Showing posts with label Philippines. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philippines. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Monday, May 21, 1945. British government falls apart, French mandates want out, Himmler arrested.

The Polish Home Army attacked the NKVD Camp in Rembertów and freed political prisoners held there.

The Labour Party withdrew from the government forcing the UK into elections.

Today in World War II History—May 21, 1940 & 1945Heinrich Himmler is arrested by the British in Bremervörde, Germany, disguised as a businessman.

Demanding full independence, Syria and Lebanon break off negotiations with France.

The 31st Division captured the Japanese supply base at Malaybalay on Mindanao.

Humphrey Bogart married Lauren Bacall.

Note how plainly the couple is dressed, compared to what is so often the case today.

It was his fourth marriage.  They had met just that year when she was 19 and he was 44.  They'd remain married until his death at age 57.

Last edition:

Sunday, May 20, 1945. Contracting in China.

    Pandemic Part 10. A new paradigm?

     


    February 17, 2022

    The Center for Disease Control estimates that, taking the massive spread of Omicron around the country into account and the final relatively high vaccination rate in the country, 73% of the nation is now immune from the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, i.e. COVID 19.

    Nobody is really sure exactly what that means.  But it might mean that we're entering a phase where the virus doesn't disappear, but it's much less disruptive to society.

    It's still the case, however, that it remains a danger for the unvaccinated.

    March 1, 2022

    Wyoming's public health emergency shall expire on March 14.

    March 21, 2022

    A new variant of Omicron has developed, which is about 30% more transmissible than the already more transmissible Omicron.  It's spiking in Europe and in Hong Kong has caused an outbreak with a massive death rate, mostly concentrated in the unvaccinated elderly.

    China has reported its first deaths in many months.

    According to experts, the world is about 50% through the probable course of the pandemic.

    April 14, 2022

    Over 1,000,000 Americans have now died from the COVID 19.

    July 22, 2022

    President Biden has COVID 19.

    At this point, two members of our four member family also have, with one having had it quite recently and finding it awful, but being grateful accordingly for having been vaccinated.

    A new, more traditional type of vaccine, has now been approved.

    September 20, 2022

    On 60 Minutes over the weekend, President Biden stated; "The pandemic is over. We still have a problem with COVID. We're still doing a lot of work on it. But the pandemic is over."  The HHS Secretary later confirmed that position.

    Epidemiologically, it isn't over, but then neither is the plague's pandemic either.  The statement has been criticized, with 400 people per day dying of the disease, but by and large it reflects the mood of the public which has largely gone back to a new post Covid introduction, world in which COVID 19 is part of the background.

    December 15, 2022

    The new defense spending authorization includes a requirement that the Secretary of Defense rescind vaccination requirements for troops because, well because that's the idiotic sort of thing that politicians like to stick into bills.

    All of the troops should be vaccinated.

    December 24, 2022

    China, which has not accepted western vaccines, reported 37,000,000 new vaccinations in a single day.

    January 2, 2023

    A new variant of Omicron, XBB.1.5, now makes up 40% of the new cases in the U.S.

    And Covid is still killing.

    January 20, 2023

    Governor Gordon Tests Positive for COVID-19

    CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  Governor Mark Gordon has received results of a COVID-19 test that showed he is positive for the virus. The Governor is experiencing only minor symptoms at this time and will continue working from home on behalf of Wyoming. 

    March 1, 2023

    The Washington Post broke a story that the Department of Energy issued a report believing, with "low confidence", that the SARS-CoV-2 virus originated in a Chinese lab.

    A really good analysis of this story can be found here:  

    Why Scientists, Lawmakers & Diplomats Care Where COVID Began


    In actuality, the Biden Administration early on ordered governmental intelligence agencies to get to the bottom of the virus' origin.  Eight intelligence agencies were assigned to the tasks, two of which have concluded, but with confidence doubts, that the virus was natural in origin. Two, we know now, felt the opposite, with it already known since 2021 what the FBI felt, with "moderate confidence" that the origin was a Chinese lab.  Two just haven't reported.

    None of this kept some from claiming that it's now proven that the virus originated in the lab.

    FWIW, private scientists, as opposed to intelligence agencies, overwhelmingly feel that it originated due to animal transfer in the Wuhan market.

    March 18, 2023

    Recent evidence points to raccoon dogs at the Wuhan market as the source.


    April 11, 2023

    President Biden declared the COVID emergency to be over.

    August 22, 2023

    Declared over or not, two new strains are on the loose and a new booster should be available mid September.

    April 12, 2024

    The CDC has found there's no link between the COVID vaccines and cardiac arrest in young people.

    Not that this is a surprise.

    It'll make no difference in the anti-scientific atmosphere of the day. A society that can believe that legalizing marijuana, which is largely untested and wholly unregulated, and that Donald Trump won hte 2020 election, will still believe that the vaccine is risky, but cause it wishes to.

    June 15, 2024

    Reuters has revealed that during the height of the pandemic, the US ran an anti-vax campaign in the Philippines to try to undermine Chinese efforts there.

    There's no excuse for that whatsoever.

    November 18, 2024

    January 26, 2025

    The Central Intelligence Agency revised its report on the origin of COVID reporting, with low confidence, that a Chinese laboratory is to blame.

    This was a report that was completed during the Biden Administration and was just now released.  It's being released now is unfortunate, in that it comes during the Trump Interregnum which is packed with people who generally have a contempt for science, which this will slightly fuel if anyone notices it given all the distraction at the present time.  Most Scientists think the most likely hypothesis is that it circulated in bats, like many coronaviruses, before infecting another species.

    May 21, 2025

    The Trump Administration is limiting vaccine updates to those over 65 or in high risk categories, and requiring extensive testing for new updates.

    Last prior installment:

    Pandemic Part 9. Omicron becomes dominant

    Tuesday, May 20, 2025

    Sunday, May 20, 1945. Contracting in China.

    Chocolate Drop Hill on Okinawa was taken by U.S. troops.  The final fighting was in interconnected tunnels.

    The 1st Marine Division captured Wana Ridge on Okinawa.  Marines also conducted mopping up operations on Horseshoe and Half Moon using flamethrowers, resulting in a desperate Japanese counterattack that ends with 200 Japanese troops killed.

    The US took Malaybalay on Mindanao.

    The Japanese Army evacuated Hochih, China as the Imperial Japanese General Staff decided to deploy forces closer to the Japanese Home Islands.

    The Japanese had secured enormous territorial gains in China with a just completed offensive, and yet there was a massive amount of China left, the same problem the Japanese had been faced with since 1932 when they first began to fight in the country.  In many ways, for the Japanese, World War Two was principally about China, and now it was faced with the reality that being tied down there was contributing enormously to its losing in the war.

    The Soviets appointed Soviet authorities appointed Dr. Arthur Werner as the Oberbergermeister of the Berlin.  The appointment would be shortly confirmed by the Western Allies.

    He was not a Communist and had not been a Nazi. An engineer, he had lost his teaching position in 1942.

    Last edition:

    Saturday, May 19, 1945. Landing in Syria and Lebanon.

    Saturday, May 17, 2025

    Thursday, May 17, 1945. The emerging post war world.

    The 43d Infantry Division captured the Ipoh Dam near Manila. 100,000 gallons of napalm were used in the American effort.

    There was hard fighting again on Okinawa.

     Aircraft from the USS Ticonderoga attacked targets on Taroa and the Maleolap atoll, encountering limited resistance.

    Dutch troops landed on Tarakan Island, reinforcing the Australian forces.

    Denmark severed relations with Japan.

    French forces landed in Beirut to reassert control of Lebanon.

    A British white paper addressed post war independence for Burma.

    Archbishop Stepinac of Croatia was arrested for the first time by the incoming Communists in Yugoslavia.

    Last edition:

    Wednesday, May 16, 1945. The Haguro sunk, U-boats surrender.

    Thursday, May 15, 2025

    Tuesday, May 15, 1945. Germans fully surrendered, Chinese Army in retreat.

    Army Group Center, now completely disintegrated, quit all resistance with troops surrender to the Western Allies where they cold, and to the Soviets if they could not.

    Axis forces surrendered at Slovenski Gradek.

    A new Austrian republic was declared.

    Fighting was fierce again on Okinawa.

    Burmese nationalist Aung San lead his forces into support of the Allies.

    Japan abrogated its treaties with the other Axis countries.

     The Battle of the Malacca Strait began between the Royal Navy and the Imperial Japanese Navy.

    Chinese lines were broken by the Japanese, and the Chinese Army was in full retreat.

    "MGs of the heavy weapons companies of 1st Bn., 100th RCT, fire on hill #2 in the Mangima Valley Area, Mindanao, P.I. 15 May, 1945. Photographer: O'Neill."

    Last edition:

    Monday, May 14, 1945. Lingering actions.

    Monday, May 12, 2025

    Saturday, May 12, 1945. Shortened futures.

    The United Nations War Crimes Commission indicted Hermann Göring, Joseph Goebbels and Fritz Sauckel on eight counts.  The NKVD didn't wait for trials in all instances, and on this day executed SS commander and war criminal Richard Thomalla.

    The US transferred captured Russian turned collaborator Gen. Vlasov over to Soviet custody.

    The 7th Army captured the Japanese ambassador to Germany and his staff.

    The 8th Army took the Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao.

    Hard fighting occurred on Okinawa.

    The U-858 became the first U-boat to surrender post war.  It would be escorted to Cap May, New Jersey which it entered flying the black flag of surrender.

    Lend Lease shipments to the USSR were suspended.

    The Security Committee at the United Nations Conference on International Organization agreed on an eleven-member security council, with non-permanent members chosen by the General Assembly.

    Last edition:

    Friday, May 11, 1945. The USS Bunker Hill.

      Saturday, May 3, 2025

      Thursday, May 3, 1945. Dönitz sends a surrender delegation.

      The British and Soviet forces near Wismar on the Baltic coast, 3 May 1945

      Karl Dönitz arranged to send a surrender delegation to Bernard Montgomery's headquarters.

      The Portuguese government ordered official flags to fly at half-mast in a day of national mourning for Adolf Hitler.

      The British Army entered Hamburg unopposed.

      The German liner Cap Arcona was sunk by the RAF in the Bay of Lübeck.  It was carrying 5,000 concentration camp prisoners. Over 400 SS personnel made it to lifeboats and were rescued but only 350 of the prisoners survived.

      The British Army took Rangoon.

      US troops landed near Santa Cruz in the Gulf of Davao.

      Work commenced on the United Nations Charter.

      Last edition:

      Wednesday, May 2, 1945. Berlin taken.

        Monday, April 28, 2025

        Saturday, April 28, 1945. The fate of the fascists.

        From Uncle Mike:

        April 28-30, 1945: The Ends of the Dictators

        Mike is covering two fateful days ine one post, April 28, when Mussolini was executed by Italian Partisans, and April 30, when Hitler killed himself.  In both instances they took a "significant other" with them, in Mussolini's case, that being his current mistress, Clara Petacci, age 33.

        Mussolini and Petacci had been caught trying to cross into Switzerland by partisans, who executed them the following day.  They were shot, and then their bodies hung upside down.

        Mussolini had been the first of the fascist dictators to hold power.  There had always been opposition to the one time socialist turned fascist, but armed Italian opposition only came about after the Allies had landed on Italian territory.  As with France, whose resistance swelled as it became obvious that the Allies would land, Italian opposition was heavily dominated by the far left, but there were other elements in it as well.  Mussolini, as already noted, had once been a member of the far left as well, and it's probable, frankly, that amongst those who watched and cheered his death were those who had once cheered him.

        Often missed, Nicola Bombacci, Alessandro Pavolini and Achille Starace were also executed at the same time. Nicola Bombacci was an Italian Marxist revolutionary and later a fascist politician.  The others were prominent fascists.


        Like Eva Braun, there's little to note about Petacci, other than that she was loyal, like Braun, to her dictator until death.  In Mussolini's case, that was not true of his spouse, whom he left when he left.

        The U.S. Fifth Army took Alessandria and Vicenza.

        Hitler ordered Himmler to be arrested, learning of his effort to make a deal in the West.

        German and Soviet troops fought on in Berlin, where the Red Army was within a mile of the Fuhrerbunker.

        The eccentric Rupprecht Gerngroß lead a military uprising against the Nazis in Munich, which failed.

        Teh U-56 was sunk in an RAF raid on Kiel.

        Hitler's brother in law, notorious SS figure Hermann Fegelein, was executed.  He was planning on taking off with what he could.

        Sunday, April 27, 2025

        Friday, April 27, 1945. Mussolini captured by Partisans, Second Austrian Republic comes into being.

        Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were captured by partisans while attempting to cross into Switzerland.

        The Red Army took Potsdam, Prenzlau, Angemunde and Tempelhof airfield.

        US troops liberated Kaufering concentration camp.

        The Western Allies rejected Himmler's peace offer for the Germans to lay down their arms in the west and sent a reminder that the German surrender was to be unconditional.

        One of the interesting things here is that its not entirely clearly that the Western Allies understood the offer the way it was made.  Theoretically, it might have been possible to accept the offer as a largescale troop surrender which, while it would have ended fighting in the west, it would not have ended the war against Germany.

        The U.S. Fifth Army reached Genoa, Italy, which was mostly already liberated by Italian partisans.

        SS architect Hans Schleif committed suicide at age 43.  Schleif had been involved in removing cultural material from Poland, but he oddly never really seemed to be fully on board with the worst elements of Nazism.  His death was probably needless, but he probably would have served time after the war.

        Former Austrian chancellor Karl Renner set up a provisional government composed of Social Democrats, Christian Socialists, and Communists and proclaimed the reestablishment of Austria as a democratic republic.  This became the Second Austrian Republic, which remains today.

        US and Philippine forces commenced the Battle of Davao.  US forces took Baguio.

        U.S. troops firing a pack howitzer in the Philippines, April 27, 1945.

        Tuesday, April 22, 2025

        Sunday, April 22, 1945. The Bunker.

        Adolph Hitler held conference in the Führerbunker to discuss the military situation. He learned there that the Steiner attack ordered the prior day had not occured, and became enraged.

        He announced his intention to remain in Berlin nad kill himself, and conceded that the war was lost.  Those wishing to leave the bunker were given permission to do so.

        This scene if famously depicted in the movie Downfall.

        Himmler met in secret with Count Folke Bernadotte of Sweden and asked him to act as an intermediary to offer the surrender of all German forces in the west.  The message would be delivered two days later.

        The 7th Army crossed the Danube.

        The Red Army liberated the Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

        The U.S. Navy sank the U-518.

        The British Fourteenth Army captured Taungoo and Oktwin, Burma.

        Private First Class Thomas performed the actions that resulted in his winning the Medal of Honor in the Philippines..

        He was a member of the leading squad of Company B, which was attacking along a narrow, wooded ridge. The enemy strongly entrenched in camouflaged emplacements on the hill beyond directed heavy fire and hurled explosive charges on the attacking riflemen. Pfc. Thomas, an automatic rifleman, was struck by 1 of these charges, which blew off both his legs below the knees. He refused medical aid and evacuation, and continued to fire at the enemy until his weapon was put out of action by an enemy bullet. Still refusing aid, he threw his last 2 grenades. He destroyed 3 of the enemy after suffering the wounds from which he died later that day. The effective fire of Pfc. Thomas prevented the repulse of his platoon and assured the capture of the hostile position. His magnificent courage and heroic devotion to duty provided a lasting inspiration for his comrades.

        The US 31st Infantry Division landed at Moro Gulf.  US forces took Jolo.

        German mathematician Wilhelm Cauer, 44, was executed by the Red Army, with the soldiers killing him apparently not aware that he was on a list of people to be found by the Soviets for their talents.

        "As an ambulance jeep evacuates three wounded U.S. soldiers to a rear area field hospital, one is given blood plasma en route by a corpsman of 102nd Med. Bn. on Okinawa. 22 April, 1945."

        Last edition:

        Saturday, April 21, 1945. Steiner refuses to attack, Hitler decides on suicide, Model kills himself, May dies heroically in action.

        Wednesday, April 16, 2025

        Monday, April 16, 1945. The final battle in the West.

        The Battle of Berlin began with the launching the Battle of the Oder–Neisse and the Battle of the Seelow Heights, committing 2,000,000 men and 6,000 tanks to the effort.  German defenses were well prepared, but half the number of troops were available.

        "L-R: Pfc. Gordon S. Cagle, Spring City, Tenn., Pfc. Woodrow Johnston, Phillipsburg, Pa., and Sgt. Edward Wojtalik, Detroit, Mich., three 71st Division infantrymen.of the Third U.S. Army take in the scenes at Kronach, Germany, still smouldering from U.S. shelling. 16 April, 1945. 26th Infantry Division and 71st Infantry Division. Photographer: Lt. Ken Elk, 166th Signal Photo Co. Photo Source: U.S. National Archives. Digitized by Signal Corps Archive.

        The US 7th Army units reach the outskirts of Nuremberg. The special prisoner of war camp at Colditz is liberated by other Allied units during the day.

        Hitler issued an address to German soldiers:

        SOLDIERS ON THE GERMAN EASTERN FRONT:

        The Jewish Bolshevik arch-enemy has gone over to the attack with his masses for the last time. He attempts to smash Germany and to eradicate our nation. You soldiers from the east today already know yourselves to a large extent what fate is threatening, above all, German women, girls and children. While old men and children are being murdered, women and girls are humiliated to the status of barracks prostitutes. Others are marched off to Siberia.

        We have anticipated this thrust, and since January of this year everything has been done to build up a strong front. Mighty artillery is meeting the enemy. Our infantry's casualties were replenished by countless new units. Reserve units, new formations and the Volksturm reinforce our front. This time the Bolsheviks will experience Asia's old fate. That is, he must and will bleed to death in front of the capital of the German Reich.

        Whosoever does not do his duty at this moment is a traitor to our nation. The regiment or division that leaves its position acts so disgracefully that it will have to be ashamed before the women and children who are withstanding the bombing terror in our towns.

        Above all, look out for the treacherous few officers and soldiers who, to secure their own miserable lives, will fight against us in Russian pay, perhaps even in German uniform. Whosoever gives you a command to retreat is, unless you know him well, to be arrested immediately, and if necessary to be executed immediately, irrespective of his rank.

        If in these coming days and weeks every soldier on the Eastern Front fulfills his duty, Asia's last onslaught will collapse just as in the end our enemies' penetration in the west will despite everything, come to nought. Berlin remains German, Vienna will again be German and Europe will never be Russian.

        Form one community, sworn to defend not a vain conception of a fatherland, but to defend your homeland, your women, your children and thus your future.

        In this hour the entire German nation looks to you, my soldiers in the east, and only hopes that by your fanaticism, by your arms and by your leadership, the Bolshevik onslaught is drowned in a blood bath.

        At the moment when fate has taken the greatest war criminal of all times from this earth, the war will take a decisive turn.

        ADOLF HITLER

        Truman addressed Congress for the first time.

        Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Members of the Congress:

        It is with a heavy heart that I stand before you, my friends and colleagues, in the Congress of the United States.

        Only yesterday, we laid to rest the mortal remains of our beloved President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. At a time like this, words are inadequate. The most eloquent tribute would be a reverent silence.

        Yet, in this decisive hour, when world events are moving so rapidly, our silence might be misunderstood and might give comfort to our enemies.

        In His infinite wisdom, Almighty God has seen fit to take from us a great man who loved, and was beloved by, all humanity.

        No man could possibly fill the tremendous void left by the passing of that noble soul. No words can ease the aching hearts of untold millions of every race, creed and color. The world knows it has lost a heroic champion of justice and freedom.

        Tragic fate has thrust upon us grave responsibilities. We must carry on. Our departed leader never looked backward. He looked forward and moved forward. That is what he would want us to do. That is what America will do.

        So much blood has already been shed for the ideals which we cherish, and for which Franklin Delano Roosevelt lived and died, that we dare not permit even a momentary pause in the hard fight for victory.

        Today, the entire world is looking to America for enlightened leadership to peace and progress. Such a leadership requires vision, courage and tolerance. It can be provided only by a united nation deeply devoted to the highest ideals.

        With great humility I call upon all Americans to help me keep our nation united in defense of those ideals which have been so eloquently proclaimed by Franklin Roosevelt.

        I want in turn to assure my fellow Americans and all of those who love peace and liberty throughout the world that I will support and defend those ideals with all my strength and all my heart. That is my duty and I shall not shirk it.

        So that there can be no possible misunderstanding, both Germany and Japan can be certain, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that America will continue the fight for freedom until no vestige of resistance remains!

        We are deeply conscious of the fact that much hard fighting is still ahead of us.

        Having to pay such a heavy price to make complete victory certain, America will never become a party to any plan for partial victory!

        To settle for merely another temporary respite would surely jeopardize the future security of all the world.

        Our demand has been, and it remains—Unconditional Surrender!

        We will not traffic with the breakers of the peace on the terms of the peace.

        The responsibility for making of the peace--and it is a very grave responsibility—must rest with the defenders of the peace. We are not unconscious of the dictates of humanity. We do not wish to see unnecessary or unjustified suffering. But the laws of God and of man have been violated and the guilty must not go unpunished. Nothing shall shake our determination to punish the war criminals even though we must pursue them to the ends of the earth.

        Lasting peace can never be secured if we permit our dangerous opponents to plot future wars with impunity at any mountain retreat—however distant.

        In this shrinking world, it is futile to seek safety behind geographical barriers. Real security will be found only in law and in justice.

        Here in America, we have labored long and hard to achieve a social order worthy of our great heritage. In our time, tremendous progress has been made toward a really democratic way of life. Let me assure the forward-looking people of America that there will be no relaxation in our efforts to improve the lot of the common people.

        In the difficult days ahead, unquestionably we shall face problems of staggering proportions. However, with the faith of our fathers in our hearts, we do not fear the future.

        On the battlefields, we have frequently faced overwhelming odds—and won! At home, Americans will not be less resolute!

        We shall never cease our struggle to preserve and maintain our American way of life.

        At this moment, America, along with her brave Allies, is paying again a heavy price for the defense of our freedom. With characteristic energy, we are assisting in the liberation of entire nations. Gradually, the shackles of slavery are being broken by the forces of freedom.

        All of us are praying for a speedy victory. Every day peace is delayed costs a terrible toll.

        The armies of liberation today are bringing to an end Hitler's ghastly threat to dominate the world. Tokyo rocks under the weight of our bombs.

        The grand strategy of the United Nations' war has been determined—due in no small measure to the vision of our departed Commander in Chief. We are now carrying out our part of that strategy under the able direction of Admiral Leahy, General Marshall, Admiral King, General Arnold, General Eisenhower, Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur.

        I want the entire world to know that this direction must and will remain—unchanged and unhampered!

        Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. Because of these sacrifices, the dawn of justice and freedom throughout the world slowly casts its gleam across the horizon.

        Our forefathers came to our rugged shores in search of religious tolerance, political freedom and economic opportunity. For those fundamental rights, they risked their lives. We well know today that such rights can be preserved only by constant vigilance, the eternal price of liberty!

        Within an hour after I took the oath of office, I announced that the San Francisco Conference would proceed. We will face the problems of peace with the same courage that we have faced and mastered the problems of war.

        In the memory of those who have made the supreme sacrifice—in the memory of our fallen President—we shall not fail!

        It is not enough to yearn for peace. We must work, and if necessary, fight for it. The task of creating a sound international organization is complicated and difficult. Yet, without such organization, the rights of man on earth cannot be protected. Machinery for the just settlement of international differences must be found. Without such machinery, the entire world will have to remain an armed camp. The world will be doomed to deadly conflict, devoid of hope for real peace.

        Fortunately, people have retained hope for a durable peace. Thoughtful people have always had faith that ultimately justice must triumph. Past experience surely indicates that, without justice, an enduring peace becomes impossible.

        In bitter despair, some people have come to believe that wars are inevitable. With tragic fatalism, they insist that wars have always been, of necessity, and of necessity wars always will be. To such defeatism, men and women of good will must not and can not yield. The outlook for humanity is not so hopeless.

        During the dark hours of this horrible war, entire nations were kept going by something intangible—hope! When warned that abject submission offered the only salvation against overwhelming power, hope showed the way to victory.

        Hope has become the secret weapon of the forces of liberation!

        Aggressors could not dominate the human mind. As long as hope remains, the spirit of man will never be crushed.

        But hope alone was not and is not sufficient to avert war. We must not only have hope but we must have faith enough to work with other peace-loving nations to maintain the peace. Hope was not enough to beat back the aggressors as long as the peace-loving nations were unwilling to come to each other's defense. The aggressors were beaten back only when the peace-loving nations united to defend themselves.

        If wars in the future are to be prevented the nations must be united in their determination to keep the peace under law.

        Nothing is more essential to the future peace of the world than continued cooperation of the nations which had to muster the force necessary to defeat the conspiracy of the Axis powers to dominate the world.

        While these great states have a special responsibility to enforce the peace, their responsibility is based upon the obligations resting upon all states, large and small, not to use force in international relations except in the defense of law. The responsibility of the great states is to serve and not to dominate the world.

        To build a foundation of enduring peace we must not only work in harmony with our friends abroad, but we must have the united support of our own people.

        Even the most experienced pilot cannot bring a ship safely into harbor, unless he has the full cooperation of the crew. For the benefit of all, every individual must do his duty.

        I appeal to every American, regardless of party, race, creed, or color, to support our efforts to build a strong and lasting United Nations Organization.

        You, the Members of the Congress, surely know how I feel. Only with your help can I hope to complete one of the greatest tasks ever assigned to a public servant. With Divine guidance, and your help, we will find the new passage to a far better world, a kindly and friendly world, with just and lasting peace.

        With confidence, I am depending upon all of you.

        To destroy greedy tyrants with dreams of world domination, we cannot continue in successive generations to sacrifice our finest youth.

        In the name of human decency and civilization, a more rational method of deciding national differences must and will be found!

        America must assist suffering humanity back along the path of peaceful progress. This will require time and tolerance. We shall need also an abiding faith in the people, the kind of faith and courage which Franklin Delano Roosevelt always had!

        Today, America has become one of the most powerful forces for good on earth. We must keep it so. We have achieved a world leadership which does not depend solely upon our military and naval might.

        We have learned to fight with other nations in common defense of our freedom. We must now learn to live with other nations for our mutual good. We must learn to trade more with other nations so that there may be for our mutual advantage—increased production, increased employment and better standards of living throughout the world.

        May we Americans all live up to our glorious heritage.

        In that way, America may well lead the world to peace and prosperity.

        At this moment, I have in my heart a prayer. As I have assumed my heavy duties, I humbly pray Almighty God, in the words of King Solomon:

        "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?"

        I ask only to be a good and faithful servant of my Lord and my people.

        The Canadian Army took Harlingen and occupied Leeuwarden and Groningen in the Netherlands.

        The German ship Goya was sunk in the Baltic by the Soviet L-3 resulting in over 6,000 deaths.

        The U-78, U-880 and U-1274 were sunk.

        POW camp Oflag IV-C in Colditz Castle, was captured by the U.S. 1st Army.

        German Nazi philosopher Ernst Bergmann, 53, killed himself.

        The US 77th Infantry Division lands on the small island of Ie Shima off of Okinawa and meets heavy resistance.

        The USS Pringle was sunk by a kamikaze off of Okinawa.

        Arakan, Taungup falls to the British forces in Bruma.

        American forces land on Fort Frank in Mainal Bay.  It is abandoned.  The bay is therefore completely captured.

        Last edition:

        Sunday, April 15, 1945. Race to Berlin.