The picture magazine Look was out, and on a Tuesday, oddly. Actress and singer Lizabeth Scott, famous for film noir roles, graced the cover.
Truman ordered Lead Lease be terminated immediately.
The first major Japanese surrender ceremony in China took place at the Zhijiang Airport in Hunan Province.
"Sitting on a jeep hood are two GIs watching as the Japanese Army emissaries arrive at Chinese Army HQs. at Chihkiang, China to arrange the details of surrendering the armies to Chinese forces. In front can be seen the Chief of Staff of the Japanese Armies in China, Major General Takeo Imai, (with sun helmet). Behind him is his interpreter, Mr. Tatsuo Kimura, and the Deputy Chief of Staff of Jap Armies in China, Lt. Col. Yoshio Hashijima and Major Kunio Maskawa. 21 August, 1945."
The Japanese government appealed to kamikaze pilots to immediately cease operations.
The Japanese government ordered that "there will be no direct contact between the general public and the Allied landing forces." That order would rapidly break down.
In fact, the Japanese on this day were already working on breaking it down, as they determined, on this day, to form the Recreation and Amusement Association (特殊慰安施設協会) or as it is more accurately translated the '"Special Comfort Facility Association". It extended the horrific "comfort women" system but with Allied servicemen in mind, in fear that failure to do so would lead to rapes.
55,000 women would be employed by the RAA, of which 2,000 were prostitutes.
American physicist Harry Daghlian accidentally dropped a tungsten carbide brick onto a plutonium bomb core resulting in an exposure to radiation at the lethal level. He died a couple of weeks later.
His hand on August 30:
The new British government announced its intention to nationalize the Bank of England.
The Romanian Royal Strike commenced during which King Michael I refused to sign the bills enacted by the Petru Groza cabinet or to receive its Ministers in audience in protest of Petru Groza's refusal to resign his position on the King's request. Resignation would have been the Romanian norm, but the Soviet backed Groza simply refused to do so.
The first post war kosher slaughter to be performed in Germany occurred with Rabbi Zweigenhaft performing the same.
Under Secretary of the Navy Ralph Bard suggested giving Japan a warning about the atomic bomb.
US forces completed the occupation of Luzon's Cagayan Valley. The island is accordingly nearly fully under US control.
The I-165 was sunk east of Saipan by a US PV-2 Harpoon.
The USS Bunker Hill was struck by a kamikaze resulting in the death of 373 men.
Dr. Emil Hacha, age 73, the former president of the German sponsored "Bohemia-Moravia Protectorate," died in the Prague prison hospital while awaiting trial.
Edward Stettinius resigned as Secretary of State to take up the post of ambassador to the United Nations.
Today in World War II History—June 21, 1940 & 1945: 80 Years Ago—June 21, 1945: US Rangers link with Filipino guerrillas in Aparri, Luzon. US Tenth Army takes Hill 89, the last Japanese stronghold on Okinawa.
Sarah Sundin's blog.
The USS Barry was sunk off of Okinawa by kamikazes.
The Battle of Tarakan ended in an Allied victory on Borneo.
Twelve Polish Home Army officers were convicted of "underground activities" by the USSR.
"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.
The 6th Army captured Santa Fe and attacked around Wawa Dam on Luzon.
Chinese troops completed the occupation of Nanning, the capital of Kwangsi Province, cutting off the main Japanese supply route from French Indochina, Thailand, Malaya and Burma.
The Chinese 6th Army was air transported from Burma to China, the first time an entire army was moved by air.
Heavy fighting occurred on Okinawa. Off of Okinawa the USS Drexler was sunk by Japanese aircraft.
Rudolf Querner, age 51, German SS officer and police leader committed suicide as the odd process of Germany somewhat denazifying itself continued to occur in this fashion.
"A Battery, 465 FA Bn) located near Ballette Pass, Luzon, P.I.) in the 25th Div, one of action. Pfc R. Duffy; Pfc T. McDonald; Pfc A. Mullins; Pfc T. Kaskie; Pvt A. Rossetti; Capt H. W. Berberian; T/4 F. Grogorowich; Cpl D. Marcus; Cpl K. Cameron; Pfc J. Sullivan; Pfc E. Colby all of Boston, Mass, load the prepare to fire an 8 in gun. The Japs are located on a ridge about, 500 yds forward this position. 25 May, 1945. 465th Field Artillery Battalion." This gun appears to be a 155mm "Long Tom", a long range artillery piece. If this caption is correct, it's a freakish situation in that the gun is so close to the front lines.
The Battle of Odžak between Yugoslav (communist) partisans and the fascist Croatian Armed Forces ended in a Yugoslav partisan victory. Fighting ended in Europe.
The American armed forces Chiefs of Staff set November 1, 1945 as the start date for the invasion of Japan.
USS Bates (APD-47) burning off Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands, after being hit by three kamikazee. May 25, 1945.
MGM released the wartime romance, The Clock.
The plot centers around a whirlwind romance of a soldier on leave and a woman he meets, taking place in 48 hours. They meet and marry in that time frame.
Suffice it to say, a marriage contracted that rapidly would be risky.
On this general topic, I rewated The Best Years of Our Lives Friday night. What struck me in rewatching it was the casual acceptance of divorce in the film. Perhaps that's stretching it, but two of the central characters are involved, in a way, in a sort of semi illicit love affair, and are portrayed sympathetically.
The other thing that struck me, which has before, is that Cpt. Derry is shown to have nothing beyond a (presumed) high school education. That would be correct for his wartime role, but it would not have occurred very often any time post war, after which college educations became the norm for officers.
The USS Bunker Hill was badly damaged by kamikaze attacks, something that had been an unrelenting feature of the Japanese defense of Okinawa as part of Operation Ten-Go.
The Battle of West Henan–North Hubei ended in tactical stalemate but a Japanese operational victory.
Soldiers of the US Army who had commenced combat with Operation Torch and who had gone on to serve in Europe were exempted from further combat deployment. Fighting was still raging all over the Pacific, with troops meeting stiff resistance in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Okinawa as examples.
Soldiers at a familiarization course for newly arrived soldiers on Okinawa, May 11, 1945.
The Australians took Wewak, New Guinea.
The Red Army continued to encounter German units that had not yet surrendered. In Yugoslavia German Group Ostmark refused to surrender and kept fighting Yugoslav forces.
The Japanese Imperial Navy launched an ill advised doomed kamikaze attack with ten warships, including the Yamato off of Okinawa. The Yamato was sun k with a loss of 2,055 of its 2,332 crewmembers, and five other Japanese ships went down as well.
The Luftwaffe also engaged in a suicide mission, sending out 120 student pilots about against a 1,000 plane US raid. They were to ram their aircraft into the Americans ones, and hopefully parachute out.
Most of the pilots missed their targets and most were shot down.
Operation Amherst commenced which saw the Free French and SAS launch an effort to capture Dutch canals, bridges and airfields intact.
Kantarō Suzuki replaced Kuniaki Koiso as Prime Minister of Japan.
Operation Grapeshot, the Allied Spring offensive in Italy, began.
Australians on Bougainville, where fighting was still ongoing, prevailed in the Battle of Slater's Knoll.
"Men of U.S. Tenth Army make their way through a mine field, detonating mines with their own cannon. Okinawa. 6 April, 1945. 6 April, 1945."
Massive kamikaze attacks take place off of Okinawa in Operation Ten-Go, a full scale suicide attack involving surface and aircraft assets. The Yamamoto leaves for Okinawa with only enough fuel to get there, where the plan is to beach the ship and fight in that fashion.
American destroyers Bush, Colhoun, Leutze, Morris, Mullany, Newcomb, Rodman and Witter hit by kamikazes off Okinawa. The Bush and Colhoun were sunk and the Leutze and Necomb were subsequently declared constructive total losses.
The Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze was beached at Amoy after an attack by American B-25s.
Elements of the US 40th Division landed on Masbate to assist Filipino guerillas.
"Pfc. Thomas Powell, North Platte, Nebr., 5th Cav., guards the main street of San Pablo, Luzon, P.I, with his machine gun, and covers himself completely with his poncho in the tropical rain. 3 April, 1945. Photographer: T/4 Wendinger. Photo Source: U.S. National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps Archive."
Kamikazes were active off of Okinawa.
"Men of an antitank company keep on the alert for enemy action atop a hill in Okinawa.
Left to right, Pfc. George Harrington, Brooklyn N.Y., Cpl Joe Irvin, Elgin, Ill., and Pfc Leland Beleme, Merced, Cal. 3 April 1945."
.jpg)
_Poster.jpg)
.jpg)
