Friday, September 23, 2022

Wednesday, September 23, 1942. Departures, bad health, appointments and tragedies.

Rommel left North Africa o this day in 1942 for six weeks of recuperation in Germany.  He was suffering from exhaustion, sinusitis, high blood pressure, and stomach ailments.  On the way home he stopped in Rome to talk to Mussolini.

Perhaps ironically, George Stumme, who suffered from high blood pressure as well, was put in command in Rommel's absence where he'd die a month later in combat, probably from a heart attack or stroke.

The East African 22nd Infantry Brigade captured the capital of Madagascar.

Sarah Sundin reports:

Today in World War II History—September 23, 1942: René Blum, founder of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and brother of former French prime minister Léon Blum, is deported to Auschwitz, where he will be killed.

She also noted that Gen. James Doolittle was appointed to command the 12th Air Force. 



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