Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 62

Today in World War II History—March 3, 1944

US VI Corps Headquarters in a wine cellar near Anzio, Italy, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Mar. 3, 1944: Allies repel final German counterattack at Anzio; forces will remain at standstill for next two months in bad weather.

Former Belgian premier Paul-Émile Janson dies in Buchenwald concentration camp, age 71.

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Today in World War II History—March 2, 1944

Theatrical release poster for the film Casablanca, 1942 (public domain via Warner Bros, via Wikipedia), Promotional photograph for the original Broadway production of Watch on the Rhine, starring Paul Lukas, May 1941 (public domain via Theatre Arts, Inc., via Wikipedia), Theatrical release poster for the 1943 film The Song of Bernadette (public domain via Twentieth-Century Fox, via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Mar. 2, 1944: Academy Awards ceremony is held:

Best picture of 1943—CasablancaBest actor—Paul Lukas in Watch on the RhineBest actress—Jennifer Jones in Song of BernadetteBest director—Michael Curtiz for Casablanca.The post Today in World War II History—March 2, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—March 1, 1944

Advertisement about penicillin from Schenley Laboratories, 14 August 1944

80 Years Ago—Mar. 1, 1944: In Brooklyn, Pfizer opens first commercial plant for large-scale production of penicillin by submerged-culture method.

In the US, toothpaste buyers no longer have to turn in old tubes to buy new (required since 4 April 1942 due to tin shortage). Read more: “Make It Do—Metal Shortages in World War II”

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Today in World War II History—February 29, 1944

First wave of US Army troops landing on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, 29 Feb 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Feb. 29, 1944: US Army lands on Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands.

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Today in World War II History—February 28, 1944

The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom

80 Years Ago—Feb. 28, 1944: German Gestapo raids the home of Corrie ten Boom in Haarlem, the Netherlands, and arrests 30 family members & friends, but 6 Jews in hiding are not discovered. All but Corrie, Betsie, and their father Casper are released; Casper dies 10 days later, and Betsie dies in Ravensbrück on December 16, 1944. Corrie ten Boom survives the war to write her moving account, The Hiding Place.

First Victory ship (larger and faster than Liberty Ships), the United Victory, is completed by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation.

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Today in World War II History—February 27, 1944

Cartoon giving information on new rationing tokens, February 1944 (US government publication)

80 Years Ago—Feb. 27, 1944: Alamo Scouts (US Sixth Army) enter combat, conducting reconnaissance of Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands.

US issues plastic tokens to make change for ration stamps—blue for processed foods, red for meats and fats. Read more: “Make It Do—Rationing of Canned Goods in World War II.”

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Today in World War II History—February 26, 1944

Poster for the US Navy Nurse Corps, WWII (US Naval History & Heritage Command)

80 Years Ago—Feb. 26, 1944: Japanese retreat from Sinzweya, Burma, ending “Battle of the Admin Box,” as British troops relieve trapped Indian troops.

US Navy nurses are given actual commissioned rank instead of relative rank. Read more about relative rank here: Army Nursing in World War II: Training and Rank.

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Today in World War II History—February 25, 1944

Strike photo of Regensburg after 25 February 1944 raid by US Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces (US Air Force photo)

80 Years Ago—Feb. 25, 1944: First time US Eighth Air Force (based in England) and US Fifteenth Air Force (based in Italy) bomb the same target—Regensburg, Germany, in “Big Week” operations.

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Today in World War II History—February 24, 1944

Merrill’s Marauders in Burma, 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Feb. 24, 1944: Merrill’s Marauders (US guerrillas) enter Burma to start raids in the Hukawng Valley.

The post Today in World War II History—February 24, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.

Today in World War II History—February 23, 1944

Maj. Gen. Lucian Truscott, Dec. 1944 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Feb. 23, 1944: Maj. Gen. Lucian Truscott assumes command of US VI Corps at Anzio.

First US Army blood bank in the Mediterranean Theater opens at Naples medical center.

American Red Cross poster encouraging blood donation, WWII

The post Today in World War II History—February 23, 1944 first appeared on Sarah Sundin.