Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 295
July 12, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 12, 1941
British Ambassador Stafford Cripps signing a mutual assistance agreement between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, Moscow, 12 Jul 1941 (public domain)
75 Years Ago—July 12, 1941: Britain and USSR sign mutual assistance pact, pledging not to seek separate peace.
German Luftwaffe bombs Moscow for the first time.
Jimmy Dorsey’s song “Green Eyes” hits charts.
July 11, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 11, 1941
William (‘Wild Bill’) Donovan as head of the US Office of Strategic Services (OSS), 1945 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—July 11, 1941: US establishes Office of Coordinator of Information under William Donovan to coordinate intelligence and propaganda.
American Federation of Musicians orders members to play “Star-Spangled Banner” at concerts.
July 10, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 10, 1941
Sheet music: The ‘Jelly Roll’ Blues, by Ferd Morton, 1914 (public domain)
75 Years Ago—July 10, 1941: Finns launch offensive against Soviets south toward Leningrad.
Early jazz great “Jelly Roll” Morton dies in Los Angeles, age 50.
July 9, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 9, 1941
German generals Fedor von Bock, Hermann Hoth, and Wolfram von Richthofen, USSR, 8 Jul 1941 (German Federal Archive, Bild 101I-265-0048A-03)
75 Years Ago—July 9, 1941: British cryptographers crack Enigma code for Eastern Front.
Germans take Vitebsk, Byelorussia.
Australians take Damour, the final battle in Lebanon campaign.
July 8, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 8, 1941
Boeing B-17C Fortress in RAF service. (US Air Force photo)
75 Years Ago—July 8, 1941: US Marines land in Iceland to relieve British troops protecting the country.
B-17Cs enter combat with RAF, but British have problems with armor and with systems freezing.
Nazis require Jews in Baltic States to wear yellow stars.
July 7, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 7, 1941
US Army troops arriving in Reykjavik, Iceland, January 1942 (US Army photo)
75 Years Ago—July 7, 1941: Nazis murder 5000 Jews in Kovno, Lithuania.
Under pressure from Britain, Iceland invites US occupation as American forces enter Reykjavik harbor.
July 6, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 6, 1941
Broken bridge at the mouth of the Damour River, Syria, 1941 (Australian government photo, public domain)
75 Years Ago—July 6, 1941: In Lebanon, Australians attack Vichy French in Battle of Damour.
Peru invades Ecuador over border clash, launches air strikes against Ecuadorian cities.
July 5, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 5, 1941
U-255, painted white for Arctic camouflage, returning to base after attacking convoy PQ-17, July 1942 (US Naval History & Heritage Command)
75 Years Ago—July 5, 1941: RAF bombs Münster in first large-scale attack on this German city.
German U-boats begin to operate in Arctic waters.
In Iceland occupation force off Greenland, US destroyer Charles F. Hughes picks up 14 survivors from sunken Norwegian steamer Vigrid, including 4 US Red Cross nurses (see June 24, 1941 post)
July 4, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 4, 1941
75 Years Ago—July 4, 1941: British Communist Party decides to support war effort.
Communist Yugoslavian leader Tito (Joseph Broz) calls for Yugoslavians to revolt against Nazi rule.
July 3, 2016
Today in World War II History—July 3, 1941
German vehicles in a town in the Soviet Union, Jun 1941 (German Federal Archive Bild 101I-186-0199-07A)
75 Years Ago—July 3, 1941: Stalin declares scorched earth policy in Soviet retreat from Germans.
