Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 70

Today in World War II History—December 19, 1943

Canadian recruiting poster, WWII

80 Years Ago—Dec. 19, 1943: In Kharkov Trials, the first war crimes trials, Soviets execute four Germans for murdering 30,000 civilians in Ukraine.

In Italy, Canadian troops take the gully Torrente Saraceni below Ortona.

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Today in World War II History—December 18, 1943

US Army V-Disc with Bing Crosby recordings of “White Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” 1945 (public domain via Wikipedia)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 18, 1943: Chiang Kai-shek gives US Gen. Joseph Stilwell full command of Chinese troops in India & Burma.

New song in Top Ten in US: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”

Gen. and Madame Chiang Kai-shek and Gen. Joseph Stilwell, April 1942 (US National Archives: ARC 531135)

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Today in World War II History—December 17, 1943

US Army medics entering San Pietro, Italy, Dec 1943 (US Army Center for Military History)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 17, 1943: US Fifth Army takes San Pietro, Italy, after Germans retreat.

Wings are first awarded to WASPs (Women’s Airforce Service Pilots).

US Congress finally repeals all Chinese Exclusion Acts.

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Today in World War II History—December 16, 1943

German pillbox on Monte Lungo, Italy, 1943 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 16, 1943: US Fifth Army takes Monte Lungo in Italy, almost encircling San Pietro, but the third attack on San Pietro fails.

After a mission to Berlin, the RAF loses 29 Lancaster bombers in landings in England in the fog, the RAF’s worst losses to accidents of the war.

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Today in World War II History—December 15, 1943

US Army 112th Cavalry Regiment landing at Arawe, New Britain, 15 December 1943 (public domain via WW2 Database)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 15, 1943: US Army lands at Arawe, New Britain, in Bismarck Archipelago, with the first use of a beach landing party for coordination with landing control officers.

Headquarters Allied 21 Army Group forms the Joint Planning Committee to coordinate ground, naval, and air planning for Operation Overlord (D-day).

US Navy approves commissioning of its first 22 Black officers; 36 will be commissioned by the end of the war.

Movie premiere of Madame Curie, starring Greer Garson & Walter Pidgeon.

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Today in World War II History—December 14, 1943

P-51D Mustangs of the US 357th Fighter Group, Leiston, England, 1944-45; P-51 in foreground in natural finish, P-51 in background in camouflage paint (US National Archives)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 14, 1943: Soviets begin winter offensive and take Cherkassy, Ukraine.

US Army Air Force decides to stop using camouflage paint on planes, with the exception of night fighters and transports, to increase speed and range.

John Harvey Kellogg, director of Battle Creek Sanitarium, dies in Battle Creek, MI, age 91; his brother Will founded Kellogg’s Cereals based on foods served in the sanitarium.

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Today in World War II History—December 13, 1943

Maj. James Stewart confers with B-24 crewmen, England, 1943 (US Air Force photo)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 13, 1943: Capt. James Stewart (the actor) of the US 445th Bomb Group flies his first mission in a B-24 Liberator bomber for the US Eighth Air Force in England.

In US, an extra two red ration points (used for meat, cheese & fats) are awarded for each pound of used cooking fats turned in. Read more: “Make It Do—Rationing of Butter, Fats & Oils in World War II.”

US poster, World War II

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Today in World War II History—December 12, 1943

Field Marshal Rommel and Luftwaffe Lt. Gen. Rupprecht inspecting artillery position, Dunkirk, France, 22 Dec 1943 (German Federal Archive: Bild 101I-295-1599-08A)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 12, 1943: Field Marshal Erwin Rommel is named commander of German Army Group B in France.

German film Titanic is released, which blames the disaster on British greed, the most expensive German film yet made.

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Today in World War II History—December 11, 1943

Frank Sinatra, Maj. Mann Holiner, Dinah Shore and Bing Crosby on Command Performance, Armed Forces Radio, CBS Studio, Hollywood, CA, 1944 (public domain via US Armed Forces Radio Service)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 11, 1943: Field Marshal Albert Kesselring permits German troops to occupy Monte Cassino in Italy, excluding the abbey itself.

Singer Frank Sinatra is declared 4-F in the draft, unacceptable for military service, due to a perforated eardrum.

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Today in World War II History—December 10, 1943

Canadian 48th Highlanders in drive for Ortona, Italy, 10 December 1943 (public domain via WW2 Database)

80 Years Ago—Dec. 10, 1943: In Italy, British Eighth Army takes Vino Ridge in drive for Ortona.

Nobel Prizes are awarded but prizes will not be received until 1944: physics to Otto Stern (German, in US), chemistry to Georg von Hevesy (Hungarian, in Sweden, having escaped from Denmark), medicine to Henrik Dam (Danish) & Edward Doisy (US), no literature or peace prizes awarded.

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