Wednesday, November 15, 1944. Early war movie released late in the war.

"Pvt. Zeb Turner, Bridgeport, Conn., adjusting the pack of Pvt. Robert [illegible]. Dunlap, Iowa, as infantrymen replacements prepare to leave for the front. Nancy, France, 15 November, 1944."  Note that these troops are still wearing leggings.  Also, the supposed private has a horizontal stripe on the front of his helmet.  This is the first time I've ever seen that.  The same on the back of his helmet would indicate he was an NCO.

The Fifth Army captured Modigliana, Italy.

Soviet forces took Jasbereny, Hungary.

The Japanese landing craft depot ship Akitsu Maru was sun by the USS Queenfish in the Korea Strait.  2,000 went down with her.

The 2nd Battalion, 167th Infantry Regiment landed at Pegun Island in the Mapia islands.

Project Hermes, a U.S. Army Ordinance Corps rocket research program, commenced.

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo was released.

Last edition:

Tuesday, November 14, 1944. The death of Leigh-Mallory.

Labels: 1910s, 1940s, 1944, German Resistance Movements, Imperial Japanese Navy, July 20 Plot, Personalities, Royal Air Force, Russia, Russian Liberation Army, U.S. Navy, USSR, World War One, World War Two

Today in World War II History—November 15, 1939 & 1944

Today in World War II History—November 15, 1939 & 1944: 85 Years Ago: Pres. Franklin Roosevelt lays cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial. 80 Years Ago: US Eighth Army, in its first assault, lands on Mapia Islands.

Wednesday, October 4, 1944. Scorched Earth.

"Scene in a kitchen of a typical Russian family. These people are among the many who have been recently liberated by rapid Allied advances at the newly established Displaced Persons Center at Briey, France.  4 October, 1944."   There's obviously more to this story than what the caption provides.

Operation Nordlicht began in Finland by the German Army.  It was a planned withdrawal using scorched earth tactics, with the final line to be in  Lyngen Municipality in Troms county, Norway.

"This photo shows a GI relaying fire data for artillery back from forward observation post near Havert, Germany. 4 October, 1944. 29th Infantry Division."

The Battle of Morotai more or less ended, with the ending being an Allied victory.  Some fighting would continue to the end of the war.

Moscow asked for permission for the Red Army to enter Bulgaria.

The Serbian collaborationist government was dissolved.

Today in World War II History—October 4, 1944:British paratroopers land at Patras, Greece, and on Crete and Aegean islands.

The U-92, U-228 and U-437 were rendered inoperable by an RAF raid on Bergen.

Famous Democratic politician Al Smith died at age 70, five months after the death of his wife.

Last edition:

Tuesday, October 3, 1944. Breaking the Siegfried Line.

Labels: 1940s, 1944, Animals, Battle of Aachen, boats and ships, Dogs, Estonia, Finland, Finnish Army, Italian partisans, Italian Social Republic, Italy, Lapland War, Netherlands, Royal Air Force, World War Two

Friday, September 15, 1944. Landing at Peleliu.

 

US forces invaded Peleliu.  Initial troops were from the 1st Marine Division, which would later be joined by the Army's 81st Infantry Division for the hard fought battle.  The landing on the island was in order to seize its airfields for the invasion of the Philippines.

The landings were bizarrely named Operation Stalemate II.

 Corporal William R. Scott, and Prince Doberman. Peleliu. 15 September, 1944.

American and Australian forces landed at Morotai near New Guinea.  The Battle of Morotai would go on until the end of the war.

The Battle of Gemmano in Italy ended in an Allied victory.

The Lapland War between Germany and Finland commenced when the Kriegsmarine attempted to take the island of Suursaari in order to secure the shipping routes in the Gulf of Finland.  Up until that time the German withdrawal from Finland had been going peacefully, although it was deteriorating as the Germans destroyed things on their way out.  The attempted German landing was resisted and the Finns withdrew their shipping from German evacuation efforts, although evacuation from Lapland to Norway, guaranteed by a secret agreement between the countries, continued peacefully at first.

The failed landings at Suursaari were an attempt to secure the island out of a fear the Soviets would.

Pvt. Stanley J. Zielonka fires an automatic rifle at a hidden sniper in Harze, Belgium. 15 September, 1944. 9th Infantry Division.  Like almost all BAR gunners, Pvt. Zielonka has removed the bipod and flash hinder from his BAR.  The unnamed soldier with a Thompson submachinegun has a short belt of machinegun ammunition around his neck.  The other two soldiers are armed with M1 carbines.  The one in front has a combat knife strapped to his lower leg.

The French Provisional Government issued arrest warrants for Philippe Pétain and his cabinet.

The Great Atlantic Hurricane made landfall on Long Island and Rhode Island.

Last edition:

Thursday, September 14, 1944. Dragoon concludes. More SOE agents executed. The toll of the 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane increases.

Labels: 1940s, 1944, 1944 Great Atlantic Hurricane, Baltic Offensive, boats and ships, Buchenwald, Canadian Army, France, Hungarian Army, Operation Dragoon, Red Army, Romanian Army, SOE, Weather, World War Two