Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 58

Today in World War II History—April 11, 1944

Allied map showing German gun emplacements and defenses at Pointe du Hoc, Normandy, dated 21 April 1944 and used in preparations for D-day (Imperial War Museum MH 24806)

80 Years Ago—April 11, 1944: Countdown to D-day: Lt. Col. James Rudder submits plan for US 2nd Ranger Battalion’s assault on Pointe du Hoc in Normandy on D-day. Read more: “The Land Beneath Us Tour of Pointe du Hoc.”

Due to increasing instances of sabotage in factories by the French, the German SS orders public execution as the penalty for sabotage.

Soviets take Kerch in Ukraine.

The post Today in World War II History—April 11, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—April 10, 1944

A copy of Operation Neptune orders and a weather map, on display at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Portsmouth, England, September 2017 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)

80 Years Ago—April 10, 1944: Countdown to D-day: Adm. Sir Bertram Ramsay (Allied Naval Commander, Expeditionary Force) issues 700-page Naval Orders, Operation Neptune (naval plan for D-day). Read more: “The Sea Before Us tour – D-Day at Sea.”

Soviets & partisans take Odessa, Ukraine.

The post Today in World War II History—April 10, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—April 9, 1944

Park Street Church, Boston, MA (Photo: Sarah Sundin, July 2014)

80 Years Ago—April 9, 1944: Japanese surround 155,000 British & Indian troops in Imphal, India.

On Easter, churches around the nation donate $600,000 to the new War Relief Fund, started by Park Street Church in Boston, MA; in 1950, the organization will become World Relief.

The post Today in World War II History—April 9, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—April 8, 1944

Maj. Richard Bong in his P-38 (US Air Force photo 53021 AC)

80 Years Ago—April 8, 1944: Over New Guinea, Capt. Dick Bong of the US Fifth Air Force surpasses Eddie Rickenbacker’s 26 victories in WWI to become the top US ace.

New song in Top Ten: “Long Ago and Far Away” from the movie Cover Girl.

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

Today in World War II History—April 7, 1944

“Selection” of Hungarian Jews on the ramp at Auschwitz-II-Birkenau in German-occupied Poland, May/June 1944 (public domain via Yad Vashem)

80 Years Ago—April 7, 1944: Slovak Jews Rudolf Vrba and Alfred Wetzler escape from Auschwitz; they will write a detailed report that will be published in Geneva on May 17 and will lead Hungary to halt deportations in July 1944.

At besieged Kohima in India, Japanese troops seize the city’s water supply.

The post Today in World War II History—April 7, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—April 6, 1944

Garrison Hill at Kohima, India, 1944 (Imperial War Museum: IND 3698)

80 Years Ago—April 6, 1944: Japanese besiege 3500 British & Indian troops in Kohima, India.

United Kingdom expands PAYE (Pay As You Earn) tax system to all taxpayers.

Movie premiere of Cover Girl, starring Gene Kelly & Rita Hayworth; Oscar winner for orchestration for Carmen Dragon (of Antioch, CA).

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

Today in World War II History—April 5, 1944

Stella Romana oil refinery at Ploesti, Romania after US 15th Air Force bombing, 1944 (USAF photo)

80 Years Ago—April 5, 1944: US Strategic Air Forces (in England and Italy) begins campaign against German oil production: US Fifteenth Air Force sends 334 bombers to oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.

The post Today in World War II History—April 5, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—April 4, 1944

Recruiting poster for the Free French Forces, 1944, stating “Honor and Country. France Speaks to You.” (Imperial War Museum: Art.IWM PST 3104)

80 Years Ago—April 4, 1944: Gen. Charles de Gaulle is named head of Free French military forces, replacing Gen. Henri Giraud.

The post Today in World War II History—April 4, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—April 3, 1944

Fleet Air Arm attack on the German battleship Tirpitz at Alta Fjord, Norway, 3 April 1944 (Imperial War Museum: A 22633)

80 Years Ago—April 3, 1944: In Alta Fjord, Norway, British carrier aircraft damage German battleship Tirpitz (438 killed).

In Smith v. Allwright, US Supreme Court declares all-white primaries in the South are unconstitutional.

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

Today in World War II History—April 2, 1944

US Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber (US Air Force photo)

80 Years Ago—April 2, 1944: Soviet troops enter Romania.

First US B-29 Superfortress bomber arrives at Kharagpur, India, near Calcutta.

Armed revolt erupts in El Salvador, led by intellectuals, business leaders, and disaffected military, which will be put down with martial law, brutally enforced; 300 killed.

The post Today in World War II History—April 2, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.