Friday, June 22, 1945. The Battle of Okinawa ends.

The Battle of Okinawa ended. It was the last major ground battle of World War Two.

Today in World War II History—June 22, 1940 & 1945: 80 Years Ago—June 22, 1945: Battle for Okinawa officially ends at a high cost—12,520 Americans and 110,000 Japanese were killed, plus 42,000 civilians.

June 22, 1945: The Battle of Okinawa

Operation Ten-Go, the last major Japanese naval operation, concluded.

Gen. MacArthur announced that Gen. Joseph Stilwell would replace Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. as commander of the U.S. Tenth Army.

Emperor Hirohito directed his government to find a way to peace talks.

Japanese generals Isamu Chō, 50, and Mitsuru Ushijima, 57,  committed suicide on Okinawa.

The Japanese withdrew from Liuchow.

Last edition:

Thursday, June 21, 1945. Fall of Hill 89.

Labels: 1940, 1940s, 1945, Australian Army, boats and ships, Borneo, Kamikaze, Luzon, Okinawa, Operation Iceberg, Operation Ten-Go, Polish Home Army, USSR, World War Two

Thursday, June 21, 1945. Fall of Hill 89.

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.

Last edition:

Wednesday, June 20, 1945. Japanese surrenders.

Labels: 1940s, 1945, Army, Australian Army, Borneo, Okinawa, Polish Government in Exile, Prisoners of War, United Nations, United States Marine Corps, World War Two

Tuesday, April 3, 1945. The Germans began the evacuation of Buchenwald.

The Germans began the evacuation of Buchenwald.

Soviet forces take Wiener Neustadt

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."

Last edition:

Monday, April 2, 1945. Easy advances on Okinawa.

Labels: 1940s, 1945, Army, Austria, Austria (Vienna), boats and ships, British Army, Hungary, Italy, Okinawa, Operation Iceberg, Philippines, Polish Air Force, Red Army, Slovakia, Vienna Offensive, World War Two

Monday, April 2, 1945. Easy advances on Okinawa.

Operation Roast ended in a British victory in Italy.

The British 2nd Army took Munster.

The Red Army launched the Vienna Offensive.  They also took Magykanizsa and Kremnica.

The US 10th Army made easy advances on Okinawa.

U.S. artillerymen, Okinawa, April 2, 1945.

Part of the US 163d Regiment landed on Tawitawi, in the Sulu Archipelago.

The U-321 was sunk by a Vickers Wellington of No. 304 Polish Bomber Squadron southwest of Ireland.

Last edition:

Sunday, April 1, 1945. Operation Iceberg.

Labels: 1940s, 1945, Army, Battle of Kassel, British Army, Communications, Eastern Front, Hitler Youth, Italy, Okinawa, Operation Iceberg, Red Army, television, United States Marine Corps, World War Two

Sunday, April 1, 1945. Operation Iceberg.

US troops, ultimately to include members of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, landed on Okinawa in Operation Iceberg.  The initial landing of 50,000 men saw little resistance.

The Red Army took Sopron, Hungaria.

The Battle of Kassel began between the U.S. Army's 80th Division and German defenders.

British commandos began Operation Roast in an effort to push the Germans across the Po and out of Italy.

Hitler moved his headquarters to the Führerbunker..

The hospital ship Awa Maru was sunk in a case of mistaken identity by the USS Queenfish leading to the loss of 2003 of its 2004 passengers and crew.

And this wild communications item was introduced.

Visie-Talkie, 1945

Last edition:

Saturday, March 31, 1945. Liberated.

Labels: boats and ships, British Army, Chinese National Army, French Army, Imperial Japanese Navy, Nationalist Chinese Army, Okinawa, Red Army, Slavery, U.S. Navy, Upper Silesian Offensive, World War Two