Germans and Bedouins fought for perhaps the first time in World War One when a party of stranded German marines from the SMS Emden was ambushed while being escorted to Jeddah.
German medicts with wounded man in Belgium, March 30, 1915.
Last edition:
Showing posts with label German Kriegsmarine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label German Kriegsmarine. Show all posts
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Friday, March 28, 2025
Sunday, March 28, 1915. The first lost American.
The British registered Falaba was sunk by the U-28 in St. George's Channel with American citizen Leon Thrasher on board, leading to a diplomatic crisis.
Thrasher was the first American killed in World War One.
The British ferry Brussels tried to ram the German submarine U-33 after it tried to stop and board her. The submarine had to dive to evade being hit. Submarines were being treated as criminal vessels by the British due to unrestricted submarine warfare.
Last edition:
Friday. March 26, 1915. A view of Alsace.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Tuesday, March 27, 1945. The last rockets.
The Germans fired their last V-2 rockets killing 200 civilians in England and Belgium.
The US captured Cebu City.
Argentina declared war on the Axis, after having been sympathetic to it for much of the war.
The Royal Navy sank the U-722.
"Elements of the 9th Armored Division, 1st U.S. Army, roll through the streets of Limburg, Germany. 27 March, 1945. 73rd Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 9th Armored Division. Photographer: T/4 W. D. MacDonald, 167th Signal Photo Co.
Last edition:
Monday, March 26, 1945. Last action at Iwo Jima.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Monday, March 26, 1945. Last action at Iwo Jima.
The Battle of Iwo Jima officially ended in a U.S. victory following a final Japanese suicide attack. Japanese commander Tadamichi Kuribayashi is believed to have died on or around this date, probably killed in action. Some Japanese holdouts would fight on beyond this date.
.jpg)
The Battle for Cebu City began in the Philippines.
The USS Halligan was irreparably damaged by a mine off of Okinawa.
The U-399 was sunk off of Land's End by the HMS Duckworth.
Last edition:
Sunday, March 25, 1945. Crossing the Rhine.
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Monday, March 19, 1945. The Nero Decree.
Hitler issued the Nero Decree, which stated:
I. Hitler’s Order of March 19, 1945
RE: Destruction Measures within Reich Territory
Our nation’s struggle for existence forces us to utilize all means, even within Reich territory, to weaken the fighting power of our enemy and to prevent further advances. Any opportunity to inflict lasting damage on the striking power of the enemy must be taken advantage of. It is a mistake to believe that undestroyed or only temporarily paralyzed traffic, communications, industrial, and supply installations will be useful to us again after the recapture of lost territories. During his retreat, the enemy will leave behind only scorched earth and will abandon all concern for the population.
I therefore command
1. All military traffic, communications, industrial and supply installations as well as objects within Reich territory that might be used by the enemy in the continuation of his fight, either now or later, are to be destroyed.
2. It is the responsibility of the military command posts to execute this order to destroy all military objects, including traffic and communications installations.
The Gauleiters and Commissioners for Reich Defense are responsible for destroying the industrial and supply installations, as well as of other objects of valuable; the troops must give the Gauleiters and Commissioners for Reich Defense the assistance they need to carry out this task.
3. This command is to be transmitted to all troop commanders as promptly as possible; orders to the contrary are null and void.
Adolf Hitler
Albert Speer and various officers of the Wehrmacht conspired against its implementation.
Ostensibly a war measure, at this point in the war Hitler was lashing out against the German people themselves, whom he was punishing for, in his mind, having failed him by losing the war, something he now clearly knew had occurred.
Also at this point, internal German attitudes were rapidly changing. While still fighting in the field, German troops were now surrendering in large numbers to the Western Allies, rather than die in the final weeks of the war. German commanders, including some in the SS, were seeking to make back deals with the Western Allies, unsuccessfully, and without Hitler's knowledge. Some were preparing for their own post war futures. Members of the German government and military were starting to conspire to save what they could.
Again, there's a lesson here. Hitler was a populist politician who had risen to power backed by lies. His policies inevitably lead Germany to shame and ruin. Rather than resign when things turned bad, he hung on, supported by fanatic supporters, and in the end sought to destroy the very country he claimed to represent.
All U-boats in the Baltic were transferred to the west.
The British Indian Army took Mandalay.
The USS Franklin was hit by kamikazes and badly damaged.
724 men were killed and 265 wounded. Captain Gehres regarded those who had jumped into the sea during the event as having acted improperly, leading to post incident tension and ultimately his relief. She'd return to service and was ultimately stricken in 1964.
The Soviet Union notified Turkey that their non aggression pact would not be renewed after it expired in November. It demanded territorial concessions from Turkey, which Turkey rejected.
Last edition:
Sunday, March 18, 1945 Landings in the Philippines, the largest air attack on Berlin.
Monday, March 17, 2025
Saturday, March 17, 1945. The Ludendorff Bridge collapse.
The weakened The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen collapsed. Twenty five U.S. Army engineers were killed in the event.
By this time, however, the US had already constructed more than one alternative bridges at the location.
"U.S. Seventh Army infantrymen move past a destroyer barrier made of steel rails in the Altheim Area, Germany, as they press new 7th Army attack. 17 March, 1945. 3rd Infantry Division. Photographer: T/5 Joseph A. Bowen, 163rd Signal Photo Co."
The Kriegsmarine completed the evacuation of 75,000 civilians and soldiers from the Kolberg pocket.
Kobe was firebombed.
Last edition:
Friday, March 16, 1945. Luzon Language Edition.
Labels: 1940s, 1945, actors and actresses, boats and ships, Germany, Philippines, Tagalog, The Press, Women, World War Two
Friday, March 14, 2025
Wednesday, March 14, 1945. Large bombs.
"Mortar team of the 99th Infantry Division, U.S. First Army, prepares to fire 81mm mortar shell to halt advance of enemy patrol in woods between American-held Ariendorf, and Germany-held Honningen.
14 March, 1945. Company M, 394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division."
The Red Army took Zvolen, Czechoslovakia.
Army Group South committed its reserves in Hungary.
The RAF used a 22,000 lbs bomb, the largest conventional bomb of the war, for the first time on a raid on the Bielfeld viaduct.
The U-714 and U-1021 were sunk by British and South African surface ships, and a mine, respectively.
Last edition:
Tuesday, March 13, 1945. The road to Mandalay.
Sunday, March 14, 1915. Planning on the future of Constantinople.
The Royal Navy forced the German light cruiser SMS Dresden to scuttle, ending the German East Asia Squadron.
The UK, France and the Russian Empire agreed to give Constantinople and the Bosporus to Russia in the event of victory.
Last edition:
Saturday, March 13, 1915. Worries over Japan.
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Friday, March 2, 1945. Advances.
"Pvt. Robert E. Hammond, Osceola Mills, Pa., directs artillery fire on Modrath, Germany, in support of an infantry regiment's drive to take the town. The observation post is in Kerpen, 1½ miles west. 2 March, 1945. 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division." When I did this same job, I used a binocular BS Scope. This scope is basically what target shooters use now.
The 9th Army took Neuss, Roermond and Venlo.
The 3d Army took Trier.
"Soldiers of the 8th Armored Division rest along the roadside, during the drive toward the Rhine River. U.S. Ninth Army. 2 March, 1945. [Illegible], Germany. 8th Armored Division. Photographer: Tesser." Note that the solider is taking a photograph with a 120mm camera'.
The U.S. Navy bombarded the Rhyku Islands, vis naval artillery and airstrikes, for 48 hours.
Marines on Iwo Jima, March 2, 1945.
The U-3519 was sunk by a mine.
Last edition:
March 1, 1945. Iran declares war on Japan.
Labels: 1940s, 1945, Armor, Army, Eastern Front, Franklin Roosevelt, German Wehrmacht, Iran, Japan, Weapons, World War Two, Yalta Conference
Friday, February 14, 2025
Wednesday, February 14, 1945. A great President and a great king, meet.
President Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud on the USS Quincy.
Memorandum of Conversation Between the King of Saudi Arabia (Abdul Aziz Al Saud) and President Roosevelt, February 14, 1945, Aboard the U.S.S. “Quincy”
February 14, 1945
I
The President asked His Majesty for his advice regarding the problem of Jewish refugees driven from their homes in Europe.6 His Majesty replied that in his opinion the Jews should return to live in the lands from which they were driven. The Jews whose homes were completely destroyed and who have no chance of livelihood in their homelands should be given living space in the Axis countries which oppressed them. The President remarked that Poland might be considered a case in point. The Germans appear to have killed three million Polish Jews, by which count there should be space in Poland for the resettlement of many homeless Jews.
His “Majesty then expounded the case of the Arabs and their legitimate rights in their lands and stated that the Arabs and the Jews could never cooperate, neither in Palestine,7 nor in any other country. His Majesty called attention to the increasing threat to the existence of the Arabs and the crisis which has resulted from continued Jewish immigration and the purchase of land by the Jews. His Majesty further stated that the Arabs would choose to die rather than yield their lands to the Jews.
His Majesty stated that the hope of the Arabs is based upon the word of honor of the Allies and upon the well-known love of justice of the United States, and upon the expectation that the United States will support them.
The President replied that he wished to assure His Majesty that he would do nothing to assist the Jews against the Arabs and would make no move hostile to the Arab people. He reminded His Majesty [Page 3]that it is impossible to prevent speeches and resolutions in Congress or in the press which may be made on any subject. His reassurance concerned his own future policy as Chief Executive of the United States Government.
His Majesty thanked the President for his statement and mentioned the proposal to send an Arab mission to America and England to expound the case of the Arabs and Palestine. The President stated that he thought this was a very good idea because he thought many people in America and England are misinformed. His Majesty said that such a mission to inform the people was useful, but more important to him was what the President had just told him concerning his own policy toward the Arab people.
II
His Majesty stated that the problem of Syria and the Lebanon8 was of deep concern to him and he asked the President what would be the attitude of the United States Government in the event that France should continue to press intolerable demands upon Syria and the Lebanon. The President replied that the French Government had given him in writing their guarantee of the independence of Syria and the Lebanon and that he could at any time write to the French Government to insist that they honor their word. In the event that the French should thwart the independence of Syria and the Lebanon, the United States Government would give to Syria and the Lebanon all possible support short of the use of force.
III
The President spoke of his great interest in farming, stating that he himself was a farmer. He emphasized the need for developing water resources, to increase the land under cultivation as well as to turn the wheels which do the country’s work. He expressed special interest in irrigation, tree planting and water power which he hoped would be developed after the war in many countries, including the Arab lands. Stating that he liked Arabs, he reminded His Majesty that to increase land under cultivation would decrease the desert and provide living for a larger population of Arabs. His Majesty thanked the President for promoting agriculture so vigorously, but said that he himself could not engage with any enthusiasm in the development of his country’s agriculture and public works if this prosperity would be inherited by the Jews.
The raid on Dresden concluded with a nighttime raid by the RAF.
The USAAF bombed Prague. The raid killed 701 people, destroyed houses and historical sites, in a country that was a victim of Nazi oppression. This was attributed to a navigational error.
The Red Army liberated the Gross-Rosen concentration camp.
The U-989 was sunk by the Royal Navy.
Last edition:
Tuesday, February 13, 1945. Dresden.
Labels: 1940s, 1945, Allied Air Campaigns, Battle of Manila, Manila Philippines, Nazi Germany, Philippines, Royal Air Force, Siege of Budapest, The bombing of Dresden, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, War Crimes, Weapons
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Sunday, February 11, 1945. Yalta winds up.
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.
Last edition:
Saturday, February 10, 1945. German defenses.
Sunday, February 9, 2025
Friday, February 9, 1945. Black Friday. Heroes and victims in the Philippines.
A force of Bristol Beaufighters attempted an attack on the German destroyer Z33 and its escorting vessels in Førde Fjord, Norway. The position was heavily defended and the raid a failure with heavy losses, resulting in the event being termed Black Friday.
The Australians prevailed at the Battle of Tsimba Ridge on Bougainville. . . yes that was still going on.
Cleto Rodriguez performed the actions that resulted in his being awarded the Medal of Honor.
He was an automatic rifleman when his unit attacked the strongly defended Paco Railroad Station during the battle for Manila, Philippines. While making a frontal assault across an open field; his platoon was halted 100 yards from the station by intense enemy fire.On his own initiative, he left the platoon, accompanied by a comrade, and continued forward to a house 60 yards from the objective. Although under constant enemy observation, the 2 men remained in this position for an hour; firing at targets of opportunity, killing more than 35 hostile soldiers and wounding many more.Moving closer to the station and discovering a group of Japanese replacements attempting to reach pillboxes, they opened heavy fire, killed more than 40 and stopped all subsequent attempts to man the emplacements. Enemy fire became more intense as they advanced to within 20 yards of the station.Then, covered by his companion, Pvt. Rodríguez boldly moved up to the building and threw 5 grenades through a doorway killing 7 Japanese, destroying a 20-mm. gun and wrecking a heavy machinegun. With their ammunition running low, the 2 men started to return to the American lines, alternately providing covering fire for each other's withdrawal.. In 2+1⁄2 hours of fierce fighting the intrepid team killed more than 82 Japanese, completely disorganized their defense, and paved the way for the subsequent overwhelming defeat of the enemy at this strongpoint.Two days later, Pvt. Rodriguez again enabled his comrades to advance when he singlehandedly killed six Japanese and destroyed a well-placed 20-mm gun. By his outstanding skill with his weapon, gallant determination to destroy the enemy, and heroic courage in the face of tremendous odds, Pvt. Rodriguez, on two occasions, materially aided the advance of our troops in Manila.
Rodriguez had lost both of his parents when he was only nine years old, and had been raised by relatives. He went on after the war to serve first in the Air Force and then again in the Army, retiring in 1970. He passed away in 1990 at age 67.
John N. Reese, Jr. also was conveyed a Medal of Honor for his actions on this day, in the same theater, but his was a posthumous award.
He was engaged in the attack on the Paco Railroad Station, which was strongly defended by 300 determined enemy soldiers with machineguns and rifles, supported by several pillboxes, 3 20mm. guns, 1 37-mm. gun and heavy mortars. While making a frontal assault across an open field, his platoon was halted 100 yards from the station by intense enemy fire. On his own initiative he left the platoon, accompanied by a comrade, and continued forward to a house 60 yards from the objective. Although under constant enemy observation, the 2 men remained in this position for an hour, firing at targets of opportunity, killing more than 35 Japanese and wounding many more. Moving closer to the station and discovering a group of Japanese replacements attempting to reach pillboxes, they opened heavy fire, killed more than 40 and stopped all subsequent attempts to man the emplacements. Enemy fire became more intense as they advanced to within 20 yards of the station. From that point Pfc. Reese provided effective covering fire and courageously drew enemy fire to himself while his companion killed 7 Japanese and destroyed a 20-mm. gun and heavy machinegun with handgrenades. With their ammunition running low, the 2 men started to return to the American lines, alternately providing covering fire for each other as they withdrew. During this movement, Pfc. Reese was killed by enemy fire as he reloaded his rifle. The intrepid team, in 2½ hours of fierce fighting, killed more than 82 Japanese, completely disorganized their defense and paved the way for subsequent complete defeat of the enemy at this strong point. By his gallant determination in the face of tremendous odds, aggressive fighting spirit, and extreme heroism at the cost of his life, Pfc. Reese materially aided the advance of our troops in Manila and providing a lasting inspiration to all those with whom he served.
Likewise, Joseph J. Cicchetti received the same posthumous award for action in the same theater.
He was with troops assaulting the first important line of enemy defenses. The Japanese had converted the partially destroyed Manila Gas Works and adjacent buildings into a formidable system of mutually supporting strongpoints from which they were concentrating machinegun, mortar, and heavy artillery fire on the American forces. Casualties rapidly mounted, and the medical aid men, finding it increasingly difficult to evacuate the wounded, called for volunteer litter bearers. Pfc. Cicchetti immediately responded, organized a litter team and skillfully led it for more than 4 hours in rescuing 14 wounded men, constantly passing back and forth over a 400-yard route which was the impact area for a tremendous volume of the most intense enemy fire. On one return trip the path was blocked by machinegun fire, but Pfc. Cicchetti deliberately exposed himself to draw the automatic fire which he neutralized with his own rifle while ordering the rest of the team to rush past to safety with the wounded. While gallantly continuing his work, he noticed a group of wounded and helpless soldiers some distance away and ran to their rescue although the enemy fire had increased to new fury. As he approached the casualties, he was struck in the head by a shell fragment, but with complete disregard for his gaping wound he continued to his comrades, lifted one and carried him on his shoulders 50 yards to safety. He then collapsed and died. By his skilled leadership, indomitable will, and dauntless courage, Pfc. Cicchetti saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own.
Filipino accountant and educator Nicanor Reyes Sr. was killed by the Imperial Japanese forces at Manila. Likewise killed were his wife and two youngest children. The Japanese also murdered the residents of the Catholic Vincentian Central House in San Marcelino St, Manila.
The U-864 was sunk off of Bergen by the British submarine HMS Venturer. Both submarines were submerged, making this the only example of a submarine sinking another submerged submarine.
Hitler examined a model of post war Linz.
Last edition:
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Monday, January 22, 1945. Relentless.
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 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.
Last edition:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)