President Truman informed Prime Minister Churchill that the atomic bomb test had been successful in a stating: "Babies satisfactorily born."
Not so coincidently, American interest in Soviet participation in the war against Japan was noticeably lessened.
A fire broke out on the jetty of the Bedford Magazine during the evening causing a chain reaction of fires, explosions, and concussions that continued for more than 24 hours. Fifteen people were killed.
Captured German mines in Italy exploded destroying an American Red Cross club resulting in the death of 36 people.
Aircraft from the USS Wasp attacked Wake Island.
The U.S. Army Air Force, flying out of Okinawa, bombed Kiangwan airfield near Shanghai.
The Brazilian Expeditionary Force parades through Rio de Janeiro marking its return from Italy.
The Belgian senate voted to forbid the return of Leopold III.
The U.S. surface naval raid on the Japanese home islands continued with the bombardment of Muroran, a steel making location. Air Force and Navy air raids also continued.
Australian troops captured Mount Batochampar on Borneo.
Blackout restrictions on London's West End were lifted.
Belgium's King Leopold III again refused to abdicate.
"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.
President Coolidge signed the Federal Arbitration Act into law, allowing contractual facilitation of resolving private disputes through arbitration.
For some reason, I don't see the GOP supporting that today.
Imperial Russia's last Prime Minister Nikolai Golitsyn was arrested by the Soviets. He'd be tried and, of course, executed.
German miners in Dortmund stopped work in sympathy with the victims of the Stein mine explosion and a protest against dangerous mining conditions.
The Belgian airline SABENA (Societé anonyme belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation aérienne) started the air travel between Europe and Central Africa, the first airline to do so.
Cavalrymen of the 3rd Guards Cavalry Corps approaching Allenstein, Prussia, now Olsztyn, Poland. January 22, 1945. A least a few of these horses appear to be panjes, Russian peasant ponies. Allenstein dates back to 1334, when it was founded as a military outpost by the Teutonic Knights. It rebelled against those knights in 1454 and joined the Kingdom of Poland. Nicholas Copernicus, famous scientist and Catholic Deacon, lived there from 1516 to 1521. It became part of the Kingdom of Prussia in 1772 during the First Partition of Poland. Given this, in reality, the post World War Two result simply returned it to what it had originally been, Polish.
The Red Army took Insterburg, Allenstein and Deutsch Eylau in Prussia as well as Gneizo.
The British Army took St. Joost and other towns near Sittard. The US 1st Army attacked all along the front between Houffalize and St. Vith.
Kriegsmarine torpedo boats attacked a convoy north of Dunkirk while other torpedo penetrated into the Thames Estuary.
The British IV Corps took Htilin in Bruma and the Battle of Hill 170 began. The British also took Tilin.
M4 Sherman of the 19th King George's Own Lancers, Burma, 22 January 1945
The Royal Air Force destroyed a liquid oxygen factory in Alblasserdam in a Spitfire raid. The oxygen was used for rockets.
The 1st Corps engaged the Japanese in heavy fighting near Carmen and Rosario on Luzon.
The Red Army captured Gumbinnen, crossed the Warthen and approached Poznań. They also took Tannenberg, the site of a major German victory in World War One, where the Germans had begun demolishing key structures of the Tannenberg Memorial and where they also disinterred the remains of Paul von Hindenburg and his wife ahead of the Red Army's advance.
The U.S. Army took Titiz in the Ardennes.
"Reinforcements for front line duty move through Apach, France. 21 January, 1945. 94th Infantry Division."
The U-1199 was sunk by the Royal Navy off of Sicily.
The British landed on the northern tip of Ramree, Burma.
Roosevelt would be the only US President to be elected to more than two terms, and after him jealous Republicans caused the Constitution to be amended to prevent that reoccurring, which we can now all be grateful for as it will theoretically prevent Donald Trump from trying for a their term, should old age or dementia not remove him from politics before the end of his claimed current term. While still hated by some conservatives, FDR is the last American President who might be regarded as "great", although that status can be debated. He certainly was one of the best Presidents in the nation's history, and his long administration fundamentally altered the country and shaped the post war United States up until, it would seem, today.
Outgoing Vice President Wallace administered the oath to his successor Harry S. Truman, which had been the long standing tradition. It was the last time it would be observed. Wallace was dumped as insiders, including FDR, knew that FDR was on death's door and that the incoming Vice President would become President. Wallace was feared by many because of his very far left views.
The Germans started evacuating East Prussia.
The evacuation of East Prussia would be a major human tragedy, although one that receives very little attention as the Germans brought it upon themselves. The mass migration into the Reich would end centuries of German presence in what is now once again part of Poland.
The Red Army took Prešov, Slovakia.
The Hungarian Provisional Government entered into an armistice with the Allies.
The Allies progressed in the Ardennes and the French 1st Army commenced an offensive in the Vosges region.
The Red Army commenced the Sandomierz–Silesian Offensive and the Vistula–Oder Offensive.
German troops were outnumbered at least 4 to 1 in all classes of equipment.
"A civilian casually picks his way through the rubble - all that remains of the Belgian town of La Roche, entered earlier in the day by Allied troops. 12 January, 1945."
"Double trouble for the Germans comes in the form of twin bazookas mounted on a .50 caliber machine gun mount, which can be completely traversed. Although only two men are shown in the jeep, a third is present to load the projectiles while the unit is in actual operation. L-R: T/5 Louis Gergye, Youngstown, Ohio, and Pvt. William R. Jump, Owenton, Ky. 12 January, 1945. I & R Platoon, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division." This must be a field modification. I've never seen another example of this.
The British 18th Indian Division took bridgeheads over the Irrawaddy. Commandos were landed near Myebon on the mainland between Akyab and Ramree.
Aircraft of the U.S Navy sank 40 Japanese ships in Cam Ranh Bay and most of the ships in a convoy from Qui Nho'n, including the carrier Kashii.