What happend on this day?

[Kovalski]

I don't know if anyone ever tried to start such a thread.
If you know that something interesting happend this day, share it with other members.

22th of June
1940 -
France forced to sign armistice with Nazi Germany.
1941 -
Nazi Germany launched an attack against Soviet Union, so-called "Operation Barbarossa".
First Croatian anti-fascist armed unit (partisans) founded near Sisak, Croatia.
Various Communist and Socialist French Resistance movements merge to one group.
1944 -
Opening day of the Soviet Union's Operation Bagration against Army Group Centre

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_22

[Kovalski]

23 of June
1940
- German leader Adolf Hitler surveys newly defeated Paris in now occupied France.
1941
- Lithuanian Activist Front initiates Lithuanian 1941 independence from the Soviet Union; it lasted only briefly as the Nazis occupied Lithuania a few weeks later.
- RAF bomb raid on Emden. 185 aircraft of 5 types. 8 aircraft - 3 Wellingtons, 2 Stirlings, 1 Halifax, 1 Lancaster - lost.
Only part of the bomber force identified the target. Emden reports about 100 houses damaged and 1 person injured.
1944
- Thomas Mann becomes a US citizen.

[Mustang88]

I found a website just like what is on Wikipedia.
http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/tdih.jsp?category=leadstory
hope this helps!

[temujin77]

Today, 3 Jul, Battle of Mers-el-Kebir took place in 1940. Admiral Somerville's Force H of the British Royal Navy defeated the French Navy in Algeria. 1,297 French sailors died.

http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=96

[Outerheaven]

July 3rd

1941
In the area of German Army Group North, clear weather permits the Luftwaffe to provide close air support again. The German 41st Panzer Corps (Panzer Group 4) makes good progress against the relatively weak forces of the Soviet 1st Mechanized Corps, and two reserve rifle corps, of the Soviet Northwest Front (Sobennikov). Meanwhile, in the area of Army Group Center, elements of German 9th and 2nd Armies eliminate the resistance of Soviet forces trapped in the Bialystok pocket.Stalin broadcasts for the first time since the German invasion. The reason for his delay in responding is not clear. He calls for total effort and a policy of scorched earth before the German advance, and guerilla warfare in their rear. He also defends the 1939 non-aggression pact with Nazi Germany on the grounds of his desire for peace. The broadcast is the first of many to emphasize patriotic nationalism.

1942
The New Zealand 2nd Division and their supporting artillery almost destroy the Italian Ariete Division attacking toward Alam Nayil.
1944
Soviet forces of the 1st and 3rd Belorussian Fronts complete the capture of Minsk. German forces of the 4th Army, which has been pinned by 2nd Belorussian Front, are now trapped east of the city. German casualties and equipment losses are severe. Most of the forces of German Army Group Center are in disarray.

The information is from: http:///bkportal.com/default.asp (http://bkportal.com/default.asp)

[Outerheaven]

July 4th
Kursk
1941
In the north, Ostrov (southeast of Lake Peipus in Russia) falls to forces of the German 41st Panzer Corps (Panzer Group 4).

1942
The siege of Sevastopol ends with massive Soviet losses. The Germans take 90,000 prisoners. The Germans have a total of 24,000 casualties.

1943
Kursk
Southern Sector
In preparation for the start of Operation Citadel the next day, the objective in the southern sector is to secure the high ground in front of the start positions. 4th Panzer Army has 916 combat-ready tanks and guns. 2nd SS Panzer has 470 and 48th Panzer 446.
02:30 2.SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler reaches preparation areas.
02:45 Stuka attack for Gross Deutschland and 11th PzD at Butovo.
02:45 1.LSSAH reach their preparation area.
03:00 Artillery bombardment starts.
16:45 11Pz takes high ground E of Butovo.
21:25 I/1. and II/2.LSSAH caught by artillery in assembly areas. Casualties are minor.
22:30 6Gds Army cuts in counter-bombardment.
23:15 Attack on Russian outpost positions started by 1. and 2.LSSAH.
By midnight, the 3rd PzD finally reach their objective of Gertsovka.

1944
The Soviet 1st Baltic Front launches attacks on the right flank of German Army Group North. Polotsk is captured. Attacks by the US 7th and 8th Corps (parts of US 1st Army) continue. The Canadian 3rd Division (part of British 2nd Army) captures the village of Carpiquet, west of Caen, but cannot secure the airfield.

This information is from: http://bkportal.com/default.asp

[Gen. Sandworm]

Outerheaven just curious but is there some reason while you must always type in BOLD??????

[Outerheaven]

No, there is no reason. I just like the way it looks. If it bothers people I'll stop.

[Gen. Sandworm]

No, there is no reason. I just like the way it looks. If it bothers people I'll stop.

Not really a problem but most are just used to the bold when people are really trying to make a point.

[Outerheaven]

July 5th

Kursk
1943
Kursk, July 5th
Northern Sector
As a result of prisoner statements the Russians are alerted to the fact that the Germans will launch Operation Citadel on the morning of the 5th. Rokossovsky issues the necessary orders for the implementation of counter preparations.
At first light, engineers sent out to gap minefields discover how complex the Soviets have sown them, with one ten-man team lifting 2,700 mines in five hours.
02:20 Soviet artillery assault begins against known German positions, delaying the planned launch time for the assault in the north.
Early in the morning, German Freya radar reports the approach of large groups of enemy aircraft with the intention of destroying the Luftwaffe on the ground. Flying in rigid formation, the Soviet groups are decimated, with First Air Dvision shooting down around 120 aircraft in the north.
04:25 More than 150 German bombers escorted by 50 to 60 fighters strike Soviet positions across the entire front. This initial assault was followed by waves of bombers striking every 15 minutes.
04:30 Ninth Germany Army begin their own eight minute artillery preparation, focusing on the first four kilometres of Soviet defence
05:30 German infantry committed along a 25-mile front.
06:20 To the right of the 20th Panzer Division, 6th Infantry Division goes into action along the valley of the Oka.
09:00 First Soviet trench lines breached by the 20th Panzer Divisions Mark III and IV panzers.
12:00 Tigers of the 1st and 2nd Companies of Heavy Panzer Battalion 505 take the village of Butyrki.
Late afternoon - elements of the 86th Infantry Division, supported by a regiment from the 18th Pz Division and Elefants from the 643rd and 654th Antitank Detachment reach the outskirts of Ponyri.
By the end of the day of the 5th, Models forces have broken into the first defensive belt between the Soviet 70th and 13th Armies.
Southern Sector
00:35 SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler units report they are in their assembly areas.
01:20 II/2 LSSAH assaults and takes hill 228.6.
01:30 Brief Russian artillery bombardment catches 2/D.SS Das Reich in their assembly areas.
01:33 1.LSSAH reports capture of hills west of Jachontov.
02:00 III/D.SSDR infiltrates Russian positions.
02:15 Counter-attack against LSSAH on hill 228.6 fails.
02:45 III/D.SSDR units take initial objective - Jakontov.
03:00 1. and 2.LSSAH move off for main assault.
03:00 D.SSDR moves off for main assault.
03:15 Artillery preparation lasting 50 minutes along the LSSAH front.
03:15 LSSAH StuGAbt and Tiger company move off.
03:30 Start time for air attacks.
03:50 Stuka attack on hill 220.5 on the LSSAH front lasting 15 mins.
04:05 LSSAH main assault starts.
04:10 Mass bombardment of Russian positions between Gertsovka and Belgorod; lasts 50 minutes.
05:00 Main German effort commences.
05:30 6th Guards Army reports heavy infantry and tank attacks.
06:00 SSDR main effort starts.
06:05 III/D.SSDR hit by Russian artillery bombardment near Beresov.
08:00 Stuka attack on Beresov in front of SSDR.
08:15 SSDR storms Beresov from N; heavy fighting.
09:00 Gross Deutschland loses 36 tanks stuck in minefields on approach to Cherkasskoye.
11:45 2.LSSAH finally takes hill 220.5.
12:00 2.LSSAH takes hill 217.1, 800m NE of 220.5.
12:00 1.LSSAH assaults and takes hill 224.2.
12:00 III/D.SSDR fails in attempt to capture hill 233 6Km N of Beresov.
12:30 2.LSSAH assaults hill 215.4 - 2.5Km S of Bykowka; bitter fighting ensues.
14:30 Pz.LSSAH ordered to move up, attack past Jakowlevo and cross the Psel.
16:00 I/D.SSDR takes hill 233.
16:00 Attack by Pz.SSDR cancelled due to heavy minefields north of Beresov.
16:15 1.LSSAH reaches E side of Bykowka.
16:30 Vatutin orders Katukov to move 6T, 3M Corps to cover Oboyan; 5GT, 2GIT to move east of Luchki to attack towards Belgorod.
16:30 2.LSSAH drives on through Bykowka to come level with 1.LSSAH.
18:00 Pz.LSSAH starts assault towards Jakovlevo; AT positions halt the advance.
18:10 1. and 2.LSSAH move 1Km north of Bykowka, taking Kosimo-Demjanowka and hill 234.8 and stop there.
19:40 Vatutin reinforces 7G Army with 3 RDs of 35G Corps to cover Korocha axis.
20:00 GD finally takes Cherkasskoye; 11 Pz moves 5 miles up road towards Oboyan.
20:00 3 Pz storms Korovino; 3rd PzD armour moves on 2 miles to Krasny Pochinok.
Toward the end of the day of the 5th 255th 332nd Infantry Divisions move up on the flank of 3rd PzD, a total of 6 miles into Russian defences.

This information is from:http://bkportal.com/default.asp

[temujin77]

Tomorrow, 7 Jul, marks the anniversary of the Japanese invasion of China with the Lugou Bridge Incident. On that date in 1937, Japanese troops violated Chinese territory on the excuse of of a missing soldier, and pulled China into WW2.

http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=25

[temujin77]

Tomorrow, 10 Jul, marks the day when Operation Husky was launched. The operation landed Allied troops on the island of Sicily. By the next month, all of Sicily were under Allied control, tremendously damaging Benito Mussolini's credibility and very soon led to a coup d'etat against him.

http://www.ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=53

[temujin77]

Am I the only one keeping this thread alive? Well, I shall continue the attempt :)

Today in 1945, the USS Indianapolis was sunk by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine. She was sunk merely four days after completing a mission to deliver critical atomic bomb components, including a radioactive core, to the new American base at Tinian. Imagine if luck was really truly on the Japanese side and allowed I-58 to find the American cruiser more than four days before she did!?!

http://ww2db.com/ship_spec.php?ship_id=242

[Lancer44]

Tomorrow 1 of August. 62-nd Anniversary of Warsaw Uprising.

At the end of July of 1944, Poland is in its fifth year of German occupation. On the eastern front, German armies are in full retreat suffering from the Red Army's spring offensive which is approaching Warsaw's eastern suburbs. The liberation of Poland's capital seems to be within reach.
General 'Bor' Komorowski, commander of the Polish Underground Home Army (Armia Krajowa, AK), sets the beginning of the uprising in Warsaw against the German occupying forces at 'W-hour'; 5:00 p.m. on August 1, 1944. The uprising is expected to last about a week and have the character of mopping up and disarming operation. The insurgents, however, are unaware that the Germans have decided to defend 'fortress' Warsaw and to counter-attack Red Army forces to the east of the city.

Warsaw's insurgents an estimated 40,000 soldiers, including 4,000 women, have only enough weapons for 2,500 fighters. They are facing a 15,000-strong German garrison which will grow to a force of 30,000, armed with tanks, planes, and artillery.

Before 'W-Hour' (W for wybuch, outbreak in Polish), thousands of mobilized Home Army soldiers are moving into their planned concentration points. In several City Centre, Wola and Zoliborz locations, the fighting begins ahead of schedule.
Insurgents attack 180 German military installations and the town's key strategic positions. After bloody battles, their attacks upon the bridges, airports, train stations and main military and police installations are repelled.

However, significant areas of the city's left bank districts are captured including: the Prudential high-rise building, the main post office, and the state mint. Gas, electric, and water works are in Polish hands. The Warsaw Power Plant in the Riverside district will be restored to operation providing electrical power for hospitals, printing presses, weapon production facilities, and other services until September, 1944. Communication through the crucial west-east front supplying arteries is severed.

In Wola, insurgents capture a large Waffen-SS food and military uniforms warehouse. Many Polish units chose to wear these uniforms embellished with white and red armbands to represent the national colors. The first day of fighting killed 2,000 insurgents and 500 Germans. At nightfall, a network of street barricades is constructed, blocking the most of the city's arteries.

The first issue of Information Bulletin (Biuletyn Informacyjny) newspaper is published. Overall, over 130 different newspapers and periodicals are published in Warsaw during the Uprising.

The Soviet eastern front offensive stops within twelve miles of Praga, the suburb on Warsaw's right bank; it will not resume until September 11, 1944. The Soviet air force abandons the skies over Warsaw to the Luftwaffe.

From http://www.warsawuprising.com/

This account cover first two days of the Uprising.

Lancer44

[temujin77]

Thanks Lancer, that was a good read about the Warsaw Uprising. By the way, my colleague John Radzilowski, a university professor, wrote an article on the Warsaw Uprising for WW2DB here, which hopefully may shed some additional light on the event as well.

http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=150

Beyond the implications of it as a WW2 event, the Warsaw Uprising was also a major event of the Cold War. It really gave a window for the Western Allies to see the ambitions of Joseph Stalin.

[Lancer44]

Thanks Lancer, that was a good read about the Warsaw Uprising. By the way, my colleague John Radzilowski, a university professor, wrote an article on the Warsaw Uprising for WW2DB here, which hopefully may shed some additional light on the event as well.

http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=150

Beyond the implications of it as a WW2 event, the Warsaw Uprising was also a major event of the Cold War. It really gave a window for the Western Allies to see the ambitions of Joseph Stalin.

Hi temujin77,

Nice work of John Radzxilowski. I can understand a bit of a simplification neccessary in a short article.
I spotted something:
"After the first weeks of failing to retake the city, the Germans began to remove some of the more thuggish police units and bring in regular combat units backed by dive bombers, tanks, artillery, and railroad artillery. The infamous Kaminski brigade made up of Soviet deserters, responsible for the mass murder of tens of thousands of civilians was relocated to the Kampinos Forest outside the city. On the night of September 2, local AK forces slipped into the brigade’s compound and tossed hundreds of grenades and petrol bombs into their barracks, virtually annihilating the unit."

I never heard about this action... Can you ask him abouth some sources?

Cheers,

Lancer44

[SS Tiger]

Thanks Lancer, that was a good read about the Warsaw Uprising. By the way, my colleague John Radzilowski, a university professor, wrote an article on the Warsaw Uprising for WW2DB here, which hopefully may shed some additional light on the event as well.

http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=150

Beyond the implications of it as a WW2 event, the Warsaw Uprising was also a major event of the Cold War. It really gave a window for the Western Allies to see the ambitions of Joseph Stalin.

Congrats to your colleague on a very good article! I found it very interesting.

[temujin77]

Lancer44 and SS Tiger, I'll forward your compliments to John, I'm sure he will appreciate it very much.

Lancer44, Wikipedia has a pretty good brief on the Kaminski Brigade http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaminski_Brigade which includes a note on their horrendous involvement in the Warsaw Uprising. Take a look at that first, and hopefully I'll be able to follow up with more on the brigade from John soon.

[temujin77]

John got back to me and answered some questions about the Kaminski Brigade: "The incident in question is best described (in English) in Richard Lukas, Forgotten Holocaust: The Poles under German Occupation, 1939-1944 (University of Kentucky Press), pgs. 194-206, which provides a more detailed sketch of Kaminski's and Dirlewanger's careers and the nature of their units." He didn't go into a lot of detail, but definitely sounds like Lt. Col. Adolf Pilch and his men of the Home Army men gave those Kaminski Brigade bandits sheer hell that night. I think I might just pick up that book some time, sounds very interesting.

[Lancer44]

John got back to me and answered some questions about the Kaminski Brigade: "The incident in question is best described (in English) in Richard Lukas, Forgotten Holocaust: The Poles under German Occupation, 1939-1944 (University of Kentucky Press), pgs. 194-206, which provides a more detailed sketch of Kaminski's and Dirlewanger's careers and the nature of their units." He didn't go into a lot of detail, but definitely sounds like Lt. Col. Adolf Pilch and his men of the Home Army men gave those Kaminski Brigade bandits sheer hell that night. I think I might just pick up that book some time, sounds very interesting.

Many thanks temujin77! Say warm hello to John.
I got it now.
Excellent account of this action is here: http://wilk.wpk.p.lodz.pl/~whatfor/rona.htm

Unfortunately only in polish... but definitely worth viewing.
Even without ability to read you'll see the extent of Russian involvement in Warsaw.

BTW Adolf Pilch "Dolina" was second lieutenant.

Cheers,

Lancer44

[Lancer44]

Warsaw Uprising 3-4 August 44

Heinrich Himmler, head of SS and Gestapo, dispatches relief troops to Warsaw headed by SS Lt. Gen. Heinrich Reinefarth and consisting of SS and police units from Poznan, Dirlewanger penal brigade, Kaminski RONA brigade, Azerbaijan infantry battalion, and others. Units of Hermann Göering division are also arriving.

SS General Erich von dem Bach assumes command of all German forces suppressing the Uprising.

Himmler's gives the order to kill all of the city's inhabitants, not take prisoners, and level Warsaw as an example for the rest of Europe.

The first German aerial bombardment by Ju-87 Stuka which will bomb the city daily. The insurgents have no anti-aircraft weapons to defend the city from the attack.

The uprising in Praga, (suburbs on the left side of Vistula river), fails because of the overwhelming size of the German forces and the end of the Soviet offensive. The remaining insurgents units return underground or crossing into insurgent-controlled areas inside the city.

In the liberated districts, civil administrative structures operating within the framework of the Polish Underground State start functioning.

[Lancer44]

Warsaw Uprising 4-7 August 44

A major German offensive with fresh relief troops sent to open east-west thoroughfares begins with attacks on the Wola and Ohota districts.
German troops conduct mass executions of approximately 65,000 civilians in the captured districts. Poles, without regard for age or gender, are rounded up house by house and shot. More than 1, 360 patients and staff of Wola and St. Lazarus hospitals are murdered. The Special Group 'verbrennung-kommando' is collecting and burning the bodies.

In Mokotow, female civilians are used as shields in front of tanks that are attacking insurgents' positions. This practice will continue throughout the Uprising.

The insurgent battalion Zoska, aided by two captured Panther tanks, liberates 350 Polish and European Jewish prisoners from the Goose Farm concentration camp. Many of the freed Jews join the insurgents.

Making a round-trip from Brindisi, Italy the first Allied nighttime airdrop of supplies by Halifax and Consolidated B24 Liberator planes reaches Warsaw.

The siege of Brühl Palace, a government complex near Saxon Garden is lifted by German forces breaking through Wola district. The German Governor of Warsaw region Ludwig Fischer, and Warsaw garrison commander general Reiner Stahel leave the building escorted by tanks. With the fall of Wola, the Old Town quarter is cut off from the City Centre and surrounded.

In Warsaw's Pruszkow suburb, a Durchgangslager 121 selection camp is established. Before the end of 1944, 600,000 deported inhabitants of Warsaw will pass through.

In the liberated areas, Scout Postal Service starts distributing mail, newspapers, and messages even to the areas under German control.

[temujin77]

On this date in 1900, Ernie Pyle was born. "In an era before television, Ernie Pyle brought World War II home to millions of Americans. At the time of his death on an island near Okinawa in 1945, his work appeared in over 400 daily and 300 weekly newspapers."

http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=72

Today, he is considered one of the best journalists in the WW2-era.

[Lancer44]

Warsaw Uprising 8-16 August44

Home Army clandestine radio station 'Lightning' (Blyskawica) starts broadcasting at the frequency of 32.8 and 52.1 meters, followed on August 9 by a civilian Polish Radio at the frequency of 43.4 meters. Both stations will remain on the air until the end of the Uprising.

The first communications links through sewers are opened between isolated districts of Mokotow and City Centre. They will serve as vital transportation and evacuation lines for the duration of the Uprising.

A German leaflet titled 'Ultimatum' and signed by a Supreme Commander is dropped from planes. It urges the Warsaw inhabitants to leave the city, promising accommodations, jobs, and medical care, while threatening 'consequences' to those who disobey the call.

The main German offensive against the Old Town starts with 8,000 soldiers; it will continue unabated until the quarter falls on September 2. The offensive's objective is to isolate insurgent defenses, push them away from a strategic area overlooking one of the city's bridges, and liquidate them.

The first of four Home Army newsreels produced during the Uprising is shown to insurgents and civilians in the Palladium theatre.

In City Centre, insurgents repel a major tank attack. Nine tanks and other armed vehicles are destroyed. Heavy fighting occurs around Gdansk train station in an attempt to link up insurgent forces in Zoliborz and Old Town. The attacks are repelled with the use of an armored train.

Germans shut down the water supply after taking over the city's water filtering station. Water rationing and well digging begins. By the end of September, the City Centre district has more than 90 functioning wells.

A German B-IV vehicle mine abandoned near an Old Town barricade is brought inside the Polish defensive positions. Its sudden and massive explosion kills over 300 insurgents and civilians.

[Lancer44]

Warsaw Uprising 17-23 August 44
German forces introduce new types of weapons into Warsaw: Karl Morser heavy mortar, Wufrrehmen incendiary rockets, and Goliath, a remote-controlled vehicle mine. These weapons will play a crucial role in the German offensive: isolated areas are bombarded non-stop by planes, heavy artillery and rockets, then Goliaths and tanks are sent in, followed by the infantry.
Von dem Bach issues a proposal to surrender, which is ignored. Additional German forces attack Old Town. Artillery and armored train are shelling the district. During heavy aerial bombing some buildings are completely destroyed; the Polish Bank is struck by 10 bombs.

Insurgents capture isolated German strongholds in the City Centre district. The strategic high-rise telephone exchange building 'PASTA', a significant number of weapons, and 115 German soldiers are captured.

A 750-strong insurgent group breaks into the city's northern Zoliborz district. Another group enters the city from the south. The cargo train station, the Church of Holly Cross, the Police Headquarters, and another telephone exchange building are taken. However, an attack upon the Warsaw University campus, launched with the help of two armored vehicles (one of them insurgent-made 'Kubus') fails.

Two Home Army attempts to break the siege of Old Town by attacking the Gdansk train station defended by an armored train, fail.

A Ju-87 Stuka plane is shot down by a insurgent heavy machine gun crew which violates the official ban not shoot at planes in order to conserve ammunition.

[temujin77]

During this month, the Danzig Crisis boiled on in Poland in 1939.

http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=162

While Germany continuously pressured Poland to concede to demands that seemed impossible, negotiations dragged on. That was what Germany wanted, of course, for that by Aug 1939 she was no longer satisfied with territorial concessions like she had gotten from Lithuania half a year prior. She was ready for war. While the world watched the negotiations with a close eye, the German military geared for invasion that was to come in the next month.

[Gen. Sandworm]

This is from the history channel. They this day in history covering most things we would find interesting

Here is the link http://www.historychannel.com/tdih/tdih.jsp?month=10272960&day=10272982&cat=worldwarii

August 17th

1942 Carlson's Raiders land on Makin Island On this day in 1942, Lt. Col. Evans F. Carlson and a force of Marine raiders come ashore Makin Island, in the west Pacific Ocean, occupied by the Japanese. What began as a diversionary tactic almost ended in disaster for the Americans.
Two American submarines, the Argonaut and the Nautilus, approached Makin Island, an atoll in the Gilbert Islands, which had been seized by the Japanese on December 9, 1941. The subs unloaded 122 Marines, one of two new raider battalions. Their leader was Lt. Col. Evans Carlson, a former lecturer on postrevolutionary China. Their mission was to assault the Japanese-occupied Makin Island as a diversionary tactic, keeping the Japanese troops "busy" so they would not be able to reinforce troops currently under assault by Americans on Guadalcanal Island.
Carlson's "Raiders" landed quietly, unobserved, coming ashore on inflatable rafts powered by outboard motors. Suddenly, one of the Marines' rifles went off, alerting the Japanese, who unleashed enormous firepower: grenades, flamethrowers, and machine guns. The subs gave some cover by firing their deck guns, but by night the Marines had to begin withdrawing from the island. Some Marines drowned when their rafts overturned; about 100 made it back to the subs. Carlson and a handful of his men stayed behind to sabotage a Japanese gas dump and to seize documents. They then made for the submarines too. When all was said and done, seven Marines drowned, 14 were killed by Japanese gunfire, and nine were captured and beheaded.
Carlson went on to fight with the U.S. forces on Guadalcanal. He was a source of controversy; having been sent as a U.S. observer with Mao's Army in 1937, he developed a great respect for the "spiritual strength" of the communist forces and even advocated their guerrilla-style tactics. He remained an avid fan of the Chinese communists even after the war.

[Lancer44]

Warsaw Uprising August 24 - Sept. 2

The battle for Old Town, which begin on August 14, continues until September 2. With heavy fighting and air bombardment, as often as every 30 minutes, the perimeter of Polish Old Town defenses is reduced to 10 square miles. The State Mint falls into German hands. The fighting becomes ruthless. Some buildings are repeatedly captured, lost , and recaptured; tanks fire at point-blank range.
Insurgents' attempt to break through the Old Town siege into the City Centre overnight fails. Only one group, disguised in Wehrmacht uniforms, marches in three soldier column through the German positions in Saxon Garden into City Centre.

With the Old Town military situation becoming critical, between September 1 and September 2, insurgents escape through sewers into City Centre and Zoliborz.

Left behind are 7,000 gravely wounded soldiers and 30,000 civilians. Advancing Germans forces execute most of the wounded, old and disabled. Some wounded insurgents are burnt alive in field hospitals.

Polish casualties in Old Town are 30,000 civilian dead and 7,500 dead and wounded insurgents (77 percent), German casualties were 3,900 dead and wounded (54 percent).

After much delay, the governments of Great Britain and the United States grant Allied combatant rights to the Home Army. It was hoped to end the summary executions of Polish POWs by German troops. The Soviet Union refuses to issue a similar statement.

[Mechanized Warfare]

I know that August 19 was 4 days ago but Ill still post this anyways.

August 19, 1941- Krasnogvardeysk, USSR.

Lt. Zinoviy Kolobanov destroyed 22 tanks at Krasnogvardeysk in his KV-1. His tank was hit a total of 135 times during the firefight, but not one German shell penetrated the tank's heavy armor.

[temujin77]

Today in 1883 is the late General Jonathan Wainwright's birthday. Wainwright dutifully led the American contingent at Bataan even knowing he could not win the fight. He was eventually defeated and imprisoned in Manchuria. He was released in the final days of the war, and was present on USS Missouri for the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.

http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=78

Happy birthday general! We have not forgotten you.

[Lancer44]

Warsaw Uprising September 3 - 10

After the fall of the Old Town, the brunt of the German attack centers on the Riverside district; its objective is to push the insurgents away from the Vistula River. Heavy artillery barrage and air bombardment concentrate on the Warsaw Power Plant—the insurgents' central stronghold. Its destruction cuts off the electricity for the City Centre. After four days of bloody fighting, the Riverside district falls; insurgents and civilians withdraw to City Centre.
Airplanes drop leaflets signed by General von dem Bach urging civilians to leave the city on September 9 and September 10. The Polish Red Cross opens negotiations with Germans regarding the evacuation of elderly, wounded and underage civilians. Several thousand civilians leave the city during a two-hour cease fire.

A German offensive concentrates on the northern section of the City Centre, which is shelled by a 600mm mortar every eight minutes, inflicting in heavy casualties. Bombing destroys the City Centre printing plant, interrupting the publishing of Information Bulletin and other newspapers. Civilians flee into City Centre south.

[Kovalski]

The Battle of the Bzura (also known as the Battle of Kutno) was a World War II battle of the Invasion of Poland and was fought September 9 – 19,1 1939, between Polish and German forces.
This was the largest battle of the Invasion of Poland and took place west of Warsaw, near the Bzura River. A Polish counterattack failed after initial success.

Opposing Forces

Polish forces consisted of Army Poznań and Army Pomorze.
German forces consisted of Armies 8 and 10 from Army Group South (Heeresgruppe Süd).

The Battle

The battle can be divided into 3 phases:

* Phase I - Polish offensive on Stryków (9-12 September)
* Phase II - Polish offensive on Łowicz (13-16 September)
* Phase III - Polish defeat and retreat towards Warsaw

On September 9, the Polish Poznań Army made a counterattack from the area south of the Bzura river, its target was the German divisions advancing between Łęczyca and Łowicz. The Polish forces' main effort was concentrated in the area of Stryków.
On the right wing of the offensive there was the Podolska Cavalry Brigade,
and on the left, in the area of Głowno - Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade.
Due to a Polish advantage in numbers and German surprise, the Poles managed to cause considerable losses among their enemies, killing about 1,500 German soldiers. Also, German forces were thrown back approximately 20 kilometres south and the Poles recaptured several towns, including Łęczyca and Piątek. The German 8th Army also suffered heavy casualties. On September 10, the Polish 17th Infantry Division met the German 17th Infantry Division at Małachowicze and a bloody fight ensued.
A day later, Army Poznań, continuing its advance with the forces of the 25th Division and Podolska Cavalry Brigade, engaged the German 221st Infantry Division south of Łęczyca. Meanwhile, the remnants of Polish Army Pomorze arrived in the area of Włocławek, Brześć Kujawski and Koło, keeping strong German forces alert.

Initially underestimating the Polish advance, on September 11 the Germans decided to redirect the main forces of the German 10th Army, German 4th Army and the reserves of the Army Group South, as well as aircraft from 4th Air Fleet, towards the Bzura. The following day, the Poles reached the line Stryków - Ozorków. Also on this day, General Tadeusz Kutrzeba was informed that the units of Army Łódź had retreated to the stronghold of Modlin. Upon hearing this, Kutrzeba decided to stop the offensive and try to reach Sochaczew and Kampinos Forest. On the morning of September 14,
General Władysław Bortnowski's group started the action. The 26th and 16th Infantry Divisions crossed the Bzura in the area of Łowicz and the Polish 4th Infantry Division reached the road linking Łowicz with Głowno. Then, General Bortnowski was informed that the German 4th Panzer Division was withdrawing from the outskirts of Warsaw. Fearing that this unit would enter action against his forces on the same day, he ordered the 26th Infantry Division to retreat.

On September 15 and 16th, Army Pomorze took up defensive positions on the northern bank of the Bzura. General Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki’s group was located between Kutno and Żychlin, General Michał Karaszewicz-Tokarzewski’s units in the area of Gąbin, and divisions of Army Poznań - by the Bzura near Sochaczew, were ready to commence their drive towards Warsaw. To encircle and destroy the Polish forces, the Germans
used most of the 10th Army, including two armoured, three light and one motorized divisions - equipped with some 800 tanks altogether. The attack from all sides on Polish positions started on September 16, with the support of the Luftwaffe. The German 1st Panzer Division, after crossing the Bzura between Sochaczew and Brochów and engaging the Polish 25th Infantry Division, managed to capture Ruszki, but its advance was then halted.

During the night of September 17, the main forces of Army Poznań attacked the German forces in order to break out of the German encirclement between Witkowice and Sochaczew. The 15th Infantry Division and Podolska Cavalry Brigade again crossed the Bzura in Witkowice. in Brochow, the 25th and 17th Infantry Divisions crossed the Bzura river. The 14th Infantry Division was concentrated in Łaziska. At the same time, Army Pomorze marched towards the villages of Osmolin, Kiernozia and Osiek.

In the morning, the Germans started their drive towards the south on both banks of the Bzura, supported by more than 300 aircraft and heavy artillery. German howitzers, taking advantage of its position on the higher right bank of the Vistula, shelled Polish positions for the whole day. After two days of heavy fighting, and having used up all of their munitions and food, further attempts at breakout became impossible.

Only a few Polish units managed to break out of the encirclement.
These groups entered Warsaw and Modlin, crossing the Kampinos Wilderness.
Among them were Generals Kutrzeba, Knoll-Kowacki and Tokarzewski, two cavalry brigades, the 15th and 25th Infantry Divisions. The remainder, together with General Bortnowski, capitulated from 18 to 22 September and were captured.

Aftermath

After the battle, German divisions rushed towards Warsaw and Modlin,
encircling these strongholds. Even though Bzura campaign was a defeat for the Poles, its strategic importance has to be emphasized. Due to this battle,
the German advance was stalled for a few days, which enabled Polish units
in Warsaw and other places to organize their ultimately failed defense.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bzura

[Lancer44]

I think that Kovalsky's description of Bzura battle, once branded by Germans the "biggest battle of modern history", which this battle really was, before Blitzkrieg in France and in soviet Russia dwarfed it...

To honour Warsaw Uprising I will continue with it's Timeline...
Just to give us a feeling that we started to read this Timeline on the
1-st of August ... please look backwards, how many things happened? We are still on it. That's how long was Warsaw Uprising...

Warsaw Uprising September11- 23, 1944

Between September 11 and September 14 Red Army resumes its offensive towards Warsaw. German and Soviet airplanes engage in dog fights over the city. Soviet artillery shells German positions in Praga, Saxon Garden and Okenche Airport.
With the fall of Praga to the Red Army on September 16, German forces evacuate to Warsaw proper and dynamite remaining Vistula bridges. The Red Army is relieved by Soviet-sponsored General Berling's Polish First Army.

Retreating from Praga, German front line troops augment Gen. von dem Bach's forces. To prevent the establishment of bridgeheads, the main German effort concentrates on shattering the resistance in Czerniakow and Zoliborz districts along the the river.

From September 14 to September 16, bloody fighting erupted in Zoliborz with General Hans Lallner 19th Panzer Division. Berling's troops cross the river between September 16-17 in an abortive attempt to link up with Zoliborz insurgents. Civilians are executed in Marymont, a quarter of the Zoliborz district.

15-09/23. For three consecutive nights, 1,600 soldiers from Berling's army cross the Vistula and join insurgents in the Czerniakow district. The attempted landing between September 17-18 in the Riverside district fails with most of the 1,050 soldiers killed or captured. Heavy fighting in Czerniakow continues until September 23. Some defenders evacuate across the river, others reach the City Centre. Germans execute all captured insurgents and take Berling's soldiers as POWs.

09/18. First and last massive American day-time, high altitude airdrop; insurgents recover 16 tons, or 20 percent of the cargo; the rest falls into German hands.

Heavy bombardment of the City Centre by Karl Morser mortar on September 16 brings massive casualties, including 100 German POWs.

[Chevan]

Heavy bombardment of the City Centre by Karl Morser mortar on September 16 brings massive casualties, including 100 German POWs.
I heared about Hitler's order to completed destroy Warsaw. Was it true?
And have you any information about application 800 -mm "Dora" in Warsaw?
Some sources affirmed that Dora made in september-october about 30 shot to the Warsaw.

[Lancer44]

I heared about Hitler's order to completed destroy Warsaw. Was it true?
And have you any information about application 800 -mm "Dora" in Warsaw?
Some sources affirmed that Dora made in september-october about 30 shot to the Warsaw.

Here you can see Dora shells in front of Polish Army Museum in Warsaw.

http://tanxheaven.com/zbc/shells/shells.htm

I will try to find more.

And yes, Hitler ordered 100% destruction of Warsaw. In reality they "achieved" 85% of left bank part of the city

Lancer44

[Cuts]

Were youse all there or has the combined brainpower of WWII forgotten about certain dates of late ?

[Chevan]

65 anniversary of soviet offencive on the Mocsow.

6-24 december of 1941

Klin - Solnechnogorsk offensive operation was basic during the first stage of the counterattack of Soviet troops in the environs of Moscow. Operation was carried out by the forces of troops of the right wing of Western Front (30th, 1st shock, 20th, 16th, 5th armies) under the command of General of the Army G. K. Zhukov in interaction with the Kalinin Front (colonel general I. S. Konev) for the purpose to destroy basic forces of the 3rd and 4th tank armies of Germans.
Offensive began on 6 December. Most successfully during the first days of offensive acted the right-flank 30th army of the General OF D.D. Lelyushenko: On 8 December its parts took Rogachev, on 13 December they approached the wedge and together with the parts of 1 army to 15 December freed city. Connections of the 1st shock and 20th army during the first days of operation freed the large populated areas - Yakhromu, Belyy Rast, red clearing. On 11 December the parts of the 20th army engaged Solnechnogorsk. Troops of the 16th army after heavy two-day it is combat they freed the settlement and Kryukovo station, converted by Germans into the powerful defensive line. On 11 December the parts of this army engaged g. Istra. South began the 5th army, in composition of which separately successfully acted the cavalry group of General l. m. Dovator. During the subsequent days Soviet offensive successfully was developed. To 25 December, when the first stage of Moscow offensive operation was completed, Soviet troops left to the boundary of rivers lama and Ruza, after rejecting German parts to the West on 90-100 km.

http://pobeda.rambler.ru/images/43_77.1113230008.39015.jpg
Red Army in the liberated Klin
http://pobeda.rambler.ru/images/43_95.1113230089.98094.jpg
http://pobeda.rambler.ru/images/43_56.1113230089.97695.jpg
Germans POWs in the forage caps smiles. It s really look very funny when -40 C .
http://pobeda.rambler.ru/images/43_24.1116003054.95388.jpg
Siberian troops taken from the Far East after the Soviet intelligence learn the desicion of Japanes to choose the "South direction" (i.e. USA and Britain).
This siberian armies saved the Moscow from the germans.

[Lancer44]

I may add something to that.

In January 1942 through Warsaw, Germans were pushing many hospital trains with German soldiers wounded in soviet counter offensive.
My mother, her mum, sister and brother lived in a flat which had a balcony overlooking Gdanski Rail Station in Warsaw.
My uncle "Lech" was in Home Army intelligence.

He suffered from tuberculosis. Under pretext that he must stay in the open, he sat on the balcony wrapped in blankets. He was speaking perfect German which he never admitted.
Germans a couple of times visited their flat complaining about him on the balcony.
When they learned that he has got tuberculosis, they gave up and never come back. (Any other person from the block coming out on their balconies risked being shot. Germans even shooted to open windows).

My uncle listened to soldiers talk, memorised tanks and other equipment on lorries and every now and than coming to the flat "to have a piss" wrote notes - every day taken by the courier.
My mum told me, that January and February 1942 were the month when her brother told her that Germans will be defeated. He was convinced about it.

When trains with wounded German soldiers stopped on Gdanski, doors were opened and hundreds od German nurses and helferins entered trains to treat wounded.

Stench from the frozen limbs and infected, gangrenous wounds was so strong that my uncle womited many times and had to go to the flat.
In some cases Germans used cattle cars and when the doors were opened faecal matters mixed with blood flew on the platform...
Constant screaming of wounded filled the air...

This view was a sort of the symbol of dreadfull thing called EASTERN FRONT...

Well, No one invited Germans to it...

Cheers,

Lancer44

[Chevan]

That's very interesting mate thanks. I didn't knew your uncle was in polish Resistance. Your famaly right like alive legend :D

[Lancer44]

That's very interesting mate thanks. I didn't knew your uncle was in polish Resistance. Your famaly right like alive legend :D

I have german ID card of my uncle. Will send it maybe tomorrow.
My scanner is dead and I have to combine a good light to shoot with my digital camera.

[Lancer44]

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Lancer44/IMG_0248.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Lancer44/IMG_0249_1.jpg

This is "Kennkarte". ID issued by Germans to all adult Poles in occupied Poland.
As you see it belonged to my uncle Leszek Stanczyk, "Lech".
On the third page of second page are two addresses:
1. Boduena 3
2. Chmielna 57

Our new member Gregory can confirm this locations.

In thread about Warsaw Uprising
http://www.ww2incolor.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3500

I published few photos from WU Museum.
Last two shows barricade on Chmielna Street which my mother helped to build
in the first evening of Warsaw Uprising.
Kennkarte is sort of a proof for it.


http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Lancer44/IMG_0251_1.jpg

On this photograph you can see my mum in 1943 in Warsaw. On the left is her brother "Lech". On the right his commander from the Home Army. He died fighting in Starowka - Old Town. Unfortunately I don't know his name or nick.
Mum did not wanted to talk about him. And now is too late to ask. She passed away in the year 2000.

[Lancer44]

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Lancer44/IMG_0242.jpg

This is my father, lance corporal Kazimierz Krasulak, 8 British Army, 2-nd Polish Corps, Carpathian Lancers Regiment.
Photo from Italy 1944.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Lancer44/IMG_0246.jpg
My fathers certificate of Monte Cassino Cross.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Lancer44/IMG_0247.jpg
This photo from Northern Africa. Oasis on Iraqi Desert. 90 miles from Baghdad.
My father is first from from the right.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Lancer44/IMG_0252.jpg

And the last one - Staghounds AFVs from Polish Carpathian Lancers Regiment on the streets of Bologna, Italy May 1945.

Sorry for bad quality and OFF TOPIC. Now you know what my nick mean...

Cheers,

Lancer44

[Chevan]

Excellent Lancer Krasulak :)
And where is your father did finish the war?

[Lancer44]

Excellent Lancer Krasulak :)
And where is your father did finish the war?

For my father war finished in spring 1947 when he decided to go back to Poland and was demobilized.
Counting from spring 1939 he was in the army nearly 8 years. (He's nearly 2 years in soviet jail in Odessa - 5 month and and the next 17 month near Ussa and Ussusa rivers in Siberia, were counted as military service.
Practically he was POW.
But for soviet NKWD he was spy and counter revolutionary...
I think they did not shoot him just because 19 years old guy could cut a lot of trees before death from hunger and cold.
Indeed he survived. He was 175cm tall. Weighed in Pahlevi - Iran, where Poles were evacuated, he scored 48 kilograms.
He was too skiny to join the army and they send him, (and many others), to Nataniya. It was a convalescent camp buillt by British Army on the Mediteraenan shore where he was doing nothing for 3 month. Just eat, sleep, little bit in a gym, walk...
Than he was able to join the army for real.
But many guys died already in Iran.
They could not restrain themselves and ate a lot of food. Their gastrointestinal system, which was adjusted to water, (Soup) and 400 grams of bread, could not cope and they were sentenced to death...
Later British medics isolated evacuees from food stores.

With the first evacuation, British quartermasters were told that thousands of hungry people will come. They put massive supplies just right next to the Pahlevi port. In good will they killed many people...

Cheers,

Lancer44

[Chevan]

For my father war finished in spring 1947 when he decided to go back to Poland and was demobilized.

Why he was demobilized in 1947 mate? The war ended in 1945. What did you father till 1947 ? And why he decided to go back in communist Poland?
Could he took your mother away and stayed in the West?

[Lancer44]

Why he was demobilized in 1947 mate? The war ended in 1945. What did you father till 1947 ? And why he decided to go back in communist Poland?
Could he took your mother away and stayed in the West?

Well, he did not know her... They met, as I know, in 1950.

Right in 1945, after the war ended, 2-nd Polish Corps was expanding.
My father's Carpathian Lancers Regiment having Staghound Armoured cars received variety of Shermans from Fireflys to earliest versions from storage.

The 2-nd Warsaw Armoured Division was formed and trained during 1945 and 1946.
They clearly were preparing to attack Soviet Union. No one of soldiers, veterans, had any appetite for such adventure...
General Anders played politics between London, communist embassy, parts of political parties which agreed to participate in government in Poland.

I believe that something would happen, but Labour British government cut it off. One day, late 1946, to each Polish armoured unit British MPs arrived with sappers equipped with oxy-acetylene cutters. It took them a few minutes to cut barrels of Fireflys, Shermans and any other armoured vehicles.
Dreams of general Anders, about going through Austria to Poland and about starting IIIWW disappeared...

Soldiers of 2-nd Polish Corps were transferred to UK, mainly Scotland, late 1946. Disarmed, they become members of PKP&R. Sort of paramilitary organisation which should prepare them for civilian life. Apart from handfull of real specialists, pilots and engineers, the only option was migration to Canada, South Africa or Australia. My father decided to come back to Poland.

(I believe he regretted his decision...) His younger brother in Poland was in 1946 a captain, company commander of KBW, (Internal Security Corps), he retired in 1976 as colonel in counterintelligence.
In 1948 my father was arrested and spent 1 year in infamous Cracow Montelupich jail.
He was very angry that his influenced communist brother did not helped him.
In reality I talked to him, (my uncle anyway), and he said that without his help my dad would be shot.
For me it seems right... He basically saved my father. Anyway, they cut off all contacts and met only on extended family events like weddings and funerals.
I now have contact with my cousin, SB colonel's son. To my astonishment, last year, he told me that during Martial law in Poland, opposition printing of leaflets and illegal papers was run from ex-colonel's apartment in Warsaw.
And my uncle, guarded it with his service pistol. Her was very timid and very much interested in modelling...

Crazy XX century...

[Vassili Chukolov]

I think, yeah, I do think today is the day Hitler commited suicide. And soon the rest of Berlin will collapse. Think of it, in 1940, Hitler had taken control much of Europe, and now he was in a small hole under the earth by 1945.

[Gen. Sandworm]

The calendar appears at the bottom of the main page with a ww2 related event each day!

[overlord644]

i was looking at the calendar and it says that on may 28th jews in paris were forced to sew yellow stars on their coats but the history channel cites this as occuring on may 29th??