Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 17

Today in World War II History—May 5, 1940 & 1945

Allied Third Burma Campaign, April-May 1945 (US Military Academy map)

85 Years Ago—May 5, 1940: Norwegian government-in-exile is established in London.

In Norway, Germans take fort of Hegra after a 25-day battle, the last Norwegian resistance in the south.

Off Denmark, damaged submarine HMS Seal surrenders to German seaplanes and a patrol vessel, the only British vessel surrendered by her commander during the war, the only sub captured at sea by Germany.

80 Years Ago—May 5, 1945: Allies secure Burma.

German SS unit assaults Schloss Itter in Austria, where high-ranking French POWs are being held—for the only time in the war, US and German forces fight side by side to defeat the SS troops.

In Lakeview, OR, one woman and five children are killed by a Japanese balloon bomb, the only civilians killed in the continental US by enemy action.

In the last German U-boat attack off the US coast, U-853 sinks US cargo ship Black Point.

The post Today in World War II History—May 5, 1940 & 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—May 4, 1940 & 1945

Gen. Bernard Montgomery reading surrender document to German officers at British 21st Army Group headquarters, Lüneburg Heath, Germany, 4 May 1945 (Imperial War Museum: BU 5208)

85 Years Ago—May 4, 1940: Germany begins rationing gasoline; many of the remaining civilian cars and trucks still in circulation are ordered off the roads.

80 Years Ago—May 4, 1945: German forces in northwest Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark surrender to the British at Lüneburg Heath, effective May 5 at 08:00.

US Seventh Army coming from Austria and US Fifth Army from Italy meet at Vipiteno on Italian side of Brenner Pass in the Alps.

The post Today in World War II History—May 4, 1940 & 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—May 3, 1940 & 1945

British POWs at Trondheim, Norway (German Federal Archives: Bild 183-LO3926)

85 Years Ago—May 3, 1940: Norwegian forces south of Trondheim surrender to the Germans.

British Cromwell tank guarding a bridge over the Elbe River, Hamburg, Germany, 3 May 1945 (Imperial War Museum: 4700-30 BU 5077)

80 Years Ago—May 3, 1945: British take Hamburg, Germany.

British and Indian forces take Rangoon, Burma.

On Mindanao in the Philippines, US Eighth Army takes Davao.

RAF Typhoons sink German liner Cap Arcona and German freighter Thielbek, both loaded with concentration camp prisoners about to be murdered (8,000 killed, 2,400 survive).

Movie premiere of historical drama The Valley of Decision, starring Gregory Peck & Greer Garson.

The post Today in World War II History—May 3, 1940 & 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—May 2, 1940 & 1945

 

Wernher von Braun (in civilian clothes) with German officers at Peenemünde, Germany, 21 March 1941 (German Federal Archives: Bild 146-1978-Anh.024-03)

85 Years Ago—May 2, 1940: As Germans advance in Norway, British troops evacuate bombed-out Namsos.

80 Years Ago—May 2, 1945: Official surrender of German forces in Italy and southern Austria.

Berlin surrenders to the Soviets; Soviet flag flies over Reichstag.

Dr. Wernher von Braun and other rocket scientists surrender to US forces in Austria.

The post Today in World War II History—May 2, 1940 & 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

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

Men of the Australian 2/48 Infantry Battalion in landing craft, Tarakan, Borneo, 1 May 1945 (Australian War Memorial: 090812)

85 Years Ago—May 1, 1940: In Norway, German troops from Oslo and Bergen link, and British troops evacuate Åndalsnes.

British pass union trade agreement allowing women to work in munitions factories.

B-17G Fortress “Liquid-8-Or” of 569th Bomb Squadron dropping cases of “10 in 1” rations into Holland during Operation Chowhound aimed at breaking the famine in western Holland, May 1 or 3 1945 (US Air Force Historical Research Agency via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—May 1, 1945: Australian forces land at Tarakan off the coast of Borneo.

Leadership of Germany passes to Adm. Karl Dönitz after Hitler’s suicide the day before.

US Eighth Air Force flies first “Chow Hound” mission, dropping food and supplies to Dutch civilians.

Mexican Air Force arrives in Manila with P-47 fighters to fly for the Allies; the “Aztec Eagles” will fly 795 sorties and lose 7 pilots.

The post Today in World War II History—May 1, 1940 & 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

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

May 2, 1945 issue of US Army’s Stars and Stripes newspaper (Source: US Army)

85 Years Ago—Apr. 30, 1940: Nazis establish their first guarded Jewish ghetto, at Lódz in occupied Poland, later to be sealed.

80 Years Ago—Apr. 30, 1945: As Soviets advance in Berlin, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide.

US Seventh Army takes Munich, Germany.

Col. William Darby, who had led US Army Rangers in North Africa and Italy, is killed in action near Lake Garda, Italy.

The Duke of Windsor (former King Edward VIII) resigns as Royal Governor of the Bahama Islands.

The post Today in World War II History—April 30, 1940 & 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

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

German representatives sign surrender document, Caserta, Italy, 29 April 1945 (US Army Center of Military History)

85 Years Ago—Apr. 29, 1940: In Norway, German troops from Oslo and Trondheim link.

The Royal Air Force establishes Commonwealth Air Training Plan to train air crews in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Prisoners celebrating the arrival of United States Army troops, Dachau Concentration Camp, Germany, 29 Apr 1945 (US Holocaust Memorial Museum: 45075)

80 Years Ago—Apr. 29, 1945: At Caserta, Italy, German Gen. Heinrich von Vietinghoff signs the surrender of 1 million German troops in Italy and Austria, effective May 2.

US Seventh Army liberates Dachau concentration camp.

Hitler marries Eva Braun.

RAF begins Operation Manna, dropping food to Dutch civilians.

In municipal elections in France, French women vote for the first time ever.

The “Peace” rose is introduced at the Pacific Rose Society of Pasadena, CA.

The post Today in World War II History—April 29, 1940 & 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

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

GIs hand-carry paintings in Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany, under the supervision of Captain James Rorimer, 1945 (US National Archives)

85 Years Ago—Apr. 28, 1940: Glenn Miller records hit song “Pennsylvania 6-5000.”

80 Years Ago—Apr. 28, 1945: In Milan, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, are executed by Italian partisans.

US troops discover Nazi art stash at Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.

The post Today in World War II History—April 28, 1940 & 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

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

Anti-aircraft tracers in the night sky above Yontan Airfield, Okinawa, 28 Apr 1945; US Marine Corps F4U Corsair fighters in foreground (US National Archives: 127-G-118775)

85 Years Ago—Apr. 27, 1940: Inter-American Neutrality Committee meets in Rio de Janeiro to discuss prevention of further incidents in the Pan-American Security Zone.

80 Years Ago—Apr. 27, 1945: Anti-Nazis rise up in Munich and encourage German surrender.

US and Britain reject Heinrich Himmler’s secret armistice proposal.

Second Republic of Austria is established under acting Chancellor Karl Renner, and the Anschluss (union with Germany) is declared null and void.

Japanese begin heavy two-day air assault on shipping off Okinawa.

The post Today in World War II History—April 27, 1940 & 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—April 26, 1945

Italian Partisans before the Cathedral of Milan (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Apr. 26, 1945: US Fifth Army takes Verona, Italy.

Italian partisans take Genoa and revolt in Milan.

British take Bremen, Germany.

RAF begins Operation Exodus, ferrying 75,000 British POWs home in Lancaster bombers in 469 flights through May 7.

As demand for meat rises in liberated Europe, US rations all meats again except mutton and raises point values for most meats. [Read more: “Make It Do: Meat and Cheese Rationing in World War II”]

African-American soldiers of the US 92nd Infantry Division entering the Galleria Giuseppe Garibaldi, Genoa, Italy, 27 Apr 1945 (US National Archives: 111-SC-337144)

The post Today in World War II History—April 26, 1945 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.