Under Secretary of the Navy Ralph Bard suggested giving Japan a warning about the atomic bomb.
US forces completed the occupation of Luzon's Cagayan Valley. The island is accordingly nearly fully under US control.
The I-165 was sunk east of Saipan by a US PV-2 Harpoon.
The USS Bunker Hill was struck by a kamikaze resulting in the death of 373 men.
Dr. Emil Hacha, age 73, the former president of the German sponsored "Bohemia-Moravia Protectorate," died in the Prague prison hospital while awaiting trial.
Edward Stettinius resigned as Secretary of State to take up the post of ambassador to the United Nations.
The United Nations Conference on International Organization concluded with the United Nations Charter being signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center by 50 of the 51 original member countries.
Poland was unable to send a delegation, and therefore did not sign.
While many people in the world were becoming optimistic about the post war world, the Manhattan Project scientists were getting worried.
And fighting in the Pacific was still going on, including mopping up operations on Okinawa, and new landings in the Ryukyus where Marines landed on Kume to establish a radar station.
The US dropped paratroopers near Aparri to link up with the 37th Infantry Division.
The Chinese army took Liuchow airfield.
The United States Army Air Force commenced B-29 raids at night against Japanese oil refineries.
Norma Jeane Dougherty, later known as Marilyn Monroe, appeared as the Yank centerfold.
The title of Generalissimo of the Soviet Union was introduced aand assigned next day assigned to I.V. Stalin, who declined to use it, favoring Marshall.
Junior Sergeant Lydia Spivak (Лидия Спивак), Red Army Traffic Regulator, June 1945. She became locally famous in this role and was tagged the Brandenburg Ballerina or The Mistress of Brandenburg Gate. She would have been 19 or 20 years old at the time and had been in the Red Army since she was 17. She was a Ukrainian, and served in a transportation unit. Like most Red Army soldiers, not that much is known about her in the West and indeed she's often confused with another female Soviet soldier who served in the same role. Having said that, this role did make her into a type of celebrity and she did resurface from time to time, including once in the 1950s when she toured the area in which this video was shot.* She passed away at age 59. This is a truncated interview, and there is more to it. It was impromptu, which is impressive.
US forces took Tuguegarao and Gattaran on Luzon.
Australian forces completed the occupation of the Miro oilfield on Borneo.
The Simla Conference to discuss the future Indian government of India began in Simla, India.
Seán T. O'Kelly became 2nd President of Ireland and Einar Gerhardsen became Prime Minister of Norway.
Footnotes:
*Ms. Spivak by that time was aging rapidly. By the 50s she'd gained a lot of weight and by the time of her sad early death she had aged rapidly by western standards and looked much older than her 59 years. She was undeniably cute and lively in 1945, and in later photographs the liveliness seems undiminished in spite of her aging. She achieved her original goal of becoming a teacher, and in fact became a university professor and married another professor
Spivak is often confused with Maria Limanskaya (Мария Лиманскаяwho) served in the same role in Berlin. She was a Russian and lived to age 100, dying last year, although oddly enough in some ways had a harder post war life, marrying than divorcing her first husband, and raising two children for a time on her own.
A massive military parade marking the defeat of the Germans was held in Moscow.
Japan sent a military delegation to the event.
Today in World War II History—June 24, 1940 & 1945: In a bombing raid, the RAF destroys the infamous bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand, built at great cost by slaves and prisoners of the Japanese.
The Battle of Okinawa ended. It was the last major ground battle of World War Two.
Today in World War II History—June 22, 1940 & 1945: 80 Years Ago—June 22, 1945: Battle for Okinawa officially ends at a high cost—12,520 Americans and 110,000 Japanese were killed, plus 42,000 civilians.
Today in World War II History—June 21, 1940 & 1945: 80 Years Ago—June 21, 1945: US Rangers link with Filipino guerrillas in Aparri, Luzon. US Tenth Army takes Hill 89, the last Japanese stronghold on Okinawa.
Sarah Sundin's blog.
The USS Barry was sunk off of Okinawa by kamikazes.
The Battle of Tarakan ended in an Allied victory on Borneo.
Twelve Polish Home Army officers were convicted of "underground activities" by the USSR.
Hard fighting continues on Okinawa, but 1,000 Japanese troops surrendered.
"A Jap prisoner of war and Pfc. John H, Davis, Rt. #1, Whitwell, Tenn, 7th Reconnaissance, 7th Infantry Division, attempt to reach shore on a surf board to coax Japs still entrenched in a cave to surrender and swim to LCI. The attempt was unsuccessful due to the inability of the prisoner of war to swim. 20 June, 1945."
Australians landed at Lutong in eastern Sarawak, Borneo.
The Australian 26th Infantry Brigade captured Hill 90 on Tarakan Island, ending organized Japanese resistance.
The Polish government in exile denies the right of the Soviets to try Polish ministers who had flown to Moscow and were arrested.
The United Nations agreed to let the General Assembly have the right to discuss "any matters within the scope of the charter".
"Pfc. Alden A. Fisher, Morganton, Ga., fires a bazooka. Pfc. William Miller, Oceanside, Long Island, is the loader. They are firing at a Japanese cave on Okinawa. 19 June, 1945. 77th Infantry Division Photographer: LaGrange."
Troops of the British Commonwealth brought the war back to Thailand, invading it from Burma.
King Leopold III of Belgium refused to abdicate.
The United Nations, meeting in San Francisco, denied Francoist Spain admission to the body.
Gen. Eisenhower received a ticker tape parade in New York City which 4,000,000 people turned out to view.
French politician Marcel Déat, in hiding in Italy, was sentenced to death in absentia for collaborating with the enemy. He would not be captured and died in Italy in 1955.
Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. was killed by Japanese artillery on Okinawa. He was 58 years old, making him one of the older U.S. Generals of the Second World War.
The artillery projectile was of the flat shooting rifle type, and the projectile had actually ricocheted off of a coral reef, and then hit Buckner.
Prior to World War Two, Buckner had principally been involved in the education and training of troops. He had seen overseas duty, however, in the Philippines in 1908.
His father, the senior Simon Bolivar Buckner, had been an American Army officer during the Mexican War, and a Confederate general during the Civil war.
Prime Minister Kantarō Suzuki informed the Japanese Supreme Council of Emperor Hirohito's intention to seek peace with the Allies as soon as possible.
The USS Bonefish was sunk in Toyama Bay.
The Chinese Army took Wenchow.
The Soviets put sixteen officers of the Polish Home Army on trial for fighting the Soviets.
William Joyce, Lord Haw Haw, was put on trial for treason.
The last Japanese defensive line was broken on Kuishi Ridge, Okinawa. The US 7th Division completed the capture of Hills 153 and 115.
"Tec Sgt. Hiroshi Mukaye, Los Angeles, Cal., Japanese Interpreter for the 32nd Infantry Regiment, and S/Sgt. Ralph M. Saito, Ewa, Hawaii, interpreter for the 24th Corps, question this Japanese sailor brought in by the 32nd Infantry Regiment. 17 June. 1945. 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. Photo Source: U.S. National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps Archive." This photograph is remarkable in that S.Sgt Santo has his rank drawn onto his fatigue cap in the same approximate size that later black subdued rank insignia would have it. He also has his rank printed on the lapels of his fatigue shirt, which would anticipate the practice of the 1960s, although not in that location.
The 37th Infantry Division captured Naguilian on Luzon.
"Soldiers of the 32nd Regt., 7th Inf. Div., advancing to Hill 115 against moderate resistance. 16 June, 1945. 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division." Okinawa. Note the infantryman reloading his M1 Garand and the two BARs in the photograph. Both of the BARs have had their bipods removed. One of the automatic rifleman is holding his BAR sideways.
"A flame throwing tank of 96th Division burns out Japs hiding in holes along sunken road on bitterly contested “big apple” ridge, Okinawa. 16 June, 1945."
This was also noted by Sarah Sundin, who also noted an interesting musical item:
Today in World War II History—June 16, 1940 & 1945: 80 Years Ago—June 16, 1945: US Tenth Army takes Yuza-Dake Hill on Okinawa. “Bell Bottom Trousers” becomes final military-themed song to hit US charts in WWII.
Lots of versions of this song were recorded in 1945, and all in close proximity. The one above is the one that hit the charts on this date.
Here's another version, same year.
The song was actually originally a bawdy sailors song, and it had been rewritten by Moe Jaffe for a modern audience in a form that' was recordable. His lyrics went:
Once there was a little girl who lived next to me
And she loved a sailor boy, he was only three
Now he's on a battleship in his sailor suit
Just a great big sailor, but she thinks he's very cute
(With his bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue)
(She loves her sailor and he loves her too)
When her sailor boy's away on the ocean blue
Soldier boys all flirt with her, but to him she's true
Though they smile and tip their caps, and they wink their eyes
She just smiles and shakes her head, then she softly sighs
(Oh, bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue)
(She loves her sailor and he loves her too)
Then her sailor went to sea to see what he could see
She saw that he ate spinach, now he's big as he can be
When he's home they stroll along, they don't give a hoot
She won't let go of his hand, even to salute
If her sailor she can't find on the bounding main
She is hopeful he will soon come home safe again
So they can get married and raise a family
Dress up all their kiddies in sailor's dungarees
(Oh, bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue)
(She loves her sailor and he loves her too)
The song was hugely popular (I can recall my mother singing it), and was recorded five times in 1945. Interestingly, the last recording, in February 1945, by Louis Prima recalled the more bawdy earlier version.
When I was a lady's maid down in Drury Lane
My mistress, she was good to me; my master was the same
Along came a sailor, happy as could be
And he was the cause of all my misery
With his bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue
(She loved her sailor and he loved her too)
He asked me for a candle to light him up to bed
He asked me for a kerchief to tie around his head
And I, like a silly girl, thinking it no harm
Lay down beside him, just to keep him warm
With his bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue
(She loved her sailor and he loved her too)
(Trumpet Solo)
Early in the mornin', before the break of day
A sawbuck note he left for me before he went away
And he wrote a message that if I have a son
Let him be a sailor if he wants to have some fun
With his bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue
(She loved her sailor and he loved her too)
(Saxophone Solo)
LOUIS:
If it is a daughter, bounce her on your knee
And if it is a boy, send the begger out to sea
Singin' bell bottom trousers, coat of navy blue
Oh, he'll climb the riggin', like the sailors used to do
LILYANN:
If my sailor I can't find on the bounding main
I am hopeful he will soon come home safe again
So we can get married, and raise a family
Dress up all our kiddies in sailor's dungarees
The original song was Rosemary Lane, and English song from the early 1800s. It went:
When I was in service in Rosemary Lane
I won the goodwill of my master and did I
Till a sailor came there one night to lay
And that was the beginning of my misery
He called for a candle to light him to bed
And likewise a silk handkerchief to tie up his head
To tie up his head as sailors will do
And he said my pretty Polly will you come too
Now this maid being young and foolish she thought it no harm
For to lie into bed to keep herself warm
And what was done there I will never disclose
But I wish that short night had been seven long years
Next morning this sailor so early arose
And into my apron three guineas did throw
Saying take this I will give and more I will do
If you'll be my Polly wherever I go
Now if it's a boy he will fight for the king
And if it's a girl she will wear a gold ring
She will wear a gold ring and a dress all aflame
And remember my service in Rosemary Lane
When I was in service in Rosemary Lane
I won the goodwill of my master and did I
Till a sailor came there one night to lay
And that was the beginning of my misery
The 10th Mountain Division adopted the song during the war for their own fighting song, and produced these lyrics:
I was a barmaid in a mountain inn;
There I learned the wages and miseries of sin;
Along came a skier fresh from off the slopes;
He’s the one that ruined me and shattered all my hopes.
Singing:
[Chorus:]
Ninety pounds of rucksack
A pound of grub or two
He’ll schuss the mountain,
Like his daddy used to do.
He asked me for a candle to light his way to bed;
He asked me for a kerchief to tie around his head;
And I a foolish maiden, thinking it no harm;
Jumped into the skier’s bed to keep the skier warm..
Singing:
[Chorus]
Early in the morning before the break of day,
He handed me a five note and these words did say,
“Take this my darling for the damage I have done.
You may have a daughter, you may have a son.
Now if you have a daughter, bounce her on your knee;
But if you have a son, send the young man out to ski.”
Singing:
[Chorus]
The moral of this story, as you can plainly see,
Is never trust a skier an inch above your knee.
For I trusted one and now look at me;
I’ve got a bastard in the Mountain Infantry.
Singing:
The USS Twiggs was sunk by a kamikaze attack.
Poster from this date. The impressive thing is how much territory the Japanese were still holding, and tenaciously.
Belgian Premier Achille van Acker and his cabinet resign in protest against the contemplated return of King Leopold III from Germany, where he'd been taken by the Germans at the end of the war.
Today In Wyoming's History: June 16: 1945 Sugar once again allowed, on a restricted basis, for home canning in the US. Attribution: Wyoming State Historical Society.
Belgian Premier Achille van Acker and his cabinet resign in protest against the contemplated return of King Leopold III from Germany, where he'd been taken by the Germans at the end of the war.
Former Hungarian Prime Minister Béla Imrédy was arrested by American troops.
Col. Gen. Nikolai Erastovich Berzarin, commander of the troops in Berlin, died in a motorcycle accident. He was 41.
Denounced radical Communist Greek guerilla leader Aris Velouchiotis committed suicide rather than surrender. He was 39.
