Simon Buckner, Jr., Maj. Gen. Lemuel Shepperd, and Brig. Gen. William Clement on Okinawa, 22 May 1945 (US Marine Corps photo)

85 Years Ago—May 24, 1940: Hitler orders panzers to halt near Dunkirk, to allow infantry to catch up and to conserve tanks, believing the Luftwaffe will finish off the Allies.

Britain orders the withdrawal of the remaining British troops in Norway.

80 Years Ago—May 24, 1945: On Okinawa, Japanese make commando attack on Yontan Airfield and destroy seven US aircraft, but all commandos are killed.

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