Today in World War II History—January 2, 1942

Japanese tanks and troops moving toward Manila, Philippine Islands, 22 Dec 1941 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Jan. 2, 1942: British and South African troops take Bardia, Libya, after a long siege.

Japanese take Manila in the Philippines as well as Clark Field and Cavite Navy Yard.

Thirty-three members of a German spy ring under Fritz Duquesne are convicted in the largest espionage case in US history.

US Army orders 300,000 D-ration chocolate bars from Hershey, designed to melt at higher temperatures and not be too tasty, so soldiers would save them for emergencies.

Thirty-three mug shot portraits of the Duquesne spy ring; Duquesne is in the first row, far right (Library of Congress: cph.3c28525)

 

The post Today in World War II History—January 2, 1942 first appeared on .