Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian Army, whom a great aunt of mine served with, wrote In Flanders Fields.
Italy officially left the Triple Alliance.
Russian forces retreated from Gorlice.
Australian, New Zealand and British forces withdrew from Baby 700, a hill at Gallipoli after sustaining 1,000 casualties.
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The secret Treaty of London was signed in which Italy agreed to abandon the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austro Hungaria and join the Triple Entente in exchange for Austro Hungarian territory.
Canadians attacked St. Julien again, but were once again forced back.
German colonial forces attacked the South African-held town of Trekkopje in South West Africa but were repulsed by a unit of armored cars equipped with machine guns.
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The Germans used gas in scale for the first time at Ypres. The Allies sustained mass casualties, but Canadians, improvising protection with urine soaked rags, held their ground.
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He made a gallant, 1-man attack against vastly superior enemy forces near Lohe, Germany. His unit, attempting a quick conquest of hostile hill positions that would open the route to Nuremberg before the enemy could organize his defense of that city, was pinned down by brutal fire from rifles, machine pistols, and 2 heavy machine guns. Entirely on his own initiative, Pvt. Merrell began a singlehanded assault. He ran 100 yards through concentrated fire, barely escaping death at each stride, and at point blank range engaged 4 German machine pistolmen with his rifle, killing all of them while their bullets ripped his uniform. As he started forward again, his rifle was smashed by a sniper's bullet, leaving him armed only with 3 grenades. But he did not hesitate. He zigzagged 200 yards through a hail of bullets to within 10 yards of the first machine gun, where he hurled 2 grenades and then rushed the position, ready to fight with his bare hands if necessary. In the emplacement, he seized a Luger pistol and killed the Germans that had survived the grenade blast. Rearmed, he crawled toward the second machine gun located 30 yards away, killing 4 Germans in camouflaged foxholes on the way, but himself receiving a critical wound in the abdomen. And yet he went on, staggering, bleeding, disregarding bullets that tore through the folds of his clothing and glanced off his helmet. He threw his last grenade into the machine gun nest and stumbled on to wipe out the crew. He had completed this self-appointed task when a machine pistol burst killed him instantly. In his spectacular 1-man attack, Pvt. Merrell killed 6 Germans in the first machine gun emplacement, 7 in the next, and an additional 10 infantrymen who were astride his path to the weapons that would have decimated his unit had he not assumed the burden of the assault and stormed the enemy positions with utter fearlessness, intrepidity of the highest order, and a willingness to sacrifice his own life so that his comrades could go on to victory.
27 year old Cpl. Edward G. Wilkin performed the actions that would result in his being awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor.
He spearheaded his unit's assault of the Siegfried Line in Germany. Heavy fire from enemy riflemen and camouflaged pillboxes had pinned down his comrades when he moved forward on his own initiative to reconnoiter a route of advance. He cleared the way into an area studded with pillboxes, where he repeatedly stood up and walked into vicious enemy fire, storming 1 fortification after another with automatic rifle fire and grenades, killing enemy troops, taking prisoners as the enemy defense became confused, and encouraging his comrades by his heroic example. When halted by heavy barbed wire entanglements, he secured bangalore torpedoes and blasted a path toward still more pillboxes, all the time braving bursting grenades and mortar shells and direct rifle and automatic-weapons fire. He engaged in fierce fire fights, standing in the open while his adversaries fought from the protection of concrete emplacements, and on 1 occasion pursued enemy soldiers across an open field and through interlocking trenches, disregarding the crossfire from 2 pillboxes until he had penetrated the formidable line 200 yards in advance of any American element. That night, although terribly fatigued, he refused to rest and insisted on distributing rations and supplies to his comrades. Hearing that a nearby company was suffering heavy casualties, he secured permission to guide litter bearers and assist them in evacuating the wounded. All that night he remained in the battle area on his mercy missions, and for the following 2 days he continued to remove casualties, venturing into enemy-held territory, scorning cover and braving devastating mortar and artillery bombardments. In 3 days he neutralized and captured 6 pillboxes single-handedly, killed at least 9 Germans, wounded 13, took 13 prisoners, aided in the capture of 14 others, and saved many American lives by his fearless performance as a litter bearer. Through his superb fighting skill, dauntless courage, and gallant, inspiring actions, Cpl. Wilkin contributed in large measure to his company's success in cracking the Siegfried Line. One month later he was killed in action while fighting deep in Germany.
The First Canadian Army captured the eastern end of the IJsselmeer causeway, trapping German forces in the western Netherlands.
5,000 concentration camp prisoners were loaded aboard the immobilized ocean liner Cap Arcona in the Baltic.
Waffen-SS General Karl Wolff met with Adolf Hitler and disclosed his negotiations with the Allies.
Hitler told him to get better terms.
German Gen. Hans Källner was killed in action in Czechoslovakia.
Mussolini, with mistress Clara Petacci in tow, went to Milan to establish his government there.
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The Zhukov-Konev Race to Berlin began.
The British 11th Armored Division liberated Bergen-Belsen under an April 12 agreement to allow the Germans to surrender the camp without resistance.
The 1st Canadian Army captured Arnhem.
A Japanese air raid destroyed many US aircraft on the ground on Okinawa.
Task Force 58 launched fighter sweeps over Kyushu, shooting down 29 Japanese aircraft and destroying 59 on the ground.
Franklin Roosevelt was interred at Hyde Park.
The F-82 Twin Mustang had its first flight.
The U-285, U-1063 and U-1235 were sunk by Allied warships in the North Atlantic.
Joachim Albrecht Eggeling,age 60, German Nazi Gauleiter committed suicide, something that was becoming something of an epidemic amongst Nazi officials.
Gen. Friedrich von Rabenau, age 60, former German officer and Lutheran pastor was executed at Flossenbürg concentration camp for his minor role in the July 20 plot. He had been retired due to his Christian beliefs in 1942.
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Operation Varsity, part of Operation Plunder, saw British, Canadian and American airborne troops drop around Wesel, Germany.
Little remembered, and sometimes criticized, the successful operation remains the largest airborne operation ever conducted on a single day and in one location. Much of the criticism has been based on the operation perhaps being unnecessary, but it's notable that by the end of this day, Montgomery's forces of Operation Plunder, which included American, British and Canadian troops, had established a bridgehead over the Rhine five miles deep.
German troops in Hungary were retreating in disorder.
The Red Army took Spolot on the Baltic coast between Gdynia and Danzig.
Task Force 58 raided Okinawa.
The Allied Chinese New 1st Army links up with the Chinese 50th Division near Hsipaw, bringing the campaign in northern Burma to an end.
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Civil administration of the Philippines was handed over to President Sergio Osmeña.
Lebanon declared war on the Axis.
The U-327 and U-1018 were sunk by the Royal Navy.
Sgt. Ross F. Gray won a posthumous Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima. His citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Acting Platoon Sergeant serving with Company A, First Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines, Fourth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, February 21, 1945. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation when his platoon was held up by a sudden barrage of hostile grenades while advancing toward the high ground northeast of Airfield Number One, Sergeant Gray promptly organized the withdrawal of his men from enemy grenade range, quickly moved forward alone to reconnoiter and discovered a heavily mined area extending along the front of a strong network of emplacements joined by covered communication trenches. Although assailed by furious gunfire, he cleared a path leading through the mine field to one of the fortifications then returned to the platoon position and, informing his leader of the serious situation, volunteered to initiate an attack while being covered by three fellow Marines. Alone and unarmed but carrying a twenty-four pound satchel charge, he crept up the Japanese emplacement, boldly hurled the short-fused explosive and sealed the entrance. Instantly taken under machine-gun fire from a second entrance to the same position, he unhesitatingly braved the increasingly vicious fusillades to crawl back for another charge, returned to his objective and blasted the second opening, thereby demolishing the position. Repeatedly covering the ground between the savagely defended enemy fortifications and his platoon area, he systematically approached, attacked and withdrew under blanketing fire to destroy a total of six Japanese positions, more than twenty-five of the enemy and a quantity of vital ordnance gear and ammunition. Stouthearted and indomitable, Sergeant Gray had single-handedly overcome a strong enemy garrison and had completely disarmed a large mine field before finally rejoining his unit and, by his great personal valor, daring tactics and tenacious perseverance in the face of extreme peril, had contributed materially to the fulfillment of his company's mission. His gallant conduct throughout enhanced and sustained the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Gunnery Sergeant William G. Walsh likewise won a Medal of Honor:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Leader of an Assault Platoon, serving with Company G, Third Battalion, Twenty-seventh Marines, Fifth Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 27 February 1945. With the advance of his company toward Hill 362 disrupted by vicious machine-gun fire from a forward position which guarded the approaches to this key enemy stronghold, Gunnery Sergeant Walsh fearlessly charged at the head of his platoon against the Japanese entrenched on the ridge above him, utterly oblivious to the unrelenting fury of hostile automatic weapons and hand grenades employed with fanatic desperation to smash his daring assault. Thrown back by the enemy's savage resistance, he once again led his men in a seemingly impossible attack up the steep, rocky slope, boldly defiant of the annihilating streams of bullets which saturated the area, and despite his own casualty losses and the overwhelming advantage held by the Japanese in superior numbers and dominate position, gained the ridge's top only to be subjected to an intense barrage of hand grenades thrown by the remaining Japanese staging a suicidal last stand on the reverse slope. When one of the grenades fell in the midst of his surviving men, huddled together in a small trench, Gunnery Sergeant Walsh in a final valiant act of complete self-sacrifice, instantly threw himself upon the deadly bomb, absorbing with his own body the full and terrific force of the explosion. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of almost certain death, he saved his comrades from injury and possible loss of life and enabled his company to seize and hold this vital enemy position. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
The British 21st Army Group took Udem and Calcar.
The Red Army entered Pomerania.
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The final day of the Yalta Conference occurred.
It's interesting to note how many things in World War Two that outright failures or downright evil (I'd categorize this as a failure) took place or started on a Sunday. People should have observed it as a day of rest.
The key results of Yalta were:
The US, UK, and USSR agreed that Germany would surrender unconditionally. Germany would be divided into four occupation zones, each controlled by the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, although France was added later. Berlin would be likewise divided into four occupation zones, each controlled by one of the Allied powers. Free elections in Poland and other liberated areas, outside of Germany. Germany would undergo demilitarization and denazification. The Allies would establish the United Nations. Nazi's accused of humanitarian and war crimes would be put on trial. The USSR would declare war against Japan.
It's easy, I suppose, to be harsh on Yalta without appreciating that at the time it appeared the Soviets were on the verge of taking most of the Soviet Union, something that in fact would not happen. The occupation zones made sense.
Poland and the territories in the east, outside of Austria, never had free elections. The UN was established but after the Korean War it never lived up to expectations, which doesn't mean it wasn't worthwhile. It was, and is. The USSR did declare war on Japan, but by the time it would did, its help wasn't needed and it made the post war world worse.
Operation Veritable ended in an Allied Victory with the Canadian Army taking Kleve.
The U-869 was sunk by the USS Howard D. Crow and USS Koiner.
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The Red Army launched the Lower Silesian Offensive (Нижне-Силезская наступательная операция)
He commanded a 9-man squad with the mission of holding a critical flank position. When overwhelming numbers of the enemy attacked under cover of withering artillery, mortar, and rocket fire, he withdrew his squad into a nearby house, determined to defend it to the last man. The enemy attacked again and again and were repulsed with heavy losses. Supported by direct tank fire, they finally gained entrance, but the intrepid sergeant refused to surrender although 5 of his men were wounded and 1 was killed. He boldly flung a can of flaming oil at the first wave of attackers, dispersing them, and fought doggedly from room to room, closing with the enemy in fierce hand-to-hand encounters. He hurled handgrenade for handgrenade, bayoneted 2 fanatical Germans who rushed a doorway he was defending and fought on with the enemy's weapons when his own ammunition was expended. The savage fight raged for 4 hours, and finally, when only 3 men of the defending squad were left unwounded, the enemy surrendered. Twenty-five prisoners were taken, 11 enemy dead and a great number of wounded were counted. Sgt. Turner's valiant stand will live on as a constant inspiration to his comrades. His heroic, inspiring leadership, his determination and courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest tradition of the military service.
2/8 After the noon meeting of {Tel. to Dept re Assoc. Ns}For Sees, Jebb, Gromyko & A Hmet as committee to discuss Un NsConference procedure. A. H. ex- 2/8Plenary4.30 p mplain ed State Dept views but said Pres.had not approved. After lunch beforeplenary session ERS cleared all with Pres.& A H told Gromyko & sent word to JebbPres called on Eden to report for For MinsEd: We met to consider etc. & read his reportre place Ed. repeated his statement of this morning that next meeting of For Mins be held in Lon & that seemed to meet with a measure of approvalEd: Reason for saying those who are members now should be invited was to prevent nations from becoming Un Ns Just to be invited Understands Am. Del. has different viewSt: I have the list of states which declared war on Ger I count this no. into official members of the Ass. Among these are 10 which [Page 783]have no dip. rels with S. U. We will together with them build up world security——Pres: I think many of them will be glad to recog & est. dip. rels with S U. Haven’t got round to it yet. In few is very strong Cath. Church influence At same time we recognize most of these who have not exch. dip. rels with Sov Un. have sat with Sov Un at Bretton Woods & other dip. conferences held.St.: That’s right but on other hand is very diff. build up world sec. with countries which don’t recog. Sov UnPres: Easiest way to est. complete dip rels. is to invite them. That involves matter of history which should be explained. 3 yrs. ago Actg Sec State Welles told number of these states not nec. to declare on Ger. but should break all rels. So there are 5 or 6 of these which expect to be invited—& are in good standing Sec. of State has embarrassed me further by bringing this to my attention 1 month ago. As a result I sent a letter to the 6 pres. of these 6 reps explaining that if they wanted to be invited they should declare war on either Japan or Ger. Ecuador has declared war but hasn’t had chance sign Un Ns decl. Paraguay will soon. Peru, Venezuela etc (not Chile, soon) Will be embarrassing if not invited. In meantime in past 4 yrs. all of these nations have helped us in waging war because large part of raw materials for munitions of war came from them.Result is I’m in a somewhat diff. positionSt: Not discussed todayPres: We have phrase Associated Ns meaning nations which have broken rels but haven’t declared war.The list of nations which Mr Stett gave to Mr Molotov at lunch todaySt. asked about ArgentinePres: Not an assoc. nationSt: If “associates” come in that would include Argentina. Would include TurkeyPres. My idea & it would save my life would be to invite those who have are on the list who have helped us on condition that they declare war.St: Before or after they declare warPres: Before, put a time limit, say 1st of MarchSt: AgreedChurch: I am glad to say these nations would be required to declare war before they would be invited to the Conf. Of course I feel like Marshall St that some of them have played a poor part, waiting to see who would win. Now it’s quite safe they would like to come in Will have depressing effect on Ger to realize another batch has come in. [Page 784]Might also have effect on other hostile belligerents to see how whole world is turning ag. themPres: I should like to add one name to list for sake of clarity—newest rep. in world IcelandChurch: re Eg. HMG feel special resp. On 2 occasions were willing to declare war It was more convenient to us to have them stay formally neutralPres: In other words you’re in same fix I’m inChurch Also I must say on behalf of Eg that when enemy was only 30 miles from capital Egyptian Army rendered service, guarded bridges, communs & generally was more helpful than if she had declared war & made Cairo subject to air bombardment ∴Feel if Eg. now feels she wanted to declare war she should have the opportunityIceland also rendered very val. services. At a time when the U. S. had not herself had entered the war she admitted Brit & US troops, violated her neutrality in a marked fashion & guarded a life line across the Atlantic. I think those two have certainly a case provided they declare warIs it intended any nation which declares war.Pres: no, only the Assoc Ns(Italy, Ireland—no)Church: I shall mention a name which I think will cause universal satisfaction—Turkey T. made an alliance with us before the war at a very dangerous time. But when the war broke out, after it had been going on little while, T’s found their army was not equipped with any of weapons that decide modern battles. But att. has been friendly although they would not take the opportunity which was offered to us yr. agoSt. says all right if by end of Feb. It will declare warGer. is not yet defeated war & war hardly will terminate by end of Feb.Pres: One other case—curious case.Den.2 was invaded. Has been under Ger. domination sinceOnly one man claimed to represent Den. was the the Dan. Min. in Wash. He could not declare war but he disowned acts of his own govtWould be with us 100% if they couldChurch: Have they agreed to the independence of Iceland?I do not think it is of very great importance. I think Mar & Pres are quite right in letting any one come to the party who declares war by end of month[Page 785]St & Denmark could waitPres YesChurch: She would have a perfect right to come if she is able to speakPres Amend Un Ns & also those of assoc. powers & T. who declare war by Mar 1Church All who declare warEd. Un Ns as they exist on the 1st of Mar.Church:Pres Ger. or JapanCommon enemyMol Would it not facilitate position of Sov. Reps if they would sign Decl. of Un Ns before 1st of Mar.Pres I think its easier to take the list we’ve got. San Marino & Andorra might sign, nations like thatChurch. What is the positionSt: But T is not fightingPres: read list of Assoc. Ns & T only if they declare warMol: If Uk & Byelo-R sign decl before 1st of Mar.Pres. That had been settled in this formula We are prepared to support them.St. I propose to name the Reps, which would be invited: Uk & Byelo-R. To call them by name in this protocol and secondly I propose that they should sign the Decl of Un Ns before 1st of Mar. Change the protocolChurch Delay invitations to two states of Sov. Un till we are all met If so many new ones are to be brought in now be confusingSt: I have point out that’s not quite logical. 3 great powers agree to seat White R & Uk But some might say they haven’t signedChurch: Two R states should be treated same as other late arrivalsSt. I wouldn’t like to embarrass Pres. What is his difficulty. I might withdraw my proposalPres: Only technical. We have been discussing admitting other people. Uk & Wh R are not other people they are here already. We & UK will support it. We change SU from 1 vote to 3 right here. Why 3, why not 4, 5, 6?St. Withdrew his request. But names of the two republics should be in the reportPoland
The Alaskan Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945 passed thanks to the efforts of Tlingit Elizabeth Peratrovich.
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