Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 188
March 4, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 4, 1944
Lt. Gen. Alexander Patch, August 1945 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 4, 1944: Maj. Gen. Alexander Patch assumes command of US Seventh Army in Algiers, to prepare for landings in southern France.
US Eighth Air Force flies its first bombing mission to Berlin.
March 3, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 3, 1944
US VI Corps Headquarters in a wine cellar near Anzio, Italy, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 3, 1944: Allies repel final German counterattack at Anzio; forces will remain at standstill for next two months in bad weather.
March 2, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 2, 1944
75 Years Ago—Mar. 2, 1944: Academy Awards ceremony held: Best picture of 1943—Casablanca; best actor—Paul Lukas in Watch on the Rhine; best actress—Jennifer Jones in Song of Bernadette; best director—Michael Curtiz for Casablanca.
March 1, 2019
Today in World War II History—Mar. 1, 1944
Advertisement about penicillin from Schenley Laboratories, 14 August 1944
75 Years Ago—Mar. 1, 1944: Pfizer opens first commercial plant for large-scale production of penicillin by submerged-culture method, in Brooklyn.
In the US, toothpaste buyers no longer have to turn in old tubes to buy new (required since 4 April 1942 due to tin shortage). Read more: “Make It Do—Metal Shortages in World War II”
February 28, 2019
Today in World War II History—Feb. 28, 1944 & Feb. 29, 1944
The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom
75 Years Ago—Feb. 28, 1944: German Gestapo raids the home of Corrie ten Boom in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and arrests 30 family members & friends, but 6 Jews in hiding are not discovered. All but Corrie, Betsie, and their father Casper are released; Casper dies 10 days later, and Betsie dies in Ravensbrück on December 16, 1944. Corrie ten Boom survives the war to write her moving account, The Hiding Place.
First Victory ship (larger and faster than Liberty Ships), the United Victory, is completed by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation.
Leap Year Bonus! 75 Years Ago—Feb. 29, 1944: US Army lands on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands.
First wave of US Army troops landing on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, 29 Feb 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)
February 27, 2019
Today in World War II History—Feb. 27, 1944
Cartoon giving information on new rationing tokens, February 1944 (US government publication)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 27, 1944: Alamo Scouts (US Sixth Army) enter combat, conducting reconnaissance of Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands.
US issues plastic tokens to make change for ration stamps—blue for processed foods, red for meats and fats.
February 26, 2019
Today in World War II History—Feb. 26, 1944
Poster for the US Navy Nurse Corps, WWII (US Naval History & Heritage Command)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 26, 1944: Japanese retreat from Sinzweya, Burma, ending “Battle of the Admin Box,” as British troops relieve trapped Indian troops.
US Navy nurses are given actual commissioned rank instead of relative rank. Read more about relative rank here: Army Nursing in World War II: Training and Rank.
February 25, 2019
Today in World War II History—Feb. 25, 1944
Strike photo of Regensburg after 25 February 1944 raid by US Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces (US Air Force photo)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 25, 1944: First time US Eighth Air Force (based in England) and US Fifteenth Air Force (based in Italy) bomb the same target—to Regensburg, Germany in “Big Week” operations.
February 24, 2019
Today in World War II History—Feb. 24, 1944
Merrill’s Marauders in Burma, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 24, 1944: Merrill’s Marauders (US guerrillas) enter Burma to start raids in Hukawng Valley.
February 23, 2019
Today in World War II History—Feb. 23, 1944
Maj. Gen. Lucian Truscott, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Feb. 23, 1944: Maj. Gen. Lucian Truscott assumes command of US VI Corps at Anzio in Italy.
First US Army blood bank in the Mediterranean Theater opens at Naples medical center.
