Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 332
August 16, 2015
Today in World War II History—Aug. 16, 1940 & 1945
Coat of arms of US 29th Infantry Regiment
75 Years Ago—Aug. 16, 1940: Test platoon of 48 volunteers from 29th Infantry Regiment makes first US Army parachute jump from an aircraft. Movie premiere of Hitchcock’s Foreign Correspondent, starring Joel McCrea & Laraine Day.
70 Years Ago—Aug. 16, 1945: Japanese parliament resigns. Soviets land on Sakhalin Island. Churchill first uses term “iron curtain” in speech to House of Commons: “the iron curtain which at the moment divides Europe in twain.”
August 15, 2015
Happy V-J Day!
The famous kiss at Times Square, New York City, 14 Aug 1945 (Photographer: Victor Jorgensen; US National Archives)
Seventy years ago, on August 14, 1945, World War II came to an end when Emperor Hirohito of Japan signed his acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration demanding unconditional surrender to the Allies. The surrender was announced in the United States at 7pm Eastern War Savings Time.
The following day, August 15, was officially proclaimed V-J Day (Victory in Japan), a day of celebration and thanksgiving.
Almost six years had passed since Germany had invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, beginning the most costly war the world had ever seen. Europe and Asia lay in ruins. Tens of millions of people had lost their lives in combat, bombings, and extermination camps. Very few families were unaffected by the war, even in the US, where only a few bombs landed from a handful of shellings by Japanese submarines.
It’s hard for us to imagine the extreme jubilation that erupted seventy years ago today.
Take a moment today and imagine. Imagine the jubilation, the sense of relief that the horror was over, that you would survive, that those around you would survive, that you could go on with your life and pursue your dreams.
Take a moment today and give thanks. Thank the veterans, and nurses, and home front workers who made that victory possible. Thank the members of our armed forces today who continue to keep us safe. And thank the Lord for strengthening us and watching over us.
Take a moment today and celebrate!
Today in World War II History—Aug. 15, 1940 & 1945
Wreckage of a Do 17 aircraft in Britain, 18 Aug 1940
75 Years Ago—Aug. 15, 1940: Luftwaffe’s “Black Thursday”: in the Battle of Britain, Germans lose 161 aircraft, while RAF loses 34. Off Greece, Italian sub Delfino sinks WWI-era Greek cruiser Helli to try to provoke Greece into war.
70 Years Ago—Aug. 15, 1945: V-J Day (Victory over Japan) in US and Britain, V-P Day (Victory in the Pacific) in Australia. US accepts Japanese surrender, and hostilities cease. Hirohito announces surrender to the Japanese people, the first time they have heard his voice.
The famous kiss at Times Square, New York City, 14 Aug 1945 (Photographer: Victor Jorgensen; US National Archives)
August 14, 2015
Today in World War II History—Aug. 14, 1940 & 1945
Emperor Showa (Hirohito) recording the surrender speech, Tokyo, Japan, 14 Aug 1945, to be broadcast the next day.
75 Years Ago—Aug. 14, 1940: As Italians advance in British Somaliland, British evacuate Berbera, the capital. A plane crash in Canberra, Australia kills top Army officers and government ministers, leading to fall of Menzies government.
70 Years Ago—Aug. 14, 1945: Japanese military coup and assassination attempt on Emperor Hirohito fails, and Hirohito signs acceptance of unconditional surrender. US government orders resumption of civilian car manufacturing.
August 13, 2015
Today in World War II History—Aug. 13, 1940 & 1945
Spitfire pilot of No. 610 Squadron recounts how he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110, Biggin Hill, September 1940. (Imperial War Museum)
75 Years Ago—Aug. 13, 1940: “Adlertag”—“Day of the Eagle”: In the Battle of Britain, Luftwaffe attacks switch from shipping to RAF airfields and aircraft plants to prepare for invasion—the first true strategic air operation in history.
70 Years Ago—Aug. 13, 1945: Lt. Oscar Perdomo of US 507th Fighter Group becomes the last air ace of the war when he shoots down 5 Japanese fighters over Kyushu.
August 12, 2015
Today in World War II History—Aug. 12, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Aug. 12, 1940: Second phase of Battle of Britain begins, as Luftwaffe targets coastal airfields: Luftwaffe first attacks British radar stations; disruption to radar station on Isle of Wight leaves hole in British radar. First German artillery shells land on British soil, destroy four homes in Dover. Britain declares wasting food to be illegal.
70 Years Ago—Aug. 12, 1945: US announces Japan can keep Hirohito as emperor, but only if he is not proclaimed to be divine.
August 11, 2015
Today in World War II History—Aug. 11, 1940 & 1945
Gen. Douglas MacArthur salutes during the US national anthem, Philippines, 1 Aug 1945 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—Aug. 11, 1940: German Messerschmitt Me 109s first operate as fighter-bombers, against British ships. In Paris, Nazis form Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg to loot art from Jews.
70 Years Ago—Aug. 11, 1945: Gen. Douglas MacArthur is declared Allied Supreme Commander, with the authority to accept Japanese surrender.
August 10, 2015
Today in World War II History—Aug. 10, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Aug. 10, 1940: In Luxembourg, Germans ban speaking French. British agree to withdraw from Shanghai and northern China to appease Japan and to reinforce Singapore and India.
70 Years Ago—Aug. 10, 1945: Emperor Hirohito tells Japanese government to accept Potsdam Declaration demanding unconditional surrender; Japanese send word to US that they will surrender if they can retain Hirohito as emperor.
August 9, 2015
Today in World War II History—Aug. 9, 1940 & 1945
Mushroom cloud over Nagasaki, Japan, 9 Aug 1945 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—Aug. 9, 1940: Hermann Göring orders Luftwaffe to destroy RAF fields, control centers, and radar. In past month the RAF has lost 84 fighters, while the Luftwaffe has lost 227 aircraft.
70 Years Ago—Aug. 9, 1945: Atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki by US B-29 Bock’s Car, flown by Maj. Charles Sweeney; about 35,000 killed. Soviets invade Japanese-occupied Manchuria with 1.5 million soldiers. Last Victoria Cross of war is awarded posthumously to Canadian Corsair pilot Lt. Robert Hampton Gray for sinking Japanese destroyer Amakusa off Honshu.
August 8, 2015
Today in World War II History—Aug. 8, 1940 & 1945
Soviet troops entering Dalian, Manchuria, China on T-34-85 medium tanks, Aug 1945
75 Years Ago—Aug. 8, 1940: Luftwaffe intensifies bombing of British ports; 450 planes attack British convoy CW-9, the largest attack so far.
70 Years Ago—Aug. 8, 1945: Soviet Union declares war on Japan. President Truman threatens further atomic destruction if Japan doesn’t surrender.
