On this day in 1942 the large German spy ring trial of the Fritz Duquense ring concluded with 33 convictions.
Duquesne as a Boer Commando.
Duquesne was a larger than life character who had escaped being a POW during the Boer War. His sister had been raped and murdered by a British officer in that time frame and his mother interned. He never returned to South Africa, but worked after the war as a journalist in New York and a big game hunter in Africa. He enlisted as a spy for the Germans during World War One and was captured during the war, but escaped. Operating under aliases, he ultimately returned to the United States and started to reprise is World War One espionage role before being captured and jailed. He remained in prison until 1954 when he was released due to failing physical and mental health, and died at age 78 in 1956.
The twists in his active life demonstrate how a similar character motivation in the novel The Eagle Has Landed aren't that far-fetched.
The Japanese took Manila.
The fall of Manila, and the nearby US air and naval installations, was not unexpected as the US had withdrawn from the city and the bases. Still, it was a disaster.
Axis forces surrendered at Bardia, Libya.
From:
Today in World War II History—January 2, 1942
The USS Hayes was launched.
Closer to home:
Without knowing for sure, this was probably the last day of my parent's Christmas holiday from school.
Christmas break always seemed so long as a child, but in reality, not so much.
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