Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 344
May 5, 2015
Today in World War II History—May 5, 1940 & 1945
Submarine HMS Seal after its capture by the Germans.
75 Years Ago—May 5, 1940: Norwegian government-in-exile forms in London. Off Denmark, damaged British sub Seal surrenders to German seaplanes and patrol vessels, the only British vessel surrendered by her commander during the war, the only sub captured at sea by Germany.
70 Years Ago—May 5, 1945: Allies secure Burma. US and German forces unite (for only time in war) and defeat SS units at Schloss Itter in Austria. In Lakeview OR, one woman and five children are killed by a Japanese balloon bomb, the only civilians killed in the continental US by enemy action. In the Last U-boat attack off the US coast, U-853 sinks US cargo ship Black Point.
May 4, 2015
Today in World War II History—May 4, 1945
Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery (second from left) greets German delegation (L to R – Adm. von Friedeburg, Gen. Kinzel and Rear Adm. Wagner) on 3 May 1945 at Lüneburg Heath.
70 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 3, 2015
Today in World War II History—May 3, 1940 & 1945
British POWs at Trondheim, Norway (German Federal Archives)
75 Years Ago—May 3, 1940: Allied forces south of Trondheim surrender to Germans.
70 Years Ago—May 3, 1945: British take Hamburg, Germany. British and Indian forces take Rangoon, Burma. On Mindanao in the Philippines, US Eighth Army takes Davao. RAF sinks German liner Cap Arcona and freighters Thielbek and Athen, all loaded with concentration camp prisoners about to be murdered (7500 killed, 2400 survive).
A British Cromwell tank guarding a bridge over the Elbe River, Hamburg, Germany, 3 May 1945 (Imperial War Museum)
May 2, 2015
Today in World War II History—May 2, 1940 & 1945
British troops returning from Norway, May 1940
75 Years Ago—May 2, 1940: As Germans advance in Norway, British troops evacuate bombed-out Namsos.
70 Years Ago—May 2, 1945: Official surrender of German forces in Italy and southern Austria officially surrender. Berlin surrenders to the Soviets; Soviet flag flies over Reichstag. Dr. Wernher von Braun and other rocket scientists surrender to US forces in Austria.
Mikhail Alekseevich Yegorov of Soviet 756 Rifle Regiment flying the Soviet flag over the Reichstag, Berlin, Germany, 2 May 1945
May 1, 2015
Today in World War II History—May 1, 1940 & 1945
Men of the Australian 2/48 Infantry Battalion in landing craft, Tarakan, Borneo, 1 May 1945 (Australian War Memorial)
75 Years Ago—May 1, 1940: In Norway, the British evacuate Åndalsnes, and German troops from Oslo and Bergen link. British pass union trade agreement allowing women to work in munitions factories.
70 Years Ago—May 1, 1945: Australian forces land at Tarakan off coast of Borneo. US Eighth Air Force flies first “Chow Hound” mission, dropping food and supplies to Dutch civilians. Mexican Air Force arrives in Manila with P-47 fighters to fly for the Allies.
B-17G Fortress “Liquid-8-Or” of 569th Bomb Squadron dropping cases of “10 in 1” rations into Holland during Operation Chowhound aimed at breaking the famine in western Holland, May 1 or 3 1945.
April 30, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 30, 1940 & 1945
2 May 1945 issue of US Army’s Stars and Stripes newspaper (Source: US Army)
75 Years Ago—Apr. 30, 1940: First guarded Jewish ghetto established at Lodz, Poland, later to be sealed.
70 Years Ago—Apr. 30, 1945: As Soviets advance in Berlin, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun commit suicide. Leadership of Germany passes to Adm. Karl Dönitz. US Seventh Army takes Munich.
April 29, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 29, 1940 & 1945
German representatives sign surrender document, Caserta, Italy, 29 April 1940 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Apr. 29, 1940: The Royal Air Force begins program to train air crews in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
70 Years Ago—Apr. 29, 1945: German representatives sign the surrender of 1 million German troops in Italy and Austria, effective May 2. US Seventh Army liberates Dachau concentration camp. Hitler marries Eva Braun. The “Peace” rose introduced at the Pacific Rose Society of Pasadena CA.
April 28, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 28, 1940 & 1945
GIs hand-carry paintings in Neuschwanstein Castle under the supervision of Captain James Rorimer. (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—Apr. 28, 1940: Glenn Miller records “Pennsylvania 6-5000.”
70 Years Ago—Apr. 28, 1945: In Milan, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and his mistress, Clara Petacci, are executed by Italian partisans. US troops discover Nazi art stash at Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria.
April 27, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 27, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Apr. 27, 1940: Inter-American Neutrality Committee meets in Rio de Janeiro to discuss prevention of further incidents in Pan-American Security Zone.
70 Years Ago—Apr. 27, 1945: Anti-Nazis rise up in Munich and encourage German surrender. US and Britain reject Heinrich Himmler’s secret armistice proposal.
April 26, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 26, 1945
Italian Partisans before the Cathedral of Milan (US Army Center of Military History)
70 Years Ago—Apr. 26, 1945: US Fifth Army takes Verona, Italy. Italian partisans take Genoa and revolt in Milan. British take Bremen, Germany.
