Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 153

Today in World War II History—November 19, 1941

Light cruiser HMAS Sydney at Circular Quay in Sydney, Australia, 10 Feb 1941 (The Sydney Morning Herald, Feb 1941, public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Nov. 19, 1941: West of Australia, German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran sinks Australian light cruiser Sydney (all 643 killed); Kormoran also sinks (85 killed).

In a North Atlantic convoy, destroyer USS Leary makes the first radar contact on a hostile ship by a US warship, leading to a depth-charge attack on a German U-boat.

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Today in World War II History—November 18, 1941

British Matilda tanks on the move outside the perimeter of Tobruk, 18 November 1941 (Imperial War Museum: E 6600)

80 Years Ago—Nov. 18, 1941: Operation Crusader begins as British launch offensive to relieve Tobruk, Libya.

Gen. Sir Alan Brooke replaces Field Marshal John Dill as British Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

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Today in World War II History—November 17, 1941

Japanese Ambassador Adm. Kichisaburo Nomura and Special Envoy Saburo Kurusu with US Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Washington DC, 17 Nov 1941 (Japanese government photo, public domain via WW2 Database)

80 Years Ago—Nov. 17, 1941: British commandos raid German Gen. Erwin Rommel’s headquarters near Tobruk, Libya, but Rommel is away; only two commandos escape.

Japanese envoy Saburo Kurusu meets with US Secretary of State Cordell Hull in Washington, DC.

Gen. Ernst Udet, German Director of Air Armament, commits suicide, the second-highest WWI ace after the Red Baron.

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Today in World War II History—November 16, 1941

Two German soldiers near Sevastopol, December 1941 (public domain via Wydawnictwo Prasowe Kraków-Warszawa: 2-924)

80 Years Ago—Nov. 16, 1941: Germans take Kerch, Ukraine, securing the Crimea except for Sevastopol.

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Today in World War II History—November 15, 1941

German tanks attacking near Istra in the USSR, 25 Nov 1941 (German Federal Archive: Bild 183-B17220)

80 Years Ago—Nov. 15, 1941: Germans resume offensive on Moscow in -20 degree Celsius temperatures.

First Grand National Rodeo is held in the new Cow Palace in San Francisco.

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Today in World War II History—November 14, 1941

Poster for US release of Suspicion, 1941 (RKO Radio Pictures poster, public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Nov. 14, 1941: US orders withdrawal of American gunboats and Marines from China to the Philippines.

Movie premiere of Hitchcock’s Suspicion, starring Cary Grant and Joan Fontaine, who will win the Oscar for best actress.

US 4th Marine Regiment preparing to leave Shanghai, China, 28 Nov 1941 (US National Archives)

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Today in World War II History—November 13, 1941

Carrier HMS Ark Royal being evacuated, 13 Nov 1941 (Imperial War Museum: 4700-01 A 6332)

80 Years Ago—Nov. 13, 1941: Hitler orders German Navy to refrain from attacking US ships except in self-defense.

Near Gibraltar, German U-boat U-81 damages British carrier HMS Ark Royal, which sinks the next day (1 killed, 70 planes lost).

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Today in World War II History—November 12, 1941

French Gen. Charles Huntziger signing the Franco-German armistice, Compiègne, France, 22 Jun 1940 (German Federal Archive: B 145 Bild-P50284)

80 Years Ago—Nov. 12, 1941: FBI arrests 15 Japanese-American businessmen and community leaders in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles.

Vichy French commander in chief of land forces, Gen. Charles Huntziger, dies in a plane crash in France.

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Veterans Day 2021

Veterans Day 2021 poster, honoring 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (US Department of Veterans Affairs)

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the First World War came to an end.

The Armistice was signed for the War to End All Wars, but peace was built on a shoddy foundation, and war returned, nastier than ever.

The end of the Second World War brought the United Nations and the promise of rational negotiation and eternal peace. Instead the nuclear era introduced the tense decades of the Cold War, flaring up in brutal regional wars in Korea, Vietnam, and throughout Africa and Central and South America.

The collapse of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall brought optimism for a peaceful, democratic world. This was shattered by the terrorist tactics of a new enemy without borders to attack or a government to negotiate with. A cowardly enemy that cheers when children blow up children or when tourists are mowed down on their holidays.

The human heart yearns for peace but is drawn to war. We can argue about it and say it shouldn’t be this way, but it is.

That’s why our armed services are vital. Our veterans have repelled the forces of Fascism, Totalitarianism, and Communism, and for this we owe them our eternal gratitude. Our active servicemen and servicewomen are currently fighting the forces of Terrorism and standing guard against dictators, and for this we owe them our active support and appreciation.

On this 11th day of the 11th month, we thank the members of our armed services, past and present, for protecting our lives, our homes, and our freedom. May God bless you.

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Today in World War II History—November 11, 1941

US poster for the Lend-Lease program, WWII

80 Years Ago—Nov. 11, 1941: US Lend-Lease aid is expanded to include the Free French based in Britain.

Manuel Quezon is elected to a second term as President of the Philippines.

Australian War Memorial opens in Canberra.

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