Romani, gypsies, rebelled at Auschwitz. Tipped off by a Yugoslavian member of the SS, a Pole alerted the Gypsies the night prior of the SS plan to destroy their camp the following day. Armed with shovels and other tools, they refused to come out of their buildings, and a confused SS withdrew. The event was bloodless, but the destruction of the camp and the murder of its occupants was only postponed.
Perhaps coincidentally, or not, the first train carrying Hungarian Jews arrived at Auschwitz on this day as well.
Pvt. Joseph A. Zbin, Cleveland, Ohio, of Co. A, 338th Inf. carrying a 90 lb load of mortar ammo through town of Scauri. 16 May, 1944. He's armed with a M1 Carbine. He died in 1977 at age 55 back in Ohio.
Allied forces generally advanced in Italy, save for at Monte Cassino where the Polish 2nd Corps was meeting difficult resistance.
Twenty three year old 1st Lt. Keith J. Bauer, 937th F.A. Battery, of Arkansaw Wis., washes up on this day in 1944. His post-war plans were, reportedly to "get married", "get a farm", "get out of the Army". Bauer was from a farm family. Bauer was a pilot and was still in the Army in 1954, so apparently his plans changed, or he was recalled during the Korean War. In this photograph you can tell that he's an officer simply because his wool shirt has epaulets.
The Soviet Air Force bombed the rail yards at Minsk.
The Allied powers entered into an agreement with Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway about immediate post-war governance.
British Coast Command harried German submarines.
Anti-aircraft crew training at Ft. Bliss, May 16, 1944.
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