Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 48

Today in World War II History—July 10, 1944

Raoul Wallenberg, June 1944 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—July 10, 1944: Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg reports to the Swedish embassy in Budapest, Hungary, as a secretary; he will issue protective passports and save the lives of thousands of Jews.

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Until Our Time Comes by Nicole M. Miller

Renowned American horse trainer Adia Kensington has her dream job – tending the prize Arabians at Janow Podlaski, Poland’s premiere stables. When the Germans invade Poland, Adia faces a heart-wrenching choice – abandon the horses and the orphan boy she’s taken under her wings – or stay and try to save the herd.

British MI6 agent Bret Conway is in Poland gathering intelligence before the German invasion. A former Olympic equestrian, he’s drawn to Adia, but can he join her desperate quest to save the horses – or should he follow his orders to whisk her to safety?

A splendid debut novel! Nicole M. Miller combines her lifelong experience with horses, her love for World War II history, and a gift for storytelling into a rich novel, complete with a lovely romance. Focusing on war’s innocent victims and humanity’s duty to protect them, Until Our Time Comes is both sweeping and deeply personal. Fresh, original, and not to be missed!

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Today in World War II History—July 9, 1944

US Marines in northern Saipan, 8 Jul 1944 (US Marine Corps: 85832)

80 Years Ago—July 9, 1944: US secures Saipan in the Mariana Islands.

British Second Army and Canadian II Corps take crucial city of Caen in Normandy.

In Hungary, Prime Minister Miklós Horthy temporarily stops the deportation of the Jews, an attempt to curry favor with the Allies in case of the need to negotiate for surrender.

British soldier in Caen, France, 9 July 1944 (Imperial War Museum: 4700-29 B 6725)

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Today in World War II History—July 8, 1944

Barrage balloons over Buckingham Palace in London during WWII (RAF photo, public domain)

80 Years Ago—July 8, 1944: In Normandy, British & Canadians launch assault on Caen and enter the city.

British launch 1750 barrage balloons south of London to combat German V-1 buzz bombs.

US Army commands all Post Exchanges, theaters, and transportation to be open to all races.

British Sherman tanks in the assault on Caen, France, 8 July 1944 (Imperial War Museum: 4700-29 B 6642)

The post Today in World War II History—July 8, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—July 7, 1944

Ruins of Caen, France, including Église Saint-Pierre, 10 July 1944 (National Archives of Canada: 38836-27(94))

80 Years Ago—July 7, 1944: Japanese launch final banzai charge on Saipan; 500 US troops killed, 2000 Japanese.

RAF sends 467 bombers to Caen, France; over the next three days, most of the city will be destroyed by bombing.

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Today in World War II History—July 6, 1944

Princess Elizabeth with B-17G Rose of York of the US 306th Bombardment Group, Thurleigh, England (US Army Air Forces photo)

80 Years Ago—July 6, 1944: A fire erupts in the Barnum & Bailey big top in Hartford, CT; 169 are killed, including 80 children.

King George VI and Princess Elizabeth visit US 306th Bomb Group at Thurleigh, England, and christen a B-17 Rose of York in honor of the princess’s 18th birthday. Read more: “The Royal Family in World War II.”

Future baseball star Lt. Jackie Robinson refuses to give up a bus seat at Camp Hood, TX; he is arrested, court-martialed, and later acquitted.

The post Today in World War II History—July 6, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—July 5, 1944

US poster encouraging conservation of rubber, WWII

80 Years Ago—July 5, 1944: In US, inner tubes are removed from rationing, but tires are still rationed. Read more: “Make It Do—Tire Rationing in World War II.”

US Fifteenth Air Force bombs German submarine pens at Toulon, France, sinking two of the ten U-boats remaining in the Mediterranean and damaging five.

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Today in World War II History—July 4, 1944

US poster, WWII

80 Years Ago—July 4, 1944: The millionth Allied soldier lands in Normandy, less than one month after D-day.

In Normandy, 1,100 US guns fire a Fourth of July salute at the German lines.

Soviets launch offensive into the Baltic States.

US Navy Task Force 58 bombards and bombs Iwo Jima, Haha Jima, and Chichi Jima, forcing the Japanese air force to leave the islands.

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Today in World War II History—July 3, 1944

Theatrical poster for Double Indemnity, 1944, Paramount Pictures (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—July 3, 1944: US First Army VIII Corps launches drive south from Cherbourg peninsula, the “Battle of the Hedgerows,” advancing only 7 miles in 12 days.

Soviets take Minsk in Byelorussia.

In Denmark, the Germans come to a compromise with the Danish Freedom Council which will end the general strike and riots.

Movie premiere of Double Indemnity, starring Fred MacMurray & Barbara Stanwyck, which will be nominated for 7 Oscars.

Bocage country of the Cotentin Peninsula, France, 1944 (US Army photo)

The post Today in World War II History—July 3, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—July 2, 1944

US Marines in Garapan, Saipan, 2 July 1944 (US Marine Corps photo: 8824)

80 Years Ago—July 2, 1944: US Army troops land on Noemfoor Island in Geelvink Bay, New Guinea.

US Marines take Garapan, Saipan; Japanese fall back to final defensive line on northern Saipan.

Lt. Grace Hopper reports for duty, as a member of the WAVES, at the US Navy’s Bureau of Ordnance Computation Project at Harvard, to work on Mark 1 Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator (ASCC); in 1947 she will discover a moth stuck in a relay, leading to the term “computer bug.”

Lt. Grace Hopper at Harvard, 1940s (public domain via WW2 Database)

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