Dear Family and Friends,
I recently created a personal fund to help support The National World War II Museum. Please help us make a difference.
Whatever you can give will be appreciated, and everything helps. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Steve Terjeson
To make a donation online, visit our fund center.
Visit the National World War II Museum online (http://www.nationalww2museum.org/)
Today in WW II History
**World War II Begins**
World War II History for September 1
1939 - World War II began when Germany invaded Poland.
On this day in 1939, German forces bombard Poland on land and from the air, as Adolf Hitler seeks to regain lost territory and ultimately rule Poland. World War II had begun.
The German invasion of Poland was a primer on how Hitler intended to wage war–what would become the “blitzkrieg” strategy. This was characterized by extensive bombing early on to destroy the enemy’s air capacity, railroads, communication lines, and munitions dumps, followed by a massive land invasion with overwhelming numbers of troops, tanks, and artillery. Once the German forces had plowed their way through, devastating a swath of territory, infantry moved in, picking off any remaining resistance.
Once Hitler had a base of operations within the target country, he immediately began setting up “security” forces to annihilate all enemies of his Nazi ideology, whether racial, religious, or political. Concentration camps for slave laborers and the extermination of civilians went hand in hand with German rule of a conquered nation. For example, within one day of the German invasion of Poland, Hitler was already setting up SS “Death’s Head” regiments to terrorize the populace.
The Polish army made several severe strategic miscalculations early on. Although 1 million strong, the Polish forces were severely under-equipped and attempted to take the Germans head-on with horsed cavaliers in a forward concentration, rather than falling back to more natural defensive positions. The outmoded thinking of the Polish commanders coupled with the antiquated state of its military was simply no match for the overwhelming and modern mechanized German forces. And, of course, any hope the Poles might have had of a Soviet counter-response was dashed with the signing of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Nonaggression Pact.
Great Britain would respond with bombing raids over Germany three days later.
1942 - A federal judge in Sacramento, CA, upheld the wartime detention of Japanese-Americans as well as Japanese nationals.
1945 - The U.S. received official word of Japan’s formal surrender that ended World War II. In Japan, it was actually September 2nd.
Today in WW II History
World War II History for August 30
1941 - During World War II, the Nazis severed the last railroad link between Leningrad and the rest of the Soviet Union.
1945 - General Douglas MacArthur set up Allied occupation headquarters in Japan.
On this day in 1945, Gen. Douglas MacArthur lands in Japan to oversee the formal surrender ceremony and to organize the postwar Japanese government.
The career of Douglas MacArthur is composed of one striking achievement after another. When he graduated from West Point, MacArthur’s performance, in terms of awards and average, had only been exceeded in the institution’s history by one other person-Robert E. Lee. His performance in World War I, during combat in France, won him more decorations for valor and resulted in his becoming the youngest general in the Army at the time. He retired from the Army in 1934, only to be appointed head of the Philippine Army by its president (the Philippines had U.S. commonwealth status at the time).
When World War II broke out, MacArthur was called back to active service-as commanding general of the U.S. Army in the Far East. Because of MacArthur’s time in the Far East, and the awesome respect he commanded in the Philippines, his judgment had become somewhat distorted and his vision of U.S. military strategy as a whole myopic. He was convinced that he could defeat Japan if it invaded the Philippines. In the long term, he was correct. But in the short term, the United States suffered disastrous defeats at Bataan and Corregidor. By the time U.S. forces were compelled to surrender, he had already shipped out, on orders from President Roosevelt. As he left, he uttered his immortal line, “I shall return.”
Refusing to admit defeat, MacArthur took supreme command in the Southwest Pacific, capturing New Guinea from the Japanese with an innovative “leap frog” strategy. MacArthur, true to his word, returned to the Philippines in October 1944, and once again employed an unusual strategy of surprise and constant movement that still has historians puzzled as to its true efficacy to this day. He even led the initial invasion by wading ashore from a landing craft-captured for the world on newsreel footage. With the help of the U.S. Navy, which succeeded in destroying the Japanese fleet, leaving the Japanese garrisons on the islands without reinforcements, the Army defeated adamantine Japanese resistance. On March 3, 1945, MacArthur handed control of the Philippine capital back to its president.
On August 30, 1945, MacArthur landed at Atsugi Airport in Japan and proceeded to drive himself to Yokohama. Along the way, tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers lined the roads, their bayonets fixed on him. One last act of defiance-but all for naught. MacArthur would be the man who would reform Japanese society, putting it on the road to economic success.
Today in WW II History
World War II History for August 13
1932 - Adolf Hitler refused to take the post of vice-chancellor of Germany. He said he was going to hold out “for all or nothing.”
1940 - The Battle of Britain begins
On this day in 1940, German aircraft begin the bombing of southern England, and the Battle of Britain, which will last until October 31, begins.
The Germans called it “the Day of the Eagle,” the first day of the Luftwaffe’s campaign to destroy the RAF, the British Royal Air Force, and knock out British radar stations, in preparation for Operation Sea Lion, the amphibious invasion of Britain. Almost 1,500 German aircraft took off the first day of the air raid, and 45 were shot down. Britain lost 13 fighters in the air and another 47 on the ground. But most important for the future, the Luftwaffe managed to take out only one radar station, on the Isle of Wight, and damage five others. This was considered more trouble than it was worth by Herman Goering, commander of the Luftwaffe, who decided to forgo further targeting of British radar stations because “not one of those attacked so far has been put out of operation.”
Historians agree that this was a monumental mistake on the part of the Germans. Had Goering and the Luftwaffe persisted in attacking British radar, the RAF would not have been able to get the information necessary to successfully intercept incoming German bombers. “Here, early in the battle, we get a glimpse of fuddled thinking at the highest level in the German camp,” comments historian Peter Fleming. Even the Blitz, the intensive and successive bombing of London that would begin in the last days of the Battle of Britain, could not compensate for such thinking. There would be no Operation Sea Lion. There would be no invasion of Britain. The RAF would not be defeated.
Today in WW II History
World War II History for August 10
1944 - U.S. forces defeated the remaining Japanese resistance on Guam.
1945 - The day after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan announced they would surrender. The only condition was that the status of Emperor Hirohito would remain unchanged.
Today in WW II History
World War II History for August 7
1942 - U.S. forces landed at Guadalcanal, marking the start of the first major allied offensive in the Pacific during World War II.
On this day in 1942, the U.S. 1st Marine Division begins Operation Watchtower, the first U.S. offensive of the war, by landing on Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands.
On July 6, 1942, the Japanese landed on Guadalcanal Island and began constructing an airfield there. Operation Watchtower was the codename for the U.S. plan to invade Guadalcanal and the surrounding islands. During the attack, American troops landed on five islands within the Solomon chain. Although the invasion came as a complete surprise to the Japanese (bad weather had grounded their scouting aircraft), the landings on Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tananbogo met much initial opposition from the Japanese defenders.
But the Americans who landed on Guadalcanal met little resistance-at least at first. More than 11,000 Marines had landed, and 24 hours had passed, before the Japanese manning the garrison there knew of the attack. The U.S. forces quickly took their main objective, the airfield, and the outnumbered Japanese troops retreated, but not for long. Reinforcements were brought in, and fierce hand-to-hand jungle fighting ensued. “I have never heard or read of this kind of fighting,” wrote one American major general on the scene. “These people refuse to surrender.”
The Americans were at a particular disadvantage, being assaulted from both the sea and air. But the U.S. Navy was able to reinforce its troops to a greater extent, and by February 1943, the Japanese had retreated on secret orders of their emperor (so secret, the Americans did not even know it had taken place until they began happening upon abandoned positions, empty boats, and discarded supplies). In total, the Japanese had lost more than 25,000 men, compared with a loss of 1,600 by the Americans. Each side lost 24 warships.
The first Medal of Honor given to a Marine was awarded to Sgt. John Basilone for his fighting during Operation Watchtower. According to the recommendation for his medal, he “contributed materially to the defeat and virtually the annihilation of a Japanese regiment.”
Below is a video clip of actual World War II combat footage showing US tanks going up against German tanks between buildings.
WW2 Combat Footage – Pershing vs Panther
Today in WW II History
World War II History for August 6
1945 - The American B-29 bomber, known as the Enola Gay, dropped the first atomic bomb on an inhabited area. The bomb named “Little Boy” was dropped over the center of Hiroshima, Japan. An estimated 140,000 people were killed.
Normandy to Berlin: Walking on hallowed ground
By Les Young – Published: August 06, 2008 10:28 am
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 — In the wee hours of June 6, 1944 (Day-D, World War II) the long awaited Allied invasion of France began. Para-troopers and glider forces began landing soon after midnight, the Americans behind the western beaches, the British at the eastern flank. Their roles were to secure vital transportation junctions and river crossings to prevent, or delay, the arrival of German reinforcements.
After sunrise, American, British, and Canadian ground forces came ashore at five beaches code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. By late afternoon the Allies’ objective was reached. Beachheads were established to the interior of the entire 50-mile front from which the invasion could be sustained. German Gen. Erwin Rommel correctly predicted this would be “The Longest Day.”
Frank Lee, a Norwood farmer, watched the Ken Burns PBS television series “The War” and was eager to participate in a mid-summer WTVI promoted battlefield tour. Frank persuaded me and his son, Michael Lee of Raleigh, to accompany him. Our 11-day tour began in Normandy and continued through the Argonne and Hurtgen Forests, to the Battle of the Bulge, across the Rhine River, and on to Weimar, Buchenwald, Berlin and Potsdam. [...]
Early in our trip we stopped at a hillside park dedicated to American paratroopers. I was particularly interested in this park as a dear friend from Norwood jumped with his company near this site.
The park overlooks the bridge at La Fiere, Normandy, where units of the 82nd Airborne Division sealed the Ste. Mere Eglise and Utah Beach areas against German reinforcement.
As others climbed the hill to observe the monuments, I remained behind at the park entrance to read the names posted on the Order of Battle. I was looking for, and half expecting to find, my friend’s name listed there. To my delight, Lt. James M. Irvin’s name does appear, and not far below those of Generals Matthew Ridgway and James Gavin. Jim is listed as Commander, B Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division.
Night paratrooper drops over enemy terrain, and especially on dark, cloudy nights, were notoriously inaccurate. As occurred with others, Jim and his company landed miles from their intended drop zone.
Jim was wounded and captured. After an extended march to the rear, Jim and other officers were loaded aboard a bus for transport to Germany. As their charcoal-fired bus slowed on an uphill grade, Jim and two companions scrambled through the back door and found concealment in a roadside ditch from a passing German convoy. Later, a French farm boy discovered the three asleep in a barn and informed his father who provided them a secure place to rest, in a hayloft. They brought food and civilian clothing, tended Jim’s wound, and instructed them to travel south toward Brittany, where the Germans were fewer.
To reduce the risk of recapture, the three traveled on separately. At one point, Jim found refuge at an orphanage where a priest gave him a bicycle to ride. Another farm family secured French identity papers indicating Jim to be a “deaf-mute.”
Sporting a newly grown moustache and beret, Jim bade farewell to his French friends and peddled toward Brittany. During the journey, Jim passed work details supervised by German guards, but none asked to see his papers. In time, Jim arrived at a seaport, proved himself to be an American soldier, and caught a vessel back to England. Jim’s two-month odyssey ended when he made his way to the 82th Airborne Division headquarters where he resumed command of Company B, then being reorganized for the September invasion of The Netherlands. It was there, in Operation Market Garden, that Jim sustained his most severe wounds. In all, Jim jumped in four campaigns — Sicily, Italy, Normandy and Holland.
Near the end of our trip — at Torgau, Germany — our local guide, Heinz Richter, told how the American and USSR armies first met at Torgau on the Elbe River. Across the river from the old castle and church fly the flags of the three countries involved in that historic moment, those of the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R. and Germany. [...]
Today in WW II History
World War II History for August 5
1944 - Polish insurgents liberated a German labor camp in Warsaw. 348 Jewish prisoners were freed.
On this day in 1944, Polish insurgents liberate a German forced-labor camp in Warsaw, freeing 348 Jewish prisoners, who join in a general uprising against the German occupiers of the city.
As the Red Army advanced on Warsaw in July, Polish patriots, still loyal to their government-in-exile back in London, prepared to overthrow their German occupiers. On July 29, the Polish Home Army (underground), the People’s Army (a communist guerilla movement), and armed civilians took back two-thirds of Warsaw from the Germans. On August 4, the Germans counterattacked, mowing down Polish civilians with machine-gun fire. By August 5, more than 15,000 Poles were dead. The Polish command cried to the Allies for help. Churchill telegraphed Stalin, informing him that the British intended to drop ammunition and other supplies into the southwest quarter of Warsaw to aid the insurgents. The prime minister asked Stalin to aid in the insurgents’ cause. Stalin balked, claiming the insurgency was too insignificant to waste time with.
Britain succeeded to getting some aid to the Polish patriots, but the Germans also succeeded-in dropping incendiary bombs. The Poles fought on, and on August 5 they freed Jewish forced laborers who then joined in the battle, some of whom formed a special platoon dedicated solely to repairing captured German tanks for use in the struggle.
The Poles would battle on for weeks against German reinforcements, and without Soviet help, as Joseph Stalin had his own plans for Poland.
Hear today’s podcast of this article on iTunes or play it below!
on WWII History for July 25 on WWII History for July 25 on WWII History for July 25 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  | |
