Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts

Monday, January 20, 2025

Saturday, January 20, 1900. A fire in Honolulu's Chinatown and "Die Erwerbung werthvoller Küstenstadte der Neuenglandstaaten wäre das wirksamste mittel, den frieden zu erzwingen"

A terrible fire broke out in Honolulu's China town when health officials ordered controlled burns in the area to address the bubonic plague. They grew out of control and destructive.



At the request of German Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, the director of the German Imperial Naval Office, Admiral Otto von Diederichs presented contingency plans for a naval blockade and limited armed invasion of the United States. 

Frankly, the concept was absurd.

Perhaps emphasizing its absurdity, the size of the German navy would have had to been doubled, according to the report.

Of course, militaries engage in contingency planning, which is often absurd, all the time.  Having said that, German concepts of messing around in North and Central America were fairly common and always absurd right up until the US entered the First World War.

Last edition:

Friday, January 19, 1900. Captured.

Sunday, December 29, 2024

Friday, December 29, 1899. Erroneous assumption.

The HMS Magicienne seized the German steamer Budesroth on the grounds that it was carrying German troops to supplement the Boer Armies.  It was escorted to Durban.

She was allowed to go, as it turned out, she wasn't packing German troops.

Last edition:

Thursday, December 28, 1899. The crew of the USS Maine.

Thursday, December 12, 2024

Tuesday, December 12, 1944. Heavy artillery.

240 mm howitzer firing into Germany from France, December 12, 1944.

The 3d Army captured the V-rocket factory at Wittring in eastern France.

Harold Alexander was promoted to Field Marshal and made Supreme Commander of Allied Force Headquarters in the Mediterranean.

The British commenced an offensive towards Akyab, Burma.

The RAF attacked Witten in a daylight raid. They were escorted by American P-51s.  The city was the last industrial city in the Ruhr to have escaped bombing.

Greek communists asked for cease fire terms.

The U-416 collided with a German minesweeper and sank.  The Z35 and Z36 destroyers were sunk by mines in the Gulf of Finland.  Japanese destroyer sYūzuki and Uzuki were sunk by the U.S. Navy.

Last edition:

Monday, December 11, 1944. The Great Snowstorm of 1944.

Sunday, December 8, 2024

Friday, December 8, 1944



Today In Wyoming's History: December 8:  1944 Bryant B. Brooks, governor from January 1905 to January 1911, died in Casper.  Brooks was a true pioneering figure in Wyoming, having come to the state in 1880 and having been, at first, a trapper and rancher.  He reflects a class that isn't often discussed, however, in early Western history in that he was well educated (but not a lawyer), having attended Business College in Chicago Illinois.  Nonetheless, he was only 19 years old at the time he moved to Wyoming.  He was highly energetic and was successful in ranching.  After his term in office expired he was also very active in the early oil industry and was partially responsible for the construction of one of Casper's first "skyscraper" buildings, the Oil Exchange Building, which was built in 1917, during one of the region's earliest oil booms, this one due to World War One. The building remains in use today, with its name having been changed to the Consolidated Royalty Building.

Iwo Jima was hit by a massive U.S. air raid.

The pro Japanese Filipino organization Makabayang Katipunan ng mga Pilipino (Patriotic Association of Filipinos), better known as the Makapili, was organized by far right Filipino nationalist.

It's stunning that this late in the war organizations were still forming that supported an obviously losing side.

The Germans withdrew from Jülich, Germany.

The 8th Army crossed the Lamone.

Last edition:

    Wednesday, December 4, 2024

    Monday, December 4, 1944. The Dutch Famine.

    "Sailors, aboard USS LST 392, discussing D-Day, when Ernie Pyle was their passenger and left his signature on their guns. Shown, left to right: SM3 Chas T. Repik, USNR; SC2c James F. Reardon, USNR; S1c Edward T. Wholley. (Bottom) BM2c Martin A. Reilly, USNR and RM2C Gint Middleton, USNR. Photograph released December 4, 1944."

    The Germans cut Dutch bread rations to two pounds per week.

    Martial law was declared in Greece.

    " Troops of the 14th Chinese Division detruck at North Airstrip, Myyitkyina, Burma, and go into bivouac for night preparatory to boarding planes for China. 4 December, 1944."

    Heilbroon was firebombed, resulting in the deaths of 7,147 people.

    The Kishinami was sunk in the South China Sea by the USS Flasher.

    Last edition:

    Sunday, December 3, 1944. Dekemvriana (Δεκεμβριανά)

    Today in World War II History—December 4, 1939 & 1944

    Today in World War II History—December 4, 1939 & 1944: US Third Army crosses the Saar River at Saarlautern, Germany. Italian partisans liberate Ravenna in first major partisan attack in Italy.

    Tuesday, December 3, 2024

    Sunday, December 3, 1944. Dekemvriana (Δεκεμβριανά)

    The Dekemvriana (Δεκεμβριανά) began with British troops and Greek police opening fire on a massive left wing demonstration in Athens. This effectively commenced the Greek Civil War.

    The Red Army took Miskolc, Hungary.

    The USS Cooper was sunk in Ormoc Bay by the Japanese destroyer Take.

    The British Home Guard stood down.

    The US 20th Corps crossed the Saar in assault boats and secured the main bridge of the Saar.  The 13th Corps reached the Roer.

    Last edition:

    Saturday, December 2, 1944. Advances in Europe, the Army Navy Game, Eiji Sawamura(沢村栄治).

    Monday, December 2, 2024

    Saturday, December 2, 1944. Advances in Europe, the Army Navy Game, Eiji Sawamura(沢村栄治).

    The 7th Army reached the Rhine.  The 3d Army reached Saarlautern.  The 9th Army took Leiffarth and Roerdorf.

    Army won the Army Navy Game.  The crowed of 66,659 included 30,000 members of the general public who were admitted on the condition of living within 8.3 miles of the game in Baltimore and buying a $25.00 war bond.

    Twenty Seven year old professional Japanese baseball player Eiji Sawamura(沢村栄治)was killed when a troopship he was on was sunk on this day in 1944.  He'd been drafted into the Japanese Army in 1939, but released each season to play baseball.

    Last edition:

    Wednesday, November 29, 1944. Prisoner Exchange.

    Tuesday, November 26, 2024

    Sunday, November 26, 1944. Covering up a crime against humanity.

    Himmler ordered the crematorium at Auschwitz destroyed to cover up the concentration camp's crime against humanity.

    "American infantryman kneels in the rubble to draw a bead on a sniper in the burning building. Germany, 26 November, 1944."

    2nd Battalion, 414th Infantry Regiment, 104th Infantry Division,

    The U.S. Seventh Army captured Steige and Villé.  T he 1st Army captured Weisweiler to the west of Cologne.

    "This is all that is left of an American half track after a direct hit from a German shell. 26 November, 1944. 53rd Armored Infantry Battalion, 4th Armored Division."

    The Red Army captured capture Michaloyce, Slovakia.

    General Alexander was promoted to Field Marshal and appointed the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean.

    Last edition:

    Saturday, November 25, 1944. Heavy resistance on Leyte, V2 attack in London.

    Sunday, November 24, 2024

    Wednesday, November 24, 1824. Miller Time.

    Friedrich Johannes Miller was born in Riedlingen, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Confederation.

    An immigrant to the U.S., he founded Miller Brewing.


    He passed away in 1888 at age 63 from cancer.

    Last edition:

    Tuesday, October 29, 2024

    Sunday, October 27, 2024

    Friday, October 27, 1944. Somewhere in Germany.

    The Spanish Army launched an offensive against Republican forces in the Pyrenees.

    The 7th Infantry Division took Buri Airfield on Leyte.  Tacloban airstrip became operational.

    The Navy conducted airstrikes on Luzon.

    The Red Army's Gumbinnen Operation in East Prussia ended in failure.  

    Sarah Sundin reports that Allied Offensive actions in Italy were halted for the season:

    Today in World War II History—October 27, 1939 & 1944: 80 Years Ago—Oct. 27, 1944: In Italy, Gen. Sir Henry Maitland Wilson orders halt to Allied offensive for the winter due to fatigue, heavy rains, and flooding.

    She also reports that that this was Navy Day for 1944, which it would have been, as Navy Day is always October 27.  I missed that, however.

    The Germans put down the Slovak National Uprising.

    A white cloud of smoke partly envelopes this German tank which is still smoldering in a street somewhere in Germany. U.S. infantrymen, crouching on both sides cover the tank. 27 October, 1944.

    Last edition"

    Thursday, October 24, 2024

    Friday, October 24, 1924. Republicans, Monarchs and Fascists.

    Éamon de Valera was arrested in Newry as he arrived at a meeting of the Sinn Féin. He was charged with entering a prohibited area under the Civil Powers Act.

    Romanian fascist Iron Guard leader Corneliu Codreanu assassinated Constantin Manciu, the police chief of the city of Iași, and shot several other policemen. 

    He would be acquitted on the grounds that he had acted in self-defense, despite entering the meeting and shooting Manciu from behind.

    The British Foreign Office released the Zinoviev letter. The letter purported to be a directive from the Soviets addressed to the Communist Party of Great Britain to increase labor unrest in the UK.  A protest was lodged with the Soviet Embassy.

    Belgium signed the Geneva Protocol.

    Crown Princes Wilhelm of Germany and Rupprecht of Bavaria reconciled.

    The Prince of Wales ended his visit to the United States and Canada.

    Last edition:

    Thursday, October 23, 1924. Beijing Coup.

    Monday, October 21, 2024

    Tuesday, October 21, 1924. Six Nations election.

    The first Canadian elections under the Indian Act were held for the Six Nations Band of Indians Council.

    And also elections were held for the Norwegian parliament, resulted in a continuation of the coalition government between the Conservatives and the liberal Venstre.

    The German National People's Party issued a proclamation announcing itself in favor of restoring the monarchy and terminating the Treaty of Versailles and the Dawes Plan.

    Postscript:

    From Reddit's 100 Years Ago Sub:


    Last edition:

    Saturday, October 18, 1924. Ham achievement.

    Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Thursday, October 16, 1924. See See Rider.

    Incarcerated menace Adolf Hitler published a statement admitting that he was born in Austria, not Germany, but arguing that he had lost his Austrian citizenship after volunteering to serve in the German Army during World War I .  He claimed that mentally, he'd always been a German.  

    He nonetheless did not renounce his Austrian citizenship until 1925, and didn't acquire German citizenship until 1932.

    Ma Rainey recorded See See Rider, the first known recording of the blues standard which has an unknown origin and date of origin.  It's at least a couple of decades older than the recording.

    Ma Rainey.

    Last edition:

    Wednesday, October 15, 1924. Airship and a proclamation.

    Thursday, October 10, 2024

    Today in World War II History—October 10, 1939 & 1944

    Today in World War II History—October 10, 1939 & 1944: 80 Years Ago—Oct. 10, 1944: US Navy Task Force 38, with 17 aircraft carriers, strikes Okinawa, sinking 34 vessels and destroying 75 Japanese planes.

    Tuesday, October 8, 2024

    Sunday, October 8, 1944 Passing of Fr. Nicolò Cortese and Wendell Willkie

    The Battle of Crucifix Hill was fought at Haaren, Germany, with the hill taken by elements of the 1st Infantry Division.

    A large statuary Crucifix was on top of the hill.  In Sam Fuller's Big Red One his platoon takes a field with a large wooden Crucifix which is central to the story line, and which perhaps was inspired by the actual battle, if extremely loosely.

    German resistance to Allied advances in the West was stiffening.

    The nighttime Battle of Tehumardi was fought on the Estonian island of Saaremaa.  

    The Germans retreated at Tornio.

    The German counteroffensive at Nijemegen failed.

    The British occupied Corinth and Samos and landed commandos on Nauplion.

    Savy to the Greek political situation, in some ways the British were fighting a prelude to the Cold War in Greece in their actions.

    The Finns occupied Kemi on the Gulf of Bothnia.

    Fr. Nicolò Cortese, age 37, was killed in Trieste by the Gestapo for his role in aiding Jews and Italian partisans.

    SS Enterprise (CV 6) being refueled by tanker in rough seas, October 8, 1944.

    Wendell Willkie, age 52, died of a heart attack.

    Willkie had run for President in 1940 and had attempted to secure the GOP nomination in 1944.  He had originally been a Democrat.  Roosevelt thought highly of him and had considered his a potential Vice Presidential candidate.  A heavy smoker and drinker, his health declined enormously in the summer and fall of 1944, and the heart attack that killed him was his third in three months, following a bout of pneumonia.

    Willkie was a political liberal, authoring in 1943 the best seller One World, which espoused world federalism.  There would be no place for him in the modern Republican Party.


    Last edition:

    Saturday, October 7, 1944. Fighting in the Arctic.