Today in the Second World War

The 17th of August

Hidden History
August 17, 2023

Welcome to another edition of the Hidden History Newsletter. On this day, decades ago, the world watched as pivotal events of World War II unfolded, influencing the course of history. Today, we journey back to August 17, exploring the actions and decisions that shaped our shared past. Whether you're an avid historian or a newcomer to the saga of the Second World War, today's insights promise to enlighten and inspire. Dive in with us.

"The Russian convoys are and always have been an unsound operation of this war" - Rear Admiral L.H.K Hamilton - September 1942

War Rapidly Approaching

1939: American diplomat Sumner Welles warned the British that the Soviet Union was likely to make an offer to Germany. In the evening, Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov contacted Germany in response to the 15 Aug 1939 request for a meeting; he noted skepticism due to the Anti-Comintern Pact backed by Germany, but also noted happily that, unlike Britain, Germany was willing to send a high-level diplomat.

The Germany military was ordered to supply the SS organization with 150 Polish Army uniforms.

Sumner Welles

Makin Raid

211 men of the US 2nd Raider Battalion attacked Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands; it was the first amphibious assault ever launched from submarines (USS Nautilus and USS Argonaut). 9 of the raiders would be left behind by mistake; they were captured, were brought to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, and were executed.

Makin as seen by USS Nautilus.

Rats Flee the Ship

Remnants of Vichy government fled for Germany as French Resistance began taking Parisian strongpoints. Pétain and his staff were interned by Hitler, while Laval's government resigned.

Philippe Pétain

Closing the Circle

Canadian troops captured Falaise, France, and the German troops in the region began to be threatened with being surrounded. Montgomery ordered troops to move to seal the pocket. Meanwhile, US forces captured Chartres, Orleans, and Chateaudun.

Map showing the course of the battle from 8–17 August 1944.

Photo of the Day

Propellers and after-bodies of Mark XV torpedoes at the Amertorp torpedo factory, Forest Park, Illinois, United States, 17 August 1944.

As we conclude our journey through August 17 in the Hidden History Newsletter, we're reminded of the sacrifices made and the lessons that persist to this day. Your engagement with this history ensures that the stories of valor, endurance, and hope are never forgotten. Thank you for traveling back in time with us. Stay curious, and we'll meet again in tomorrow's edition.

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

Have a great week :)

Recommended Books:

D-Day Tank Hunter: The World War II memoirs of a frontline officer from North Africa to the bloody soil of Normandy: Hoeller, Hans, Hartinger, Andreas

One of the last German veterans of World War II recounts his wartime experiences - with the harrowing directness of someone who stood amid the firestorm.

The Combat Diaries: True Stories from the Frontlines of World War II: Guardia, Mike

At the height of World War II, the US military drew some 16 million men into its ranks. They came from every walk of life – farmers, teachers, lawyers, and even Hollywood celebrities. But whether they came from the wheat fields of Kansas, the streets of New York, or the backlots of Tinseltown, these everyday heroes answered the call when their country needed them. They were ordinary men who accomplished extraordinary things. Today, we call them the "Greatest Generation."

Devil Dogs: King Company, Third Battalion, 5th Marines: From Guadalcanal to the Shores of Japan: David, Saul

The “Devil Dogs” of King Company, Third Battalion, 5th Marines—part of the legendary 1st Marine Division—were among the first American soldiers to take the offensive in World World II—and also the last.

Prisoners of the Castle: An Epic Story of Survival and Escape from Colditz, the Nazis' Fortress Prison: Macintyre, Ben

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “entertaining [and] often-moving account” (The Wall Street Journal) of the remarkable POWs whose relentlessly creative attempts to escape a notorious Nazi prison embodied the spirit of resistance against fascism, from the author of The Spy and the Traitor

The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill: Meltzer, Brad, Mensch, Josh

In 1943, as the war against Nazi Germany raged abroad, President Franklin Roosevelt had a critical goal: a face-to-face sit-down with his allies Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill. This first-ever meeting of the Big Three in Tehran, Iran, would decide some of the most crucial strategic details of the war. Yet when the Nazis found out about the meeting, their own secret plan took shape―an assassination plot that would’ve changed history.

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