Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 347
April 7, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 7, 1940 & 1945
Precious metals, paintings, and other loot hidden by Germans in a salt mine near Merkers, Germany, photographed 15 Apr 1945 (US National Archives)
75 Years Ago—Apr. 7, 1940: Booker T. Washington becomes first black man to appear on a US postage stamp.
70 Years Ago—Apr. 7, 1945: US Third Army finds Nazi art and gold stash in salt mine in Merkers worth $500 million. The world’s largest battleship, Japan’s Yamato, on a suicide mission, is sunk by US naval planes off Okinawa (2500 killed).
Battleship Yamato under aerial attack in the East China Sea, 7 Apr 1945 (US National Archives)
April 6, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 6, 1940 & 1945
British poster, 1940 (Imperial War Museum)
75 Years Ago—Apr. 6, 1940: British Ministry of Food announces “Kitchen Front” campaign to save food. Germany recalls all 1, 2, 5, and 10-pfennig coins to reclaim copper & bronze; will use zinc instead.
70 Years Ago—Apr. 6, 1945: Japanese launch air counterattack on Okinawa: 800 planes, including 355 kamikazes, strike US naval and ground forces; 400 shot down. Yugoslav Partisans liberate Sarajevo.
April 5, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 5, 1940 & 1945
Destruction in Würzburg, Germany, April 1945 (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Apr. 5, 1940: Britain begins mining Norwegian waters in anticipation of German invasion.
70 Years Ago—Apr. 5, 1945: US Seventh Army takes Würzburg, Germany after heavy fighting. French troops enter Germany’s Black Forest.
April 4, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 4, 1940 & 1945
American ships unloading supplies on the beach of Okinawa, Japan, 4 Apr 1945. (US Army photo)
75 Years Ago—Apr. 4, 1940: In France, spreading Communist or antiwar propaganda is declared a capital offense.
70 Years Ago—Apr. 4, 1945: US Third Army liberates Ohrdruf concentration camp, the first liberated by US troops. US Tenth Army encounters first strong resistance on Okinawa.
April 3, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 3, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Apr. 3, 1940: Soviets begin massacre of 20,000 Polish officers in Katyn Forest. US Congress cuts military spending 10 percent and refuses to fund heavy bombers as “aggressive weapons.”
70 Years Ago—Apr. 3, 1945: Soviets take Wiener Neustadt, Austria. British commandos secure islands in Lake Comacchio, Italy.
April 2, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 2, 1945
US Army XXIV Corps on Okinawa, April 1945. (US Army Center of Military History)
70 Years Ago—Apr. 2, 1945: US Tenth Army crosses Okinawa, dividing the island. On Okinawa, US opens Yontan and Kadena airfields for emergency and reconnaissance use.
April 1, 2015
Today in World War II History—April 1, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Apr. 1, 1940: US 1940 Census taken: population 131,669,000, a 7.2% increase since 1930. British Minister of Food announces Dig for Victory campaign to encourage growing food at home.
Men of the US 10th Army landing on Okinawa, Japan, 1 Apr 1945. (US National Archives)
70 Years Ago—Apr. 1, 1945: US Tenth Army and Marines invade Okinawa; 60,000 troops land by nightfall. US First and Ninth Armies meet at Lippstadt, encircling the industrial Ruhr Valley and 500,000 German soldiers in Army Group B.
March 31, 2015
Today in World War II History—March 31, 1940 & 1945
German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis
75 Years Ago—Mar. 31, 1940: German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis sets sail, will sink 22 ships before being sunk 11/22/41.
70 Years Ago—Mar. 31, 1945: Free French Army crosses Rhine near Speyer, Germany, the first French troops to cross the Rhine since Napoleon.
March 30, 2015
Today in World War II History—March 30, 1940 & 1945
Wang Jingwei and military officers at the ceremony establishing a Japanese government in Nanjing, China, 30 Mar 1940.
75 Years Ago—Mar. 30, 1940: Japanese establish Chinese puppet government in former Chinese capital of Nanking.
70 Years Ago—Mar. 30, 1945: Soviets enter Austria. Allies get first close-up look at German Me 262 jet fighter when defecting pilot delivers one to American forces. British and Chinese secure northern Burma.
March 29, 2015
Today in World War II History—March 29, 1940 & 1945
Soldiers of 44th Division, US 7th Army in Mannheim, Germany, 29 Mar 1945 (German Federal Archive, Bild 146-1971-053-59)
75 Years Ago—Mar. 29, 1940: In German-occupied territories, only Jewish doctors are now allowed to treat Jews.
70 Years Ago—Mar. 29, 1945: In Germany, US Seventh Army takes Mannheim and Heidelberg. In retreat from Heidelberg, Germans destroy historic Alte Brücke (bridge) over Neckar River. Soviets seize Komorn oil field in Hungary, Germany’s last source of petroleum.
