On This Day during WW2....

marcsignal · 24-08-2010 4:10pm #1

Started this thread so posters can fire up things that happened on this day during WW2.
Please add what you find on the relevant dates as we go along.

Today:August 24th

On August 24th 1940 : Battle of Britain. Fine weather brings the return of sustained Luftwaffe activity. All day, raids cross the coast of Kent bombing RAF airfields at Hornchurch, North Weald and Manston (now so badly damaged it cannot be used). Luftwaffe loses 22 fighters and 18 bombers while RAF loses 20 fighters. At 4 PM, 50 German aircraft bomb Portsmouth (100 civilians killed, 300 wounded). British destroyers HMS Acheron (2 killed, 3 wounded) and HMS Bulldog (the captain Commander Wisden is hit by splinters, dying August 29) are damaged in Portsmouth Harbour. Bulldog will be repaired by September 2 but Acheron is out of commission until December 2. Overnight, there is widespread bombing of British cities. Notably, Germans bombers hit parts of North, East and West London, suggesting a deliberate attack rather than a couple of bombers straying off target.

http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/document-37.html

Just after midnight 2 miles off the North coast of Ireland, U-57 attacks convoy OB-202, sinking British steamers Saint Dunstan (14 dead) and Cumberland (4 dead) and damaging Havildar. At 2.14 PM, U-48 sinks British tanker La Brea (9410 tons of fuel oil) 130 miles West of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland (2 killed). 31 crew escape in lifeboats to the Outer Hebrides.

At 3.14 AM, U-37 sinks British steamer Brookwood in mid-Atlantic 500 miles West of Ireland. (1 killed, 35 crew and 1 gunner picked up after 5 days adrift by British merchant Clan Macbean and landed at Freetown, Sierra Leone). At 8.38 PM, U-37 sinks British sloop HMS Penzance escorting convoy SC-1 (90 lives lost, 7 survivors rescued by British steamer Blairmore).

In the Indian Ocean 900 miles East of Madagascar, German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis sinks British steamer King City carrying 7300 tons of coal and coke to Singapore from Cardiff (6 killed). Atlantis picks up the survivors out of the water in very rough seas.

'SS Severn Leigh' (My Grandfather served on this ship) (5,242t) steamer, Hull to St John, New Brunwick, Canada was torpedoed by U 37, S of Iceland.

Pic of her sinking. Crew : 43 (33 dead and 10 survivors).

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cyrusdvirus · 24-08-2010 4:14pm

On this day in 1942, U.S. forces continue to deliver crushing blows to the Japanese, sinking the aircraft carrier Ryuho in the Battle of the East Solomon Islands. Key to the Americans' success in this battle was the work of coastwatchers, a group of volunteers whose job it is to report on Japanese ship and aircraft movement.

The Marines had landed on Guadalcanal, on the Solomon Islands, on August 7. This was the first American offensive maneuver of the war and would deliver the first real defeat to the Japanese. On August 23, coastwatchers, comprised mostly of Australian and New Zealander volunteers, hidden throughout the Solomon and Bismarck islands and protected by anti-Japanese natives, spotted heavy Japanese reinforcements headed for Guadalcanal. The coastwatchers alerted three U.S. carriers that were within 100 miles of Guadalcanal, which then raced to the scene to intercept the Japanese.

By the time the Battle of the Eastern Solomons was over, the Japanese lost a light carrier, a destroyer, and a submarine and the Ryuho. The Americans suffered damage to the USS Enterprise, the most decorated carrier of the war; the Enterprise would see action again, though, in the American landings on Okinawa in 1945.

As for the coastwatchers, Vice Adm. William F. Halsey said, "The coastwatchers saved Guadalcanal, and Guadalcanal saved the Pacific."

Footnote: It was a coastwatcher who arranged for the deliverance and safe return of John F. Kennedy and his crew when they were stranded in the Solomons in 1943

Fratton Fred · 24-08-2010 8:16pm

marcsignal wrote: »

At 4 PM, 50 German aircraft bomb Portsmouth (100 civilians killed, 300 wounded). British destroyers HMS Acheron (2 killed, 3 wounded) and HMS Bulldog (the captain Commander Wisden is hit by splinters, dying August 29) are damaged in Portsmouth Harbour. Bulldog will be repaired by September 2 but Acheron is out of commission until December 2.

At the Princes theatre in Commercial road, a matinée was being shown to mainly school children, when the alarms went. As the audience was filing out, a 500Kg bomb went through the roof and exploded high in the auditorium. Fortunately most people were near the rear exit and were sheltered by the circle. 8 people were killed and 17 injured. In the harbour, bombing was light, but casualties high as a bomb pierced the cellar of the old Block mill, which was being used as a shelter. 65 people were killed or injured.

Info from "Battle Over Portsmouth" by Paul Jenkins.

Great thread idea by the way.

BlaasForRafa · 25-08-2010 12:31am

Interesting thread, I decided to check Panzer Leader to see if Aug 25th was mentioned, Heinz Guderian wrote the following for that date in 1941:

"Early on the morning of the 25th I went to the 17th Panzer Division in order to take part in the divisions attack across the Sudost and its tributary the Rog, immediately to the south. I drove along a terrible sandy track, a very bad road, and a number of my vehicles broke down. As early as 12.30hrs I had to signal from Mglin for replacements of armoured command vehilces, personnel lorries and motor-cycles. This was a grim omen for the future. At 14.30 hrs I arrived at the hq of the 17th Panzer Division, 3 miles north of Pochep. It seemed to me that the calculation of the force necessary to carry out this difficult attack had been incorrect and the force itself was therefore insufficient. As a result the advance was likely to be too slow in relationship to the speed of XXIV Panzer Corps. I informed the divisional commander, General Ritter von Thoma, and the corps commander, who arrived shortly afterwards, of my views in the matter of speed. In order to gain personal impression of the enemy I went up to the front line, where Rifle Regiment 63 was attacking, and participated in a part of their attack on foot. I spent the night in Pochep."

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=pochep&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.547176,79.013672&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Pochep,+Pochepskiy+rayon,+Province+of+Bryansk,+Russian+Federation&ll=52.934811,33.447201&spn=13.55367,39.506836&z=5

cyrusdvirus · 25-08-2010 11:17am

On this day in 1944, French General Jacques Leclerc enters the free French capital triumphantly. Pockets of German intransigence remained, but Paris was free from German control.

Two days earlier, a French armored division had begun advancing on the capital. Members of the Resistance, now called the French Forces of the Interior, proceeded to free all French civilian prisoners in Paris. The Germans were still counterattacking, setting fire to the Grand Palais, which had been taken over by the Resistance, and killing small groups of Resistance fighters as they encountered them in the city. On August 24, another French armored division entered Paris from the south, receiving an effusion of gratitude from French civilians who poured into the streets to greet their heroes-but still, the Germans continued to fire on French fighters from behind barricades, often catching civilians in the crossfire.

But on August 25, after Gen. Dwight Eisenhower was assured by Gen. Charles de Gaulle, leader of the French Resistant forces, that Allied troops could now virtually sweep into Paris unopposed, Ike ordered Gen. Jacques Philippe Leclerc (a pseudonym he assumed to protect his family while under German occupation; his given name was Philippe-Marie, Vicomte De Hauteclocque) to enter the capital with his 2nd Armored Division. The remnants of German snipers were rendered impotent, and many German soldiers were led off as captives. In fact, the animus toward the Germans was so great that even those who had surrendered were attacked, some even machine-gunned, as they were being led off to captivity.

More than 500 Resistance fighters died in the struggle for Paris, as well as 127 civilians. Once the city was free from German rule, French collaborators were often killed upon capture, without trial.

marcsignal · 25-08-2010 5:09pm

Today : August 25th

August 25th 1940 - At 1.46 AM, U-37 sinks British steamer Blairmore in mid-Atlantic 500 miles West of Ireland (5 crew killed). 29 crew and 7 survivors from British sloop HMS Penzance (sunk by U-37 the previous day) are picked up by Swedish MV Eknaren and landed at Baltimore, USA. U-37 also sinks British steamer Yewcrest just before midnight. At 8 PM, U-100 sinks British banana boat Jamaica Pioneer, West of Ireland (2 dead).

Battle of Britain - Mist in the morning gives way to a clear, warm day but there is little German activity. At 5 PM, German raids approach the South coast. RAF airfield at Warmwell is damaged and Dover is also bombed. Czech pilot Count Manfred Czernin, flying for RAF in a Hurricane of 17 Squadron, shoots down 3 Bf110s in 1 minute. Overnight, Luftwaffe bombs South Wales, Bristol, Birmingham and other cities in the Midlands. German losses are 38 Messerschmitt fighters and 8 bombers shot down plus 6 aircraft downed by anti-aircraft fire. RAF loses 16 fighters and 2 Blenheim bombers (13 aircrew are killed and Sgt. P.T.Wareing is taken prisoner after crashing near Calais). Overnight, 81 Handley Page Hampden bombers of British Bomber Command attack Berlin in reprisal for yesterday’s bombing of London, shocking Göring who has claimed this is impossible

http://www.rafbombercommand.com/timeline/logbook2_v3.html

August 25th 1942 - London: The Duke of Kent, an RAF air commodore and the youngest brother of King George VI, has become the first member of the Royal Family to die on active service and perhaps the first to die in an air disaster. He was killed today when a Sunderland flying boat in which he was travelling crashed in the north of Scotland. An official announcement said that the Duke, attached to the staff of the inspector-general of the RAF, was on his way to Iceland, on duty.

U-130 sank SS Viking Star.
U-164 sank SS Stad Amsterdam in Convoy WAT-15.
U-558 sank SS Amakura in Convoy WAT-15
U-176 damaged SS Empire Breeze in Convoy ON-122.
U-438 sank SS Empire Breeze and damaged SS Trolla in Convoy ON-122.
U-605 sank SS Katvaldis and SS Sheaf Mountain in Convoy ON-122.
U-604 sank SS Abbekerk.

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gizmo555 · 26-08-2010 8:50pm

Thursday August 26 2010

Church bells rang out in a quiet Wexford village today to mark the 70th anniversary of a deadly German bomb attack.

Three women were killed when four Luftwaffe bombs were dropped over the Shelbourne Co-op in Campile at the height of the Second World War. Decades after the 1940 blast, local people gathered at the site of the former creamery to pray and remember the tragedy. Their silence was broken by the tolling of bells from nearby churches at 1.50pm - the moment the devices exploded.

This weekend, survivors, relatives and public figures are also set to attend the unveiling of a memorial garden and sculpture at the site. Councillor Larry O'Brien, one of the organisers of Saturday's event, said the bombing would never be forgotten in the close-knit village. "The impact was devastating for miles and miles around," he said.

"All those people were back at work the following morning. Three of their friends had been killed. They didn't know why the place was targeted or for what reason and we still don't know."

The women, Kathleen Hurley, 27, and sisters Mary Ellen, 30, and Kitty Kent, 26, were in the Co-op's canteen when the bombs fell. Just minutes beforehand, the room had been full of workers eating lunch.

"At the time the Shelbourne Co-op was the centre of the village, there were hundreds of people working there," Mr O'Brien said. "If it had happened earlier, there would have been a lot more killed."

A contemporary sculpture of rare Italian marble has been created for the garden by Co Wexford artist Ciaran O'Brien and his German partner Anika Lintermann. The piece was commissioned by local developers who acquired the site of the old Co-op in 2008 for a housing and retail project.

Among those attending the official opening will be German Ambassador Busso von Alvensleben and Fisheries Minister Sean Connick. "I think the people in the village will appreciate the German ambassador attending the event," Mr Connick said.

"Terrible things are done in wartime and in peacetime we commemorate the people who tragically lost their lives. "There were very few bombings in Ireland during the Second World War so to lose three people in one village was a very big event. These were three women who went to work and never came back - we should never forget them."

Press Association

UPDATE: Extract from contemporaneous press report published in the Irish Times the day after the bombing:

THE NAMES of the dead girls are Mary Ellen Kent (34), daughter of a large farmer from Tarrath, manageress of the staff canteen, and her sister, Kitty, aged 25, who had, apparently, delayed to serve a late customer and Kathleen Hurley, aged 25, of Garryduff.

Mr Simon Murphy, manager of the Society, told a dramatic story of the bombing. “Shortly after 12.30 today,” he said, “we had closed for lunch, but I was still attending to a customer, and as I left Father Doyle from Duncannon arrived. I attended to him and then started to go to my lunch. As I did so I saw a very large plane circling over the stores.

“There had been military manoeuvres in the vicinity in the last few days, and, apart from thinking that it looked a very big and foreign-looking plane, I took little notice of it. As I went in to my meal some 40 girls left the canteen and came out to look at the plane. I was sitting at my meal for about three minutes when there was a terrible crash, and I was blown through the window into the yard.

“The next thing I remember is that I was standing on my feet, and that there was a number of flying slates and stones all around me.

“I could hear women screaming, and ordered some of them to take refuge in a coal store, which seemed to me the next best think to an air-raid shelter. Unfortunately, outside some ammonia, which was stored nearby, escaped and the fumes drove everybody back. We all ran out into a field of mangolds and lay there quiet for a few minutes.

“Other bombs dropped during this time, but after a minute or so the plane went away, and I called some 20 men, and we got out the extinguishers to work on the stores, which were firmly ablaze.

“When we had the fire under control we called the roll, and found that everybody had been accounted for except three girls.

“One of these we found slumped over a table, with her head blown off, and another had apparently tried to get down some stairs. We were only able to identify them by their clothing.”

Altogether five bombs were dropped. One of these fell in a field close to an hotel owned by Mrs Johanna Hart, blowing out the windows. The second bomb was the one which was dropped by the railway siding. The third dropped outside the kitchen window of the Co-operative Society; the fourth went through the roof and two floors, and was the one which did most damage. The fifth bomb failed to explode, and was later taken in charge by the military. It bore German markings.

cyrusdvirus · 27-08-2010 11:12am

On this day in 1941, Prince Fumimaro Konoye, prime minister of Japan, announces that he would like to enter into direct negotiations with President Roosevelt in order to prevent the Japanese conflict with China from expanding into world war.

Konoye, a lawyer by training and well studied in Western philosophy, literature, and economics, entered the Japanese Parliament's upper house by virtue of his princely status and immediately pursued a program of reform. High on his agenda was a reform of the army general staff in order to prevent its direct interference in foreign policy decisions. He also sought an increase in parliamentary power. An antifascist, Konoye championed an end to the militarism of Japanese political structures, especially in light of the war in Manchuria, which began in 1931.

Appointed prime minister in 1933, Konoye's first cabinet fell apart after full-blown war broke out between Japan and China. In 1940, Konoye was asked to form a second cabinet. But as he sought to contain the war with China, relations with the United States deteriorated, to the point where Japan was virtually surrounded by a U.S. military presence and threats of sanctions. On August 27, 1941, Konoye requested a summit with President Roosevelt in order to diminish heightening tensions. Envoys were exchanged, but no direct meeting with the president took place. In October, Konoye resigned because of increasing tension with his army minister, Tojo Hideki, who would succeed him as prime minister. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Konoye was put under military surveillance, his political career all but over until 1945, when the emperor considered sending him to Moscow to negotiate peace terms. That meeting never came off either.

The grand irony of Prince Konoye's career came at the war's conclusion, when he was served with an arrest warrant by the U.S. occupying force for suspicion of war crimes. Rather than submit to arrest, he committed suicide by drinking poison.

jam_mac_jam · 01-09-2010 5:54pm

Germany invaded Poland.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/1/newsid_3506000/3506335.stm

Morlar · 01-09-2010 6:03pm

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Germany invaded Poland.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/1/newsid_3506000/3506335.stm

Umm, yep, one of the more important anniversaries it has to be said

I'd love to see the beeb site do a day by day progress of the entire campaign (including the russian invasion - the entire invasion and occupation would be fascinating on a day to day basis imo).

Here is another good link on this

http://www.electronicmuseum.ca/Poland-WW2/poland_ww2.html

BlaasForRafa · 01-09-2010 7:08pm

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Germany invaded Poland.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/1/newsid_3506000/3506335.stm

The first shots of WW2 were allegedly fired by the battleship Schleswig-Holstein in Danzig harbour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgENjoWBFf4

Jonah42 · 02-09-2010 4:16pm

Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed in 1945.

cyrusdvirus · 08-09-2010 11:14am

In Poland... The German 4th Panzer Division, spearheading the German 10th Army (Reichenau) reaches the Warsaw suburb of Ochota, in the southeast, late in the day (having advanced 225 km in 7 days). The Polish garrison commander in Warsaw, General Czuma, broadcasts a defiant Order of the Day: "We shall fight to the last ditch!" Some 100,000 Polish civilians in Warsaw are engaged in digging trenches on the city outskirts. Meanwhile, other elements of the German 10th Army are heavily engaged around Radom, only 60 miles south of Warsaw; about 60,000 Polish troops are encircled to the west of Radom. The German 14th Army (List) reaches the San River north and south of Przemysl. In the north, the German 19th Panzer Corps (Guderian) is attacking along the line of the Bug River to the east of Warsaw.

On the Western Front... A group of 5 Curtiss Hawk fighters of l'Armee de l'Air (French air force) engage 5 Me109 fighters and claim to shoot down 2 of the German planes.

In London... In response to what the British government declares to be German resort to unrestricted submarine warfare, the government announces a long-range blockade of Germany, broadening the original blockade announced on September 3rd. Also, the government revives the convoy system for merchant ships. Three protected routes are established, two from Liverpool and from the Thames to the Atlantic, one from the Thames and the Firth of Forth.

In Washington... Roosevelt proclaims a state of "limited national emergency," citing the war in Europe which "imposes on the United States certain duties with respect to the proper observance, safeguarding and enforcement" of its neutral status "and the strengthening of the national defense within the limits of peacetime authorizations." All US military forces are authorized to increase enlisted manpower strength and to recall reservists to active duty.

Morlar · 08-09-2010 12:22pm

This is an image from a photo album of mine, it's Ju 87 (stuka Dive bombers) taken in Radom Sept 1939 and to be featured in an upcoming book about the Polish Air war currently being written by some Polish researchers

The writing on the bomb is 'herzlichen grusse Beck' - warm greetings to Beck (Józef Beck - Polish Foreign minister Sept 1939).

Morlar · 08-09-2010 12:26pm

Here are some more pictures from the Sept 1939 Album

Polish prisonsers of War ;

German Losses

Morlar · 08-09-2010 12:27pm

Polish civilian homes and businesses :

The rest of the small album including German-Russian meetings is here
http://www.militaria-archive.com/poland%20campaign/index.html

cyrusdvirus · 09-09-2010 7:43am

In Poland... The German 4th Panzer Division, part of the German 16th Panzer Corps, mounts an attack in the southeast suburbs of Warsaw but is beaten off. The German command believes that almost all the Polish forces have retired east of the Vistula River but in fact fresh units from the Poznan Army and part of the Pomorze Army have joined together around Kutno. About 10 Polish divisions are assembling in this area under the command of General Tadeusz Kutrzeba. They now begin a counterattack over the Bzura River against the German 8th Army. The battles which follow will be the hardest fought of the campaign. Initially, the Poles gain some success.

On the Western Front... French troops advance into the Warndt Forest across the German border and occupy 3 square miles of German territory. The action is widely viewed as having more propaganda than military purpose since the region, referred to by the French as "occupied Germany," is deserted, heavily mined and booby-trapped.

In France... The last of 13 RAF squadrons arrives in move begun on September 4th to strengthen the British Expeditionary Force.

From Moscow... Molotov prematurely congratulates the Germany for the "entry of German troops into Warsaw" and promises Soviet intervention "within the next few days."

From Berlin... Goring threatens reprisals against Britain if the RAF bombs Germany and boasts that Berlin will never be subjected to enemy aerial attack. He says that "the Polish Army will never emerge again from the German embrace." Ribbentrop invites the Soviets to advance to their new common frontier, the Narew, Vistula and San rivers (the Bug and Pissa would eventually replace the Vistula to avoid a divided Warsaw.

cyrusdvirus · 10-09-2010 8:58am

In Poland... Polish armies are ordered to conduct a general retreat to defensive positions in the southeast. The Luftwaffe conducts 15 air raids on Warsaw. German forces broadcast a false news bulletin, announcing the fall of the capital on the same wavelength as Radio Warsaw.

On the Western Front... In reply to insistent demands by the Polish Commander-in-Chief, Marshal Smigly-Rydz, the French Chief of the General Staff, General Gamelin, announces that more than half of his active divisions are in contact with the enemy on the northeast front and that he can do no more.

In France... The first major units of BEF begin to land. Field Marshal Lord Gort is in command. Small advance parties have been arriving since September 4th. In the first month 160,000 men, 24,000 vehicles and 140,000 tons of supplies are sent to France.

In Ottawa... The government of Canada declares war on Germany. The Canadians are the last of the great Dominions to declare war, however, the few days of hesitation permits the accelerated delivery from the US of large amounts of war goods which are now barred under American neutrality laws.

In the North Sea... The British submarine Triton mistakenly torpedoes the British submarine Oxley.

cyrusdvirus · 10-09-2010 8:59am

In Berlin... Germany announces a counter blockade against Britain, saying that since "economic warfare was forced on her," Germany "is not only able to resist every pressure of blockade and every form of British hunger warfare, but to reply to it with the same methods."

In Germany... Cipher experts crack the British merchant ship code, identifying convoy meeting points.
In Poland... The German forces cross the River San north and south of Przemysl, in southeast Poland. The battle on the Bzura continues but the leaders of German Army Group South, Rundstedt and his Chief of Staff, Manstein, are already beginning to assemble reinforcements for German 8th Army. The Polish force at Radom is destroyed with the Germans capturing 60,000 men. The German capture of the industrial area of Upper Silesia is complete.

In Britain... Churchill begins correspondence with Roosevelt which he signs as "A Naval Person".

In London... The British cabinet decides no further attempt to bomb Germany by air will be carried out. Meanwhile, plans for the federation of India are postponed indefinitely.

cyrusdvirus · 10-09-2010 8:59am

On the Western Front... French forces have now advanced about 5 miles (8 km) into Germany on a 15-mile (24 km) frontage in the Saarland region. The French claim that the action has forced the Germans to withdraw 6 divisions from Poland, although British observers express doubts. The advance places the front within half a mile of the Siegfried Line and a frontal assault on this defensive system is considered to be out of the question. General Gamelin calls an end to the Saar offensive.

In Poland... Some of List's troops are fighting near Lvov while others are moving north from their bridgeheads over the San. The Polish army around Poznan, the one that was to have marched on Berlin, unexpectedly turns about and attempts to take the German 8th Army in the flank. This is the start of the violent battle of the Bzura River. Polish troops push the German forces 12 miles south of Kutno and recapture Lowicz. Gdynia is evacuated by the Poles. Luftwaffe planes bomb Krzemieniec (Kremenets) in eastern Poland, a declared open village where the diplomatic community from Warsaw has sought refuge.

In Bucharest... The German Foreign Minister, von Ribbentrop, demands that the Romanians not give asylum to Polish officials crossing the border and threatens military action in case of noncompliance.

In France... The Anglo-French Supreme War Council meets for the first time at Abbeville. Meanwhile, a Czech army-in-exile is formed.

In Britain... The home office opens an inquiry into blackout rules.

In the North Atlantic... The US Navy begins regular neutrality patrols along the entire length of the eastern seaboard and in the Caribbean.

cyrusdvirus · 13-09-2010 10:29am

From Berlin... The German Armed Forces High Command (OKW) announces that civilian targets in Poland are being bombed because civilians are involving themselves in the fighting.

In Poland... A small German infantry force begins to cross the Vistula just south of Warsaw. The Bzura battles are now going badly for the Polish forces. The heaviest fighting will be over by September 15th but some engagements will continue until the 19th. Although the Germans will take their largest single haul of 150,000 prisoners in this battle, by September 19th, units of two Polish brigades and elements of others will manage to escape to Warsaw.

From Warsaw... The US ambassador to Poland, Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr., reports that German bombers are attacking the civilian population. He says "they are releasing bombs they carry even when they are in no doubt as to the identity of their objectives.

In Paris... The French Prime Minister, Edouard Daladier, forms a War Cabinet in which he is responsible for foreign affairs as well as retaining the portfolios of war and national defense. The former foreign minister, Georges Bonnet, is appointed Minister of Justice. Raoul Dautry is appointed Minister of Armaments and Georges Pernot is appointed Minister of Blockade, both are new portfolios related to the war effort. Daladier is keen to have a war cabinet that will enable France to put recent divisions aside and fight the war with a spirit of national unity.

In Algeria... The French cruiser La Tour d'Auvergne sinks from an accidental explosion at Casablanca.

cyrusdvirus · 14-09-2010 8:02am

In Poland... German troops enter Gdynia (the only Polish seaport), west of Danzig. German forces attacking from East Prussia reach open country when they cross the Narew River near Modlin and sweep around Warsaw to begin the encirclement of the Polish capital. Lwow is cut off by German attacks. The German 19th Panzer Corps (Guderian) reaches Brest-Litovsk. Ethnic Ukrainians begin an uprising in Lwow and Stanislawow, attacking small Polish army units in the vicinity.

In Budapest... The Hungarian government refrains from declaring its neutrality on the grounds that it is not threatened by Hitler.

In the North Atlantic... Northwest of Ireland, the carrier, HMS Ark Royal, has a lucky escape from a German submarine, U-39, attack while engaged in an anti-submarine patrol. The U-boat is sunk by 3 British destroyers accompanying the carrier and 43 German crewmen are captured.

In the Soviet Union... The Communist Party official newspaper, Pravda, launches an anti-Polish propaganda campaign with a front-page article deploring the treatment of minorities in Poland.

cyrusdvirus · 15-09-2010 8:14am

In Moscow... An armistice agreement is signed between Japan and the USSR ending their four-month-old "Nomonhan Incident" consisting of protracted fighting on the borders of Manchukuo (Manchuria) and Mongolia. Both sides have been under pressure from Germany to settle the dispute since the signing of the German-Soviet non-aggression pact. Peace talks were initiated by the new Japanese cabinet, appointed two weeks ago, after Japan lost 17,000 troops in one battle.

In Poland... German troops are reducing the Polish Poznan Army encircled at Kutno. Brest-Litovsk, 120 miles east of Warsaw, is surrounded. The Warsaw military commander, Polish Major General Juliusz Rommel, refuses to discuss a surrender proposal form the Germans.

In Bucharest... The Romanian government grants asylum to Polish civilian refugees; military personnel are to be disarmed and interned.

In Germany... German radio broadcasts interviews with British and New Zealander aircrew captured during the Wilhelmshaven raid on September 4th.

In Britain... Motorists besiege petrol stations, although no date for rationing has been fixed yet.

In Canada... The first British trans-Atlantic convoy sets sail from Halifax, Nova Scotia. From now on all ships carrying vital supplies of Canadian wheat and US munitions are to travel in convoys scheduled and protected by the British and Canadian navies. The first convoy organized during the war sailed from Gibraltar on September 2nd. The vital Glasgow-Thames coastal trade is now moving in convoys as well.

The Highwayman · 16-09-2010 4:16am

In Poland... Warsaw is now surrounded but a German ultimatum is rejected by the Polish garrison, led by General Czuma, and the civil population. The Poles have already fought off one German assault, inflicting heavy casualties. This day is also the eve of the Jewish New Year and Luftwaffe planes dive-bomb the Jewish quarter of the city. Part of List's army is still fighting west of Lvov while other units are advancing north to link with Guderian's forces, who are maintaining their attack along the Bug. Polish air force bombers make their final sorties.
In Moscow... The USSR informs the Poland that the Red Army will enter eastern Poland on September 17th "to protect the Ukrainian and Belorussian minorities."

In Britain... The Duke of Windsor is appointed a liaison officer with the French army.

In the North Atlantic.. In the first German U-boat attack on a North Atlantic convoy, U-31 sinks SS Aviemore. A major escorted convoy leaves Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Canada for Britain.

marcsignal · 16-09-2010 8:14pm

Great contributions people, some really good info posted

Hats off to you Gatecrash, you're playing a stormer

gatecrash wrote: »

In the Soviet Union... The Communist Party official newspaper, Pravda, launches an anti-Polish propaganda campaign with a front-page article deploring the treatment of minorities in Poland.

can you PM me any details you have about this ?

.

cyrusdvirus · 17-09-2010 7:58am

marcsignal wrote: »

Great contributions people, some really good info posted

Hats off to you Gatecrash, you're playing a stormer

can you PM me any details you have about this ?

.

I wish i could claim it as my own work, but I found a site (www.onwar.com) (PS, Mods, if i'm not allowed highlight this site, please remove, and apologies) There's a day by day chronology available on there and i have been lifting the info from there. I like the way the points are all in mini headlines, giving the reader a chance to pick and choose what they want to look into, and not a full data dump!!

cyrusdvirus · 17-09-2010 7:59am

In Poland... Soviet troops enter Poland. Naturally because of the German attack there is almost no defense in the east. The Soviets employ two army groups or Fronts. The Poles have only 18 battalions in the east of their country. Just before dawn, the Red Army invades along the entire 800-mile (1300 km) border. Poles are surprised and Soviet forces advance virtually unopposed. Meanwhile, the Polish government is fleeing towards the Romanian border, evacuating from the border town of Kuty -- the fifth and last temporary seat in the Polish provinces. All surviving Polish aircrew fly to Romania. In Warsaw, St. John's Cathedral is bombed during mass; the dead are buried in public parks because the cemeteries are full. Warsaw is now completely isolated as converging German forces of German Army Group North and Army Group South meet at Siedlce, in eastern Poland. Some 40,000 Polish prisoners have been captured by the Germans at Kutno and Brest-Litovsk is taken after a bitter 3-day battle. German are given a stop line because of the Soviet invasion in the east.

In Moscow... Soviet Commissar for Foreign Affairs, Molotov, announces that the USSR is invading to protect Ukrainian and Belorussian minorities in Poland. Soviet newspapers have been making claims of "brutal treatment" of national minorities in Poland, especially Ukrainians and Belorussians. The Soviet government promises to respect Finnish neutrality and recognizes Slovakia as an independent state.

In Athens... The Italian government assures the Greek government that it will take no military action against Greece even if Italy enters the war.

In the North Atlantic... The British aircraft carrier, HMS Courageous, is sunk by U-29 while on anti-submarine patrol off the southwest coast of Ireland. More than 500 men are killed (514 of 1200 crew members). After this second incident, carriers are withdrawn from such work. Courageous has been one of the most effective of the British carriers.

cyrusdvirus · 17-09-2010 10:42am

In Romania... The Polish president, Moscicki, and the Commander in Chief, Rydz-Smigly, enter Romania and are interned. They leave behind messages telling their troops to fight on.

In Poland... Soviet forces have advanced 100 km into Poland, meeting little resistance. The German 3rd and 10th armies begin attacking Warsaw. Members of the Polish cipher bureau, with vital knowledge of the German Enigma code, flee the country and head for Paris.

In Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm and Reykjavik... In simultaneous announcements, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland declare that they intend to continue trading with all belligerents to protect their economic existence.

In Berlin... A week after making his first broadcast to Britain, the Irish ex-Mosleyite William Joyce is given a contract with German radio.

In the North Atlantic... SS Kensington Court is shelled and sunk by a German U-boat; 2 RAF Sunderland flying boats rescue 34 men.

cyrusdvirus · 17-09-2010 10:43am

In Danzig... Hitler makes a triumphal entry into the formerly free city and makes a foreign policy speech that seems to offer conciliation with France and Britain, suggesting that the war could be concluded on the basis of the German territorial gains already achieved. He also swears that Danzig will be German forever and that Germany will fight to the bitter end, if necessary.

In Poland... The Soviet advance reaches the Hungarian frontier. In the north Vilna (Wilno) is taken. The Soviets link up with the Germans at Brest Litovsk, which is given up to the Soviets according to the provisions of the secret agreement of August 23, 1939. Meanwhile, about 30,000 Polish troops reach Warsaw after fighting their way out of Kutno. German bombers being a continuing assault on Warsaw, initially striking utilities and other essential public facilities. Also, the battle of Bzura ends with the surrender of 100,000 officers and men of the defeated Polish Pomorze and Poznan armies (consisting of 19 Polish divisions). In eastern Poland, German forces surround Lvov.

In France... The first British army corps lands in France.

cyrusdvirus · 20-09-2010 8:24am

On the Western Front... For the first time, RAF and Luftwaffe aircraft engage when a flight of German Me109 fighters attack 3 Fairey Battle reconnaissance bombers over the Siegfried Line, over Aachen; 1 Me109 and 2 Battles are shot down.

From London... Britain and France vow to keep fighting in response to recent peace offerings by Hitler. They declare that the Allies "will not permit a Hitler victory to condemn the world to slavery and to ruin all moral values and destroy liberty." Meanwhile, the British Conservative Party government, under the leadership of Neville Chamberlain, is denounced by the Labour Party opposition, in the House of Commons, for failing to help Poland enough against the German and Soviet invaders.

cyrusdvirus · 21-09-2010 7:57am

n Bucharest... The Romanian Prime Minister, Armand Calinescu, is murdered by members of the Iron Guard, a fascist organization. Assassins blocked the path of his car with a wooden cart and fired pistol shots into him and his bodyguards. The assailants then forcibly enter a radio station and broadcast that "the death sentence on Calinescu has been executed." They are later overpowered and shot to death at the location of their murder of the prime minister. A large crowd is present. Their bodies are left to lie there for the next 24 hours. The assassination is in apparent retaliation for the tolerant, even sympathetic, attitude of the Romanian government toward Poland, exemplified by the acceptance of Polish military and civilian refugees.

In Poland... German forces intensify the artillery bombardment of key points in Warsaw.

In Occupied Poland... Nazi occupation authorities initiate "The Heydrich Plan" which involves the deportation of 600,000 Jews from Danzig and western Poland to central Poland to be concentrated in urban ghettoes.

In Luxemburg... Radio Luxemburg closes down.

In London... The British government publishes its Blue Book of prewar diplomatic documents.

In Washington... President Roosevelt addresses a special joint session of Congress and urges the repeal of the Neutrality Act provisions embargoing arms sales to belligerent countries. "Our acts must be guided by one single hard-headed thought -- keeping America out of this war," the president said. Allowing arms to be sold on a cash-and-carry basis would be "better calculated than any other means to keep us out of war."

In the United States... Newspapers allege that senior Nazis, including Goebbels and Hess, have foreign investments worth over $12 million.

The Highwayman · 21-09-2010 8:35pm

Some pics of the German attack on Warsaw

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVnJ7t_b2o2tzOALqM-uooKXxnAsKo7xpsnwrjLt8F6MVI2jw&t=1&usg=__w-FHZrMsXUclVakLyAs1r5PJI78=

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRVnJ7t_b2o2tzOALqM-uooKXxnAsKo7xpsnwrjLt8F6MVI2jw&t=1&usg=__w-FHZrMsXUclVakLyAs1r5PJI78=

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTwM9yLw_Q_5Ai_xqIPsj9wce836bOatTBwOJovbzof2fO_Y8E&t=1&usg=__LuCCFu0JdX2IcX4bG3DMAAuNglU=

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS0zyTUXGj0gpWG_6zRVTozSg-GS6EtZNya1Z7ZXicHe7p_hxk&t=1&usg=__cS9-bFmETolVsoc5sIZYljJitzM=

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRPv0nCH8FvvNuE_YC5V8nT1rdciD3MGfIkPBXYBHTvxKX4Vx4&t=1&usg=__ETcRRfTkj0qWcbuLIT2daDzwSyk=

cyrusdvirus · 22-09-2010 7:37am

n Poland... Rapidly advancing Soviet troops capture Lvov and Bialystok. In Brest-Litovsk Soviet and German forces conduct a joint victory parade. Meanwhile, Colonel General von Fritsch, former German Army Commander in Chief and an outspoken opponent of the Nazis government, is killed by a Polish sniper outside Warsaw. Hitler visits the front, observing the shelling of the Warsaw suburb of Praga.

In Sussex... The second meeting of the Allied Supreme War Council takes place. Although the meeting is supposed to be secret, a large crowd gathers outside the building in which the Allied leaders meet. British Prime Minister Chamberlain, with Lord Halifax, the foreign secretary, and Lord Chatfield, the minister for coordination of defense meet French Primier Daladier, with General Gamelin, the Commander in Chief on the Western Front, Admiral Darlan, the Chief of the French Naval Staff, and M Dautry. A communique issued later states that the Allied leaders discussed supplies of munitions and

In Britain... Gasoline is rationed. Meanwhile, a report by the Metropolitan Police Commission in London indicates that road accidents have tripled in the three weeks since the blackout began. Also, courts are packed with cases of blackout violations.

cyrusdvirus · 23-09-2010 8:02am

In Berlin... The German government issues a statement claiming that all organized fighting in Poland has ended. It states "The Polish Army of a million men has been defeated, captured, or routed. No single Polish active or reserve division escaped this fate. Only fractions of individual groups were able to avoid immediate destruction by fleeing into the swamps of eastern Poland. They succumbed there to Soviet troops. Of the entire Polish army only an insignificant remainder still is fighting at hopeless positions in Warsaw, in Modlin and on the Hela Peninsula."

In Germany... Wireless sets are confiscated from all Jews.

On the Western Front... German forces are reported to be counterattacking with no success.

In Rome... Mussolini restates the Italian intention to remain neutral unless attacked, following a policy to "strengthen our army in preparation for any eventualities and support every possible peace effort while working in silence." He also suggests that the "liquidation" of Poland presents an opportunity for a European peace settlement.

In Poland... In Warsaw, food supplies are running out although the determination to resist remains among the Polish garrison surrounded in the city.

In the North Atlantic... Two Finnish steamers carrying cellulose are sunk by German submarine forces.

In Panama... American states agree to a 300-mile (480 km) neutral zone off the coast of the the Americas.
In Tokyo... Admiral Nomura becomes foreign minister in General Abe's recently appointed government. Between now and their fall in January 1940, some conciliatory moves are made toward the United States. These are not reciprocated and this strengthens the beliefs and standing of the more bellicose Japanese politicians.

In Britain... Sigmund Freud, the famed Austrian psychoanalyst, dies at 83 years of age.

BlaasForRafa · 28-09-2010 2:24am

I meant to post this on the 27th. The last battle fought on english soil by an invading force

http://www.timegun.org/last_battle.html

An incident happened in Kent that seemed to have slipped the net of attention despite having been reported on occasion. This maybe because it happened in a specific area of the British Isles and confined to local newsworthiness.

In September of 1940 when Britain and her Commonwealth stood alone against the might of Nazi oppression, the German Luftwaffe changed tactics from bombing Fighter Command airfields and costal Radar systems in preparation for the expected invasion.

In the month previous British Bomber command had blasted parts of Berlin. It is possible this led to the Luftwaffe change of strategy and large cities became the main targets. September 1940 brought the heavy bombing of London known as the Blitz with the clear intention of destroying the will of the British people. To carry this plan out masses of German aircraft broke into English air space on the way to the capital.

Hurricanes and Spitfires scrambled into the skies like swarms of deadly bees to encounter the enemy as best they could in the circumstances. The basic tactic seemed to have been to pick off whatever enemy plane possible and if the chance arose, isolate bombers.

Over the skies of Cudham and South Holmwood the enemy air craft were met by a determine well led Royal Air Force. Some German Bombers came down in flames close to Pensthurst and Sevenoaks, where one of the German Bomber crew was taken prisoner.

Pilots of the 66 and 92 Squadron in Super Marine Spitfires aided by Anti Air Craft gunners forced down some twelve Junkers88.

An isolated Junker 88 piloted by Underofficizer Fritz Ruhlandt fell prey to the British planes and in the area of North Kent near Faversham. The injured plane was skilfully landed on the Graveney Marshes close to the Sportsman Inn near the sea wall.

Captain Ruhlandt despite being wounded moved his crew away from their plane. The 1st London Irish were quickly on the scene to face the crew of the Junker 88 expecting an instant surrender. To the horror of the London Irish the German crew opened fire with two machine guns and submachine gun fire.

The Captain of the London Irish positioned his men along the dykes of the Marshland ready to return the fire. As they crawled nearer they saw a single white flag implying a surrender of the German crew. As the London Irish advanced closer to apprehend the enemy crew a skirmish broke out injuring two of the Germans. To make things worse a member of the crew remarked that a bomb was ticking way in the plane and would go up shortly. A Captain Cantopher of Bomb disposal arrive in the nick of time to defuse the bomb, in an act of considerable bravery.

The determination of the London Irish and Captain Cantopher saved the Prize Junker for examination by the Air Ministry. Who discovered it to be a very recent developed type. Captain Cantopher received the Military Medal for preventing the destruction of the plane and capture of the crew. As for the London Irish they had engaged in the only fighting encounter between the German and British on British mainland soil of the war.

We have to go back to 1797 when the French Revolutionary Government carried out a devious plan to win the support of British citizens in an invasion by 1,400 men of arms. The French force was led by an Irish American called William Tate. Bad weather ensued causing the invaders to land at Cardigan Bay in South Wales. The unfortunate aimless French were captured by the Yeomanry of Pembrokeshire without a shot being fired.

The Battle of Graveney Marsh has the clear distinction of hopefully being the last exchange of shots by a foreign invading force.

Strangely, it is said that the London Irish were led away under escort for opening fire without the given order.

Also some souvenirs of the Junker 88 have been exhibited locally.

A lady whose husband was involved in the incident considered it very unlikely any such items were taken due to the speedy removal the German Junker 88, as it was of such vital importance to the British Intelligence Authorities. It is likely the Junker 88 was taken to RAF Farnborough for the examination.
The German air crew probable sent to a Prisoner of War camp in the Midlands, or in the case of die hards dispatched to Canada.

marcsignal · 28-09-2010 10:33am

^^ nice little nugget there BlaasForRafa

gatecrash wrote: »

In London... The British government publishes its Blue Book of prewar diplomatic documents.

came across that online Here for anyone interested.

BlaasForRafa · 28-09-2010 11:06am

marcsignal wrote: »

^^ nice little nugget there BlaasForRafa

came across that online Here for anyone interested.

Aye I thought it was fairly interesting. Unfortunately there dosen't seem to be any testimony from the germans involved, I wonder if Ruhlandt thought he could shoot his way out and get to the coast nearby and steal a fishing boat or something.

It all sounds like something that would come right out of a commando comics story, especially a bit that isn't mentioned in the above link but apparantly the London Irish platoon in question brought the germans to the Sportsman pub for a few pints after the fighting

marcsignal · 02-01-2011 9:05pm

70 years ago today the first German Bombs fell on Dublin City.

On Jan 2nd 1941 @2am bombs fell on Rathdown Park, Lavarna Grove & Road, and on Fortfield Road in Terenure. Some Pics Below of the damaged houses on Rathdown Park.
There was a light covering of snow in Dublin at the time.

and Later tonight/tomorrow morning, January 3rd bombs fell on Harolds Cross, South Circular Road (destroying the Synogague), and Rialto. Some Pics below of South Circular Road bombing.

some info on the Rialto Bombing below:

http://www.dublincity.ie/RecreationandCulture/libraries/Heritage%20and%20History/Dublin%20City%20Archives/Collections%20Post%201840/Pages/donore_bombing_archives.aspx

Apologies for my absence from the forum over the xmas and new year. I will reply to any unanswered threads over the next week or so.

Belated seasons greetings to you all

randomnoob · 04-01-2011 11:42pm

on this day nazi germany made technological breakthroughs upon meeting representatives from outer space.
Nazi researchers succeeded in development of nuclear bombs, other up-to-date armament and achieved a very high technological level in general. It is supposed that the success was thanks to contacts with aliens that were quite regular.
An agreement for a german moon base on the dark side of the moon were agreed with the aliens, where Adolf and Eva's tombstones still reside at to this day

marcsignal · 05-01-2011 8:11pm

mods,

as well as a permanent ban from the WW2 forum, can posts like the one above by randomnoob not also be deleted ? Just so we can send a message to prepubescent dickheads, that they're not welcome here....

This is widely considered to be a serious forum with excellent contributions, and adult discussion/debate all round, thanks to all of the dedicated posters who treat it with the respect it deserves.

To all the other George Orwells and randomnoobs out there... don't post here, this is "Big School" ok ?
So go play with your balls instead, if they've dropped yet that is....
.

cyrusdvirus · 08-01-2011 12:10pm

Soviet division eliminated by Finns
Monday, January 8, 1940 www.onwar.com

The Winter War... The Soviet 44th Division is destroyed in the Karelian Isthmus. Details of the Finnish victory over the two Soviet divisions at Suomussalmi released by Finland's General Staff show that the Soviet 44th Division was utterly annihilated while attempting to support the defeated 162nd Division. Finns claim to have captured 102 field guns, 43 tanks, over 300 vehicles and 1170 horses.

In Britain... Bacon, butter and sugar are put on the ration list and are only available in small quantities. Butter is limited to 4 ounces per week. Adults are allowed 12 ounces of sugar and 4 oz. of bacon or uncooked ham -- less of cooked ham.

In the North Sea... A converted Wellington bomber fitted with an energized metal hoop to explode magnetic mines does its first successful trials.

In China... Japan claims to have killed 25,000 Chinese in battle north of Canton.

In Germany... A new army headquarters is reportedly established at Recklingshausen, 10 miles from the Dutch border.

British bomb Italian port
Wednesday, January 8, 1941 www.onwar.com

Over Italy... There is a British air raid on Naples by Wellington bombers in which the battleship Guilio Cesare is badly hit while moored in the harbor. The Vittorio Veneto is also hit but scarcely damaged.

In Washington... Roosevelt presents his budget to Congress. It outlines total expenditure of $17,500,000,000 with $10,800,000,000 going on defense.

In Albania... The Greeks begin to attack Klisura in their continuing offensive. Their progress farther north is less good, especially around Berat.

Red Army winter offensive continues
Thursday, January 8, 1942 www.onwar.com

An early T-34 advancing in the snowOn the Eastern Front... West of Moscow, Soviet troops attack Mozhaysk.

In Malaysia... A third wave of Japanese troops lands under heavy air and naval protection.

In Singapore... Visiting General Wavell, orders the Allied forces to withdraw to beyond the Muar River and prepare defenses there.

Soviets Demand 6th Army Surrender
Friday, January 8, 1943 www.onwar.com

Soviet airforce bombs the trapped German troopsOn the Eastern Front... Rokossovsky, commanding the Red Army's Don Front surrounding Stalingrad, and Voronov, the STAVKA representative, issue a demand to surrender to the German 6th Army. Paulus, commander of the encircled forces, refuses to surrender; his Chief of Staff, Schmidt, is believed to have influenced this decision. The German 6th Army at this point still has substantial manpower but it is short of supplies and the troops have been weakened by a lack of food and warmth. The Red Army forces are well provided with food, fuel and ammunition. Meanwhile, to the south, Zimovniki is captured in a Soviet attack.

On Madagascar... Administration of the island is handed over to the Free French.

Soviets capture Kirovograd
Saturday, January 8, 1944 www.onwar.com

Soviet infantry dismount T-34 for assaultOn the Eastern Front... The Soviet 2nd Ukrainian Front (Konev) surround Kirovograd, along with three German divisions. During the night (January 8-9) the Soviet 67th Tank Brigade carrying infantry on its tanks disperses the headquarters of German 47th Panzer Corps (General von Vormann) with losses to men and equipment.

In Occupied Italy... In Verno, the Italian Socialist Republic tries members of the Fascist Grand Council who had earlier deposed Mussolini (January 8-11). Several members are convicted in their absence. Others, including Ciano and Bono, are tried, convicted and executed.

British near Shwebo
Monday, January 8, 1945 www.onwar.com
In Burma... British 14th Army troops, southeast of Yeu, have reached within 4 miles of Shwebo, 55 miles northwest of Mandalay.

On the Eastern Front... Northwest of Budapest, Soviets forces engage German armor and infantry forces. Street fighting in Budapest continues. Soviet forces are approaching the town of Komarno on the Danube River.
On the Western Front... Allied forces eliminate German positions on the west bank of the Maas River. In the Ardennes, American forces now control 9 miles of the Laroche-St. Vith road. US 3rd Army captures Flamierge, 9 km northwest of Bastogne, on the southern flank of the German held salient. Meanwhile, in Alsace, the battles north and south of Strasbourg continue. The US 7th Army is under considerable pressure near Rimling and Gambsheim.

The Highwayman · 28-01-2011 4:50am

On January 27, 1945, Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet troops, a day commemorated around the world as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In 1947, Poland founded a museum on the site of Auschwitz I and II, which by 1994 had seen 22 million visitors—700,000 annually—pass through the iron gates crowned with the infamous motto, Arbeit macht frei ("work makes you free").

marcsignal · 29-01-2011 6:08pm

^
^

great pic !

Auschwitz must have been a hard enough place to survive in without having to deal with Polish winters as well...

The Highwayman · 29-01-2011 6:20pm

Was there in Jan a few years ago, the cold did add to the effect.

Long weekend in Krakow did this on the last day. Well worth the time spent.... if that makes sense?

(not my pic thought)

jonniebgood1 · 14-02-2011 8:57pm

Feb 14 1945
Dresden

BlaasForRafa · 16-02-2011 7:12am

On this day in 1945 Otto Kittel was killed in air combat over the Courland pocket in Latvia. With 267 victories Kittel is the highest scoring ace to be killed in combat. Kittel was also the highest scoring Focke-Wulf FW-190 ace having amassed more than 200 victories on the type with JG54 "Grunherz" on the eastern front.

On 16 February 1945 Otto Kittel took off with his Geschwader (Wing) flying Fw 190 A-8 "Black 1" to engage a formation of 14 Shturmovik aircraft over the Courland Pocket. At 12:13 he made contact with the formation at low altitude, no more than 100–150 metres (328 to 492 feet). Kittel attacked, firing at and damaging several Shturmovik. Kittel damaged one aircraft and chased it. As he closed in for the kill, his Focke-Wulf was hit by return fire from a rear gunner, and descended towards the ground on fire. Kittel, probably incapacitated and unable to use his parachute, did not bail out and the Fw 190 crashed in flames. Witnesses from Kittel's formation reported that a Shturmovik had been shot down by Otto before he himself was killed during the air battle having scored his 267th and final victory.

marcsignal · 24-02-2011 1:02am

Slightly late on this one.
Goebbels 'Total War' Speech on Feb 18th 1943 in the Sportpalastrede, (Sports Palace) Berlin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVP3KU-qOzc

el oh el · 26-02-2011 2:11pm

1945 - In the U.S., a nationwide midnight curfew went into effect.

1945 - During World War II, Syria declared war on Germany and Japan.

BlaasForRafa · 26-02-2011 4:00pm

marcsignal wrote: »

Slightly late on this one.
Goebbels 'Total War' Speech on Feb 18th 1943 in the Sportpalastrede, (Sports Palace) Berlin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVP3KU-qOzc

Its pretty amazing that Germany didn't move to a total war footing till so late, its a drastic contrast with Britain and the Soviet Union.

I was doing some reading on the Focke-Wulf company recently and was surprised to read that they only operated one shift per day until 1943 which is pretty amazing seeing as not only did they have to supply the Jagdwaffe but Schlact (ground-attack) formations were switching over to the Fw190 from the Stuka and Hs123

marcsignal · 26-02-2011 4:50pm

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

I was doing some reading on the Focke-Wulf company recently and was surprised to read that they only operated one shift per day until 1943 which is pretty amazing seeing as not only did they have to supply the Jagdwaffe but Schlact (ground-attack) formations were switching over to the Fw190 from the Stuka and Hs123

some great footage of a flying FW190 Here

BlaasForRafa · 26-02-2011 9:56pm

marcsignal wrote: »

some great footage of a flying FW190 Here

Thanks for that, I hadn't seen that vid before. Interesting to see that they used the mid-war JG1 "checkerboard" colour scheme.

On This Day during WW2....

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