Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 172
May 4, 2020
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)
80 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.
75 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.
May 1, 2020
Spring Cleaning Book Giveaway!
Springtime means cleaning time – and I’m cleaning house. Of books! Lots of books! All needing good homes. So I’m doing a giant giveaway. Here’s what’s up for grabs…
Blue Skies Tomorrow large-print edition
The Land Beneath Us CD audio book
With Every Letter CD audio book
The Sky Above Us large-print edition
Wings of Glory Portuguese edition – three-book set (A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, Blue Skies Tomorrow)
Wings of Glory Dutch edition – two-book set (A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us)
Wings of Glory German edition – three-book set (A Distant Melody, A Memory Between Us, Blue Skies Tomorrow)
I want to find homes for ALL of them. Click on the links above if you want to read blurbs for the stories.
So, here’s how it works…please leave a comment below listing which book(s) or book set(s) you’re interested in. You may list as many as you’d like – but each person can win only one book or book set. Giveaway ends Sunday, May 10 at 10 pm Pacific Time. I’ll use a random number generator to pick a winner for each book and book set. Due to shipping costs, US mailing addresses only please.
April 25, 2020
Today in World War II History—April 25, 1940 & 1945
US soldier 2nd Lt. William Robertson and Soviet soldier Lt. Alexander Sylvashko met near Torgau, Germany, 25 Apr 1945 (US National Archives: 111-SC-205228)
80 Years Ago—April 25, 1940: German Luftwaffe bombs RAF base on frozen Lake Lesjaskogsvatnet in Norway, destroying 13 Gladiator fighter planes and forcing withdrawal.
75 Years Ago—Apr. 25, 1945: US First Army and Soviet troops meet on the Elbe at Torgau, severing northern and southern Germany. Eisenhower will drive north and south to cut off German retreat to Denmark or the Alps and let the Soviets take Berlin as agreed.
US Eighth Air Force flies its final bombing mission of the war.
The United Nations Conference opens in San Francisco with representatives from fifty nations.
April 22, 2020
Today in World War II History—April 22, 1940 & 1945
Soviet BM-13 Katyusha rocket launchers firing on Berlin, Germany, Apr 1945 (public domain, Russian Archives)
80 Years Ago—April 22, 1940: In Norway, British troops begin retreat at Namsos and Lillehammer.
75 Years Ago—Apr. 22, 1945: As Soviet troops enter outskirts of Berlin, Hitler vows to stay in the city.
US troops hold a victory parade in Nuremberg rally grounds (Zeppelinfeld) and blow up the swastika.
April 16, 2020
Today in World War II History—April 16, 1940 & 1945
Soviet ZiS-3 guns bombarding German positions near Seelow Heights, Berlin, Germany, 16-19 Apr 1945 (German Federal Archives: Bild 183-E0406-0022-012)
80 Years Ago—April 16, 1940: In Nazi-occupied Copenhagen, Margrethe, Princess of Denmark (and current queen), is born at Amalienborg Palace, granddaughter of King Christian X.
TBM Avenger torpedo planes of Composite Squadron 84 from USS Makin Island flying over Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, 16 Apr 1945 (US Naval History & Heritage Command: NH 69420)
75 Years Ago—April 16, 1945: Gen. Carl Spaatz of the US Strategic Air Forces in Europe declares the strategic air war is over—only tactical targets remain.
Soviets cross the Oder River and launch offensive on Berlin, starting the Battle of Seelow Heights.
US Tenth Army lands on the island of Ie Shima off Okinawa and takes the airfield.
March 30, 2020
Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green
Sisters Meg and Sylvie Townsend would be perfectly happy running the family bookstore in Chicago if only their father were his old self. Stephen Townsend came home from the Civil War a changed man, forever pacing the roof and creating a mock-up of the Andersonville prison camp. Meg does what she can to make him happy.
When the Great Fire of Chicago strikes, Meg and Sylvie just manage to escape the flames with the help of reporter Nate Pierce – but they’re separated from Stephen. After the smoke clears, a family friend is found murdered, and Stephen is charged with the crime – and sent to the insane asylum. If Meg and Nate can’t find the real murderer, Stephen will be lost to them forever.
Rich in historical detail, Veiled in Smoke casts light on a significant event and also on “soldier’s heart,” what we now know as PTSD. Meg and Sylvie are appealing heroines, as they struggle with their father’s condition and with their losses from the fire, each in her own way. Both sisters have to confront errors in thinking that have created a wedge between them, and their journey is realistic and touching. Once again, Jocelyn Green has penned a must-read novel.
March 29, 2020
Today in World War II History—March 29, 1945
Soldiers of 44th Division, US Seventh Army in Mannheim, Germany, 29 Mar 1945 (German Federal Archive, Bild 146-1971-053-59)
75 Years Ago—March 29, 1945: In Germany, US Third Army takes Frankfurt and US Seventh Army takes Mannheim and Heidelberg.
In retreat from Heidelberg, Germans destroy historic Alte Brücke (bridge) over Neckar River.
Soviets seize Komorn oil field in Hungary, Germany’s last source of petroleum.
March 24, 2020
Today in World War II History—March 24, 1940 & 1945
C-47 transports releasing hundreds of paratroopers and their supplies over the Rees-Wesel region, Germany during Operation Varsity, 24 Mar 1945 (Imperial War Museum: 4700-06 EA 59364A)
80 Years Ago—March 24, 1940: Sunspots temporarily disrupt shortwave radios, telephones, and telegraphs in the Western Hemisphere.
75 Years Ago—March 24, 1945: US Ninth Army crosses the Rhine.
In Operation Varsity, 17,000 British 6th Airborne Division & US 17th Airborne Division paratroopers drop east of the Rhine and link with British & US land forces.
US Fifteenth Air Force based in Italy sends 660 B-17 and B-24 bombers to Berlin for the first time as a diversion for the Rhine crossings. The escorting 332nd Fighter Group (African-American Tuskegee Airmen), shoots down 3 German Me 262 jets and earns the Distinguished Unit Citation.
Premiere of Tweety Bird cartoon Life with Feathers, featuring debut of Sylvester (unnamed in the cartoon).
March 22, 2020
Today in World War II History—March 22, 1940 & 1945
US troops crossing the Rhine under fire at Sankt Goar, Germany, late Mar 1945 (US National Archives: 208-YE-132)
80 Years Ago—March 22, 1940: Royal Navy increases patrols off Norway as tensions rise between Britain, Norway, and Germany.
75 Years Ago—March 22, 1945: US Third Army under Gen. George Patton crosses the Rhine at Nierstein and Oppenheim at night, surprising the Germans.
US Eighth Army secures Panay in the Philippines.
March 20, 2020
Today in World War II History—March 20, 1945
WWII Poster
75 Years Ago—March 20, 1945: On Luzon, a Filipino force takes San Fernando, led by US Col. Russell Volckmann, who had refused to surrender to the Japanese in 1942.
British & Indian troops take Mandalay, Burma.
Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten addressing men of British Royal Armoured Corps, Mandalay, Burma, 21 Mar 1945 (Imperial War Museum: SE 3484)
