Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 354
February 1, 2015
Today in World War II History—February 1, 1940 & 1945
Lutheran church of Sortavala, Finland on fire after Soviet bombing, 2 Feb 1940
75 Years Ago—Feb. 1, 1940: Soviets launch offensive on Mannerheim Line on Finland’s Karelian Isthmus.
70 Years Ago—Feb. 1, 1945: In Bulgaria, Soviets execute three regents of 7-year-old Tsar Simeon II: Prince Kyril and former Prime Ministers Bogdan Filov and Dobri Bozhilov. Chance Vought Corsair fighters launch first operations from US Navy carriers.
January 31, 2015
Today in World War II History—January 31, 1945
Troops of US 82nd Airborne Division marching behind M4 Sherman tank in a snowstorm toward German occupied town of Herresbach, Belgium, 28 Jan 1945. (US Army)
70 Years Ago—Jan. 31, 1945: Germans in France and Belgium are pushed back to positions held before the Battle of the Bulge. Pvt. Eddie Slovik is executed in France, the first US soldier executed for desertion since the Civil War. US paratroopers of 11th Airborne land at Nasugbu Bay south of Manila.
January 30, 2015
Today in World War II History—January 30, 1940 & 1945
Former Cabanatuan POWs celebrate after successful raid on prison camp, 30 January 1945. (US Army)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 30, 1940: On 7th anniversary of Nazi regime, Hitler demands Lebensraum (living room) in Eastern Europe. US sends out the first Social Security check, for $22.54 to a retired Vermont teacher.
70 Years Ago—Jan. 30, 1945: Soviet sub S-13 sinks German liner Wilhelm Gustloff, killing 7000 German refugees from East Prussia in the worst maritime disaster in history. US Army Rangers rescue 512 Allied POWs at Cabanatuan on Luzon in the Philippines. Soviets cross German border into Brandenburg province.
January 29, 2015
Today in World War II History—January 29, 1940 & 1945
British poster, WWII
75 Years Ago—Jan. 29, 1940: Luftwaffe attacks British shipping in Channel, sinking four ships.
70 Years Ago—Jan. 29, 1945: US Eighth Army lands in Subic Bay, Luzon; takes San Marcelino airfields.
January 28, 2015
Today in World War II History—January 28, 1940 & 1945
Aerial view of the first convoy to go from India to China over the re- opened Burma Road. (US Army Center of Military History)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 28, 1940: King George of Britain announces court will not be held this year due to the war.
70 Years Ago—Jan. 28, 1945: Burma Road reopens as first Allied convoy crosses into China; in the ceremony, Chiang Kai-shek renames it the Stilwell Road.
January 27, 2015
Today in World War II History—January 27, 1940 & 1945
The gates of Auschwitz, 1945
75 Years Ago—Jan. 27, 1940: US freighter City of Flint returns to Baltimore; Capt. Joseph Gainard (merchant marine) receives first Navy Cross of the war. The neutral freighter had been captured by the Germans, creating an international incident: See October 9, 1939; October 23, 1939; November 3, 1939; and November 6, 1939.
70 Years Ago—Jan. 27, 1945: Soviets liberate the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau. US 20th Bomber Command (B-29s) evacuate from Chengtu, China to Kharagpur, India as Japanese advance in China.
January 26, 2015
Today in World War II History—January 26, 1940 & 1945
Lt. Audie Murphy
75 Years Ago—Jan. 26, 1940: US-Japan Trade Treaty of 1911 lapses—US refuses to negotiate while Japanese troops are in China. Brooms in Britain to be made with square handles to save timber. Frank Sinatra performs for first time with Tommy Dorsey band (had previously performed with Harry James).
70 Years Ago—Jan. 26, 1945: Lt. Audie Murphy single-handedly repels a German tank attack near Colmar in France, for which he later receives the Medal of Honor. Soviets reach the Prussian coast at Elbing, cutting East Prussia off from Germany. Sandakan Death March begins: Japanese march 470 Indonesian civilians and Australian POWs across North Borneo, only 6 will survive war.
January 25, 2015
Today in World War II History—January 25, 1940 & 1945
Prime Minister Mackenzie King visiting No. 110 (City of Toronto) Squadron RCAF, 30 Jan 1940; Lysander aircraft in background. (Library and Archives Canada)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 25, 1940: Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King dissolves Parliament; new elections to be held. US auxiliary ship Bear reaches deepest penetration by any ship yet into Antarctica.
70 Years Ago—Jan. 25, 1945: Movie premiere of The Thin Man Goes Home, starring Dick Powell, Myrna Loy, and Asta.
January 24, 2015
Today in World War II History—January 24, 1940 & 1945
75 Years Ago—Jan. 24, 1940: Chinese take Dongyangyuan Pass, Shanxi Province, China in war with Japan. Movie premiere of The Grapes of Wrath, starring Henry Fonda.
70 Years Ago—Jan. 24, 1945: German troops begin evacuating from Slovakia as Soviets advance.
January 23, 2015
Today in World War II History—January 23, 1940 & 1945
Count Helmuth von Moltke on trial in Berlin. (German Federal Archive, Bild 147-1277)
75 Years Ago—Jan. 23, 1940: Britain and France say they will not honor 200-mile Pan-American neutrality zone and will attack German ships there. Animals in Berlin Zoo placed on war rations—less meat, no bananas or peanuts.
70 Years Ago—Jan. 23, 1945: US Ninth Army retakes St. Vith in Belgium from Germans. Nazis execute Count Helmuth von Moltke, leader of the German Kreisau Circle resistance group.
