Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 474
June 11, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 11, 1942: Rommel breaks out of “The Cauldron” near Gazala, Libya. French evacuate Bir Hacheim in Libya, Germans occupy fort.
June 10, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 10, 1942: Germans destroy Czechoslovakian town of Lidice in retaliation for SS Gen. Heydrich’s death, kill all 173 men, deport children and women to concentration camps. British tea planter uses elephants to rescue 68 Burmese refugees fleeing Japanese across the Daphna River, India.
June 9, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 9, 1942: All official Allied resistance in the Philippines neutralized. US and Britain agree to pool food and production resources.
June 8, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 8, 1942: US European Theater of Operations (ETO) formed under Gen. James Chaney. Invasion alert for San Francisco cancelled. Bing Crosby records “Silent Night.”
June 7, 2012
Today in World War II History
USS Yorktown sinking at Midway70 Years Ago—June 7, 1942: Japanese occupy Attu in the Aleutians. In the Battle of Midway, carrier USS Yorktown sunk, but US victorious in major turning point of Pacific War; from now on, the Japanese will be on the defensive.
USS Yorktown sinking at Midway70 Years Ago—June 7, 1942: Japanese occupy Attu in the Aleutians. In the Battle of Midway, carrier USS Yorktown sunk, but US victorious in major turning point of Pacific War; from now on, the Japanese will be on the defensive.
June 6, 2012
Never Forget
Today we commemorate the 68th anniversary of the D-Day landings. On June 6, 1944, the Allies landed on the beaches of Normandy to liberate Europe from Nazi power.In August 2007, I was privileged to stand on Omaha Beach on a misty, overcast morning not unlike the men faced that historic day. As I stood on that long stretch of sand and gazed at those high bluffs which once bristled with machine guns, I was moved deeply. We've all seen the movies and watched the footage - men dashing with rifles in hand, stumbling in the waves, beckoning their buddies onward, sheltering against debris - falling to the sand. But being there and feeling that sand beneath my feet gave me another level of understanding.
Today the Normandy beaches bristle with people on holiday - those who come to remember, and those who come to play. Children laugh and chase the waves and build sand castles. Tourists stand in silence, wipe tears, take pictures. This is as it should be. Sixty-eight years ago, 155,000 American, British Commonwealth, and Free French troops landed in the biggest amphibious operation in history, along with free people from many other occupied nations. Take a moment today and remember those who risked their lives, who gave their lives so we can live in freedom.
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 6, 1942: Japanese occupy Kiska in the Aleutians. Maj. Gen. Clarence Tinker, CO of US 7th Air Force, killed in plane crash on Midway, the first Native American to reach rank of major general, the first US general killed in WWII.
June 5, 2012
Today in World War II History
Japanese carrier Hiryu burning70 Years Ago—June 5, 1942: In the Battle of Midway, Japanese carrier Hiryu sunk. British Eighth Army attacks Rommel’s forces in “The Cauldron” at Gazala, Libya, but is driven back.
Japanese carrier Hiryu burning70 Years Ago—June 5, 1942: In the Battle of Midway, Japanese carrier Hiryu sunk. British Eighth Army attacks Rommel’s forces in “The Cauldron” at Gazala, Libya, but is driven back.
June 4, 2012
Today in World War II History
Midway Atoll70 Years Ago—June 4, 1942: In the Battle of Midway, Japanese planes attack Midway; Japanese carriers Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu sunk. SS Gen. Reinhard Heydrich dies in Prague. Movie premiere of Mrs. Miniver, starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon (Academy Award winner—best picture, best actress).
Midway Atoll70 Years Ago—June 4, 1942: In the Battle of Midway, Japanese planes attack Midway; Japanese carriers Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu sunk. SS Gen. Reinhard Heydrich dies in Prague. Movie premiere of Mrs. Miniver, starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon (Academy Award winner—best picture, best actress).
June 3, 2012
Today in World War II History
70 Years Ago—June 3, 1942: US 7thAir Force B-17s ineffectively bomb Japanese carriers headed for the Battle of Midway. Japanese carrier planes bomb Fort Mears and Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island, Alaska.
