Saturday, September 30, 1944. Counteroffensive at Nijmegen.

German troops at Calais surrendered to the Canadians.

British 17 pdr Anti Tank Gun with Bren Gun and Hotchkiss machine gun in foreground.  The Hotchkiss must have been captured

The Germans commenced a counter offensive at Nijmegen with the goal of retaking the salient created by Market Garden.

Adm Fort took command at Palau and announces that Peleliu, Angaur, Ngesebus and Kongauru have been completely occupied. Japanese resistance continued on.

The U-1062 was sunk by the carrier escort USS Fessenden off of Cape Verde.

Last edition:

Friday, September 29, 1944. Soviet amphibious operations and executions.

Labels: 1940s, 1944, Army, Battle of Arracourt, Belgium, British Army, Estonia, Heroes, Italian partisans, Italy, July 20 Plot, Red Army, World War Two

Tuesday, September 26, 1944. Coastal artillery exchange.

The British 8th Army crossed the Uso (Rubicon).

The British 2nd Army took Turnhout between Antwerp and Eindhoven.   They also took Oss.

The Germans shelled the British coastal city of Dover with long-range artillery implaced near Calais.  The British returned fire with long range coast artillery at Dover.  This would end the long range artillery duels across the channel.

The RAF bombed Calais and Cap Griz Nez.

The Red Army prevailed in its Tallinn Offensive.

Greek resistance groups recognized the authority of the Greek government in exile and to place themselves under the Allied Supreme Commander in the Mediterranean.

Sea rescue from dirigible, September 26, 1944.

Last edition:

Monday, September 25, 1944. Withdrawal at Arnhem.

Labels: "Wacht am Rhein", 1940s, 1945, Airborne, Battle of Arnhem, Bernard Law Montgomery, British Army, Estonia, Netherlands, Operation Market Garden, Red Army, The roles of men and women, Volkssturm, Yugoslav Partisans

Friday, September 22, 1944. Stiffening resistance in the Netherlands.

Polish paratroopers attempted to reach the Rhine and meet up with British airborne trapped on the opposed bank Arnhem.  Elst was taken by 30th Corps.

3rd Bn., 157th Inf. Regt. walking across footbridge over canal lock. Igney, France. 22 September, 1944. Note that the machine gun crewmen are carrying M1911 pistols as personal arms.  This unit of the 45th Infantry Division was equipped at this point with M1943 combat boots, but still wearing older pattern field jackets.

45th Infantry Division tank crossing the Moselle.

The 3d Canadian Division took Boulogne and Operation Undergo commenced to take Calais.

The Red Army took Tallinn, Estonia.

The U.S. Army took Giogo Pass in Italy.

A regiment of the Army's 81st Infantry Division was committed in Peleliu to reinforce depleted elements of the 1st Marine Division.

Last edition:

Thursday, September 21, 1944. A sort of Estonian civil war.

Labels: 1920s, 1921, 1922, 1940s, 1944, baseball, Battle of Rimini, boats and ships, Canadian Army, East Karelian Uprising, Estonia, Finland, Greek Army, New Zealand Army, Red Army, Waffen SS, World War Two

Saturday, August 30, 1941. Far away places.

For various reasons, I missed putting up the Anglo Soviet invasion of Iran when it occurred.  It commenced on August 25, 1941.

Soviet cavalry meeting British tankette.

On this day, it concluded with a ceasefire. The country would be occupied by the British and the Soviets for the remainder of World War Two.

Russian T-26 tank in Iran.

The Iranian military did resist, but ineffectively. The country would be occupied by the British and the Soviets throughout the war, with the British withdrawing on time in March 1946 but the Soviets refusing to do so, citing security concerns.  A complaint to the United Nations from Iran on this became the first such complaint filed with that then newly founded body. The Soviets withdrew in May, 1946.

British troops inspecting a Soviet 26, Soviet soldier on deck of tank.

Ultimately Iran became an Allied power and declared war on Germany.  The US contributed to the forces in Iran during the occupation, which assuaged Iranian fears of being absorbed as a colony by the occupying powers.  The Soviets did sponsor Communist groups that did create problems for the Iranian government, so it cannot be claimed that the occupation was wholly benign.

The Soviets launched a major counterattack near Smolensk which was successful, as to its objectives, but which sustained high casualties. The Germans also sustained high casualties.

The British conducted the first of two small nighttime commando raids on the Pas-de-Calais.