Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 185
March 30, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 30, 1944
Peleliu Island under attack by aircraft of US Navy Task Force 58 (note F6F fighter in flight), 30 March 1944 (US National Museum of Naval Aviation)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 30, 1944: RAF loses 96 of 795 bombers on raid on Nuremberg, Germany, its heaviest loss in the war, ending the RAF’s Battle of Berlin.
Japanese surround major British base of Imphal, India.
US Navy’s Task Force 58 with 11 carriers begins a 3-day air strike against the Caroline Islands in the Central Pacific; will destroy 150 Japanese aircraft at a cost of 20 US aircraft, and will sink over 40 ships and vessels.
RAF Lancaster bombers, 1944 (Imperial War Museum)
March 29, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 29, 1944
Flight nurse based in Prestwick, Scotland, preparing patients for transatlantic flight, 1944 (USAF photo)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 29, 1944: Countdown to D-day: US expands North Atlantic medical air evacuation to move 200 patients per day, clearing hospitals in England for D-day.
Japanese cut Imphal-Kohima road in India.
March 28, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 28, 1944
Poster for Australia’s First Victory Loan, March 28-May 9, 1944 (Australian War Memorial)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 28, 1944: Germans begin evacuation of Odessa, Ukraine.
Soviets take Nikolaev, Romania on the Black Sea.
Headquarters US XX Bomber Command (B-29 Superfortresses) arrives at Kharagpur, India, under Maj. Gen. Kenneth Wolfe.
Australia launches first Victory Loan drive to raise £150 million.
March 27, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 27, 1944
75 Years Ago—Mar. 27, 1944: Soviets take Kamenets-Podolsk in the Ukraine as they work to close the Kamenets-Podolsk pocket.
March 26, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 26, 1944
New Zealand troops guard German POWs at Cassino, Italy, March 1944 (German Federal Archive: Bild 146-1975-014-31)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 26, 1944: In Italy, the New Zealand Corps is disbanded at Cassino and sent to Adriatic Coast to recover.
Soviets reach River Pruth at the Romanian border.
Germans and Milice (pro-Nazi French police) attack Maquis (French resistance) hideout on Glières Plateau in Haute-Savoie region, scattering or killing over 400 Maquis.
March 25, 2019
Between Two Shores – Giveaway Winner!
Thank you to the 102 (!) people who entered the giveaway for Jocelyn Green‘s latest historical novel, Between Two Shores (read my glowing review here). I picked a winner through Random.org, and the winner is…
Alison Boss!
Alison, please watch your email inbox for a message from me, so I can mail you the book.
Today in World War II History—Mar. 25, 1944
Map of Japanese and Allied airfields in the Southwest Pacific Area, April 1944 (Source: US Air Force)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 25, 1944: At New Guinea, heavy US Fifth Air Force bombing on Wewak causes Japanese to move air headquarters to Hollandia.
Hungary approves anti-Semitic policies, requires Jews to wear the yellow Star of David effective 5 April 1944.
US secures Manus in the Admiralty Islands in the Pacific.
March 24, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 24, 1944
German troops and Italian collaborators round up civilians in front of the Palazzo Barberini, Rome, 23 March 1944, before the Ardeatine Caves Massacre (German Federal Archive: Bild 101I-312-0983-05)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 24, 1944: Ardeatine Caves Massacre—Nazis kill 335 Italian civilians in reprisal for partisan bombing the day before.
“The Great Escape”—76 Allied airmen escape from German POW camp Stalag Luft III near Sagan, 50 are recaptured and murdered, 3 escape to Allied or neutral territory.
Countdown to D-day: Allies decide to postpone Operation Anvil (invasion of southern France) to free up more landing craft for Operation Overlord (landings in Normandy).
The word “gobbledygook” is invented, used in a memorandum from US Smaller War Plants Corporation director Maury Maverick promoting short and plain writing.
March 23, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 23, 1944
B-25 of the US 340th Bombardment Group at Pompeii Airfield, covered with volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, 23 March 1944 (USAF Photo)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 23, 1944: Italian partisan bombing decimates a German SS police unit in Rome, 33 Germans & 10 Italian civilians are killed.
Volcanic ash from Vesuvius destroys almost all (about 80) B-25 Mitchell medium bombers of the US 340th Bombardment Group at Pompeii Airfield in Italy.
March 22, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 22, 1944
Poster explaining US gasoline rationing cards in WWII
75 Years Ago—Mar. 22, 1944: New Zealanders make final assault on Monte Cassino, Italy, which fails.
RAF bombing raid to Frankfurt destroys the Altstadt (old town), and the house of Goethe’s birth is destroyed on the anniversary of his birth.
In US, “A” gas rationing cards are cut from three gallons per week to two gallons. Read more: “Make It Do—Gasoline Rationing in World War II”
