Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! On April 16th, we remember the events that shaped the course of World War II. From the final push on Berlin by the Soviet Union to the tragic sinking of the Goya, these moments remind us of the bravery, sacrifice, and tragedy of those who fought in the war. Join us as we explore the history and impact of these events!

"The fruits of victory are tumbling into our mouths too quickly." - Emperor Hirohito

The Luftwaffe Goes Dark

On the night of April 16th, 1943, the German Luftwaffe launched its first night raid on London, with a force of thirty Focke-Wulf 190 fighters. The intention was to use the darkness to their advantage, as the British air defenses were not as effective at night. However, the raid was far from successful.

The German fighters, flying at low altitude, struggled to find their targets and became disorientated in the darkness. Only two bombs hit the city, causing minor damage and no casualties. In fact, the British anti-aircraft fire and searchlights proved highly effective in guiding the German pilots away from their targets.

To add to the farcical nature of the raid, four of the German pilots became lost and mistakenly believed they were over France. They landed their aircraft at West Malling RAF fighter base in Kent, where they were surprised to find themselves surrounded by British troops. Three of the pilots were taken prisoner, while the fourth was killed crash-landing.

Despite being largely ineffective, the raid was a significant moment in the war. It demonstrated that the Germans were capable of launching night raids on London, and it provided valuable insight for both sides into the tactics and limitations of night-time bombing.

Germany’s Last Stand

The Soviet Union had been making steady advances towards Berlin since early 1945, with the 1st Ukrainian and 1st Byelorussian Fronts closing in from the east. The Germans had established a strong defensive line on the Oder-Neisse River, which the Soviets had to breach before they could reach Berlin.

On April 16, 1945, the Soviets launched their final push towards Berlin. The 1st Byelorussian Front, under the command of Marshal Georgy Zhukov, advanced from the north, while the 1st Ukrainian Front, under Marshal Ivan Konev, moved in from the south. The two fronts numbered over 2.5 million troops and were supported by thousands of tanks, artillery pieces, and aircraft.

The Germans were heavily outnumbered and outgunned, but they put up fierce resistance. The Soviet advance was slowed by strong defensive positions, minefields, and booby traps. However, the Soviets had overwhelming firepower and eventually broke through the German lines.

Hitler, who was in his bunker deep beneath the streets of Berlin, issued his infamous "Nero Decree," ordering the destruction of all German infrastructure and industry to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. He also ordered the execution of any Germans who attempted to surrender or flee the advancing Soviet forces.

Despite the desperate measures taken by the Germans, the Soviet forces continued to advance, and by the end of the month they had surrounded Berlin and begun to engage in fierce street fighting. The final battle for Berlin would last for weeks, with the city eventually falling to the Soviet forces on May 2, 1945.

A Civilian Tragedy

In early 1945, as the Soviet army advanced into East Prussia, German civilians and military personnel began a mass exodus to escape the advancing Soviet forces. The German authorities organized a large-scale evacuation operation, which included the use of passenger ships to transport refugees and soldiers from the eastern territories to the relative safety of western Germany.

On the night of 16 April 1945, the German passenger liner SS Goya was carrying thousands of refugees, mostly women and children, from East Prussia to western Germany. The ship was part of a convoy of vessels that was being escorted by German warships and submarines.

As the convoy sailed along the Baltic coast, it was spotted by the Soviet submarine L-3, which had been patrolling the area. The submarine fired a single torpedo at the Goya, which struck the ship and caused it to sink rapidly. The German warships and submarines that were escorting the convoy tried to rescue survivors, but many drowned in the cold waters of the Baltic Sea.

The sinking of the Goya was one of the worst maritime disasters in history, with over 6,200 people losing their lives. Most of the victims were civilians, including women, children, and elderly people, who had been forced to flee their homes due to the war. The tragedy highlighted the desperate plight of German civilians in the final days of the war and the danger they faced from both the advancing Soviet forces and the perils of sea travel.

Retribution

Rudolf Höss was a notorious Nazi war criminal who had served as the first commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp, where more than a million people were killed during the Holocaust. After the war, Höss was captured by British forces and turned over to Polish authorities, who put him on trial for his crimes. He was found guilty of mass murder, torture, and other atrocities, and was sentenced to death.

On April 16, 1947, Höss was led to the gallows outside the crematorium of Auschwitz I, the original camp he had helped create, on the very site where he had overseen the murder of countless innocent victims. He reportedly showed no signs of remorse for his actions, and instead expressed regret that he had not been able to kill even more people.

Höss was then hanged and pronounced dead at 10:21 am by a medical doctor, with the execution witnessed by a small group of people, including British and Polish officials. His body was then taken to a nearby unmarked grave and buried. The execution of Rudolf Höss served as a powerful symbol of justice for the victims of the Holocaust and a warning to others who might commit similar crimes in the future.

Photo of the Day

Crew of a Flakvierling 38 anti-aircraft gun atop the Berlin Zoo flak tower, Berlin, Germany, 16 Apr 1942; note range measuring device in foreground and radar station in background.

That concludes today's edition of our WW2 newsletter. We hope you found the information informative and engaging. Remember to never forget the sacrifices made by those who came before us, and to honor their memory by continuing to learn about and share their stories. Thank you for reading and see you tomorrow!

If you ever have any recommendations feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]

Have a great weekend :)

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