Today in the Second World War

The 6th of September

Hidden History
September 06, 2023

Welcome to today's edition of the Hidden History Newsletter, your daily hub for all things World War II. In each issue, we strive to bring you a balanced mix of pivotal events, human stories, and insightful analysis that paint a comprehensive picture of one of history's most defining conflicts. Whether you're a history buff, a student, or just curious, we're glad you're here to explore this remarkable period with us.

"I have no further interest in the Czecho-Slovakian State, that is guaranteed. We want no Czechs"... - Adolf Hitler - 26th September 1938

Air War

1939: German aircraft attacked Great Britain for the first time.

The first Royal Air Force fighter pilot to be killed during the war lost his life when two Hurricane fighters were shot down in error by two Spitfire fighters.

As eary as Jul 1939, British firefighters prepared for war near London.

Enemy Aliens

1940: British troop ship Dunera arrived in Australia with 200 Italian prisoners of war, 251 German prisoners of war, 55 British Nazi sympathizers, and 2,036 civilians from Germany (mostly Jewish refugees). They were robbed and abused by British guards in the past 57 days, and those who committed the abuse were later court-martialed. These "enemy aliens", as they were categorized, were to be trained to the town of Hay, New South Wales, Australia.

HMT Dunera in 1940.

Surrender

Carrier HMS Glory and her task force arrived off Rabaul, New Britain in the morning. At 0900 hours, sloop HMS Hart picked up Hitoshi Imamura and Jinichi Kusaka at Kabanga Bay, who would sign the surrender documents aboard HMS Glory at 1127 hours which surrendered 139,000 remaining personnel at Rabaul plus all forces in Australian territory in the South Pacific.

Lieutenant General Hitoshi Imamura signing the surrender document aboard HMS Glory off Rabaul, New Britain, 6 September1945; Vice Admiral Junichi Kusaka and Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee were also present.

Photo of the Day

Rufus W. Oakley holding a Protestant Christian religious service for US Marines on Peleliu, Palau Islands, September 1944.

As we conclude today's edition of the Hidden History Newsletter, we hope you've found our deep dive into the critical events of September 6th during World War II both insightful and engaging. Your continued readership serves not just as a historical journey but as a tribute to the men and women who shaped these world-altering events. Thank you for making us your go-to platform for understanding this pivotal era; we look forward to bringing you more compelling content tomorrow.

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

Have a great week :)

PERIL IN THE DEEP: Adventures of the WWII Submarine USS Burrfish: Schultz, David M.

"The first hour of deck watch was spent inside a fog bank with little for the lookouts to see. Then the surfaced submarine USS Burrfish emerged into sunlight just outside the thick wall of mist. Ocean and sky seemed void of activity except for two seagulls flying in the distance far behind. Seagulls? Cardelli focused on the closest bird for a moment but it quickly disappeared into the fog.

The Rifle: Combat Stories from America's Last WWII Veterans, Told Through an M1 Garand (World War II Collection): Biggio, Andrew

Tales of American combat and comradery in World War II all connected to the iconic rifle of the era, the M1 Garand. An award-winning author puts one such rifle into the hands of a series of vets, records their stories, and gathers their signatures on the rifle, in a pilgrimage and homage to heroism.

Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team That Helped Win World War II: Keene, Anne R.

In 1943, while the New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals were winning pennants and meeting in that year and apos;s World Series, one of the nation and apos;s strongest baseball teams practiced on a skinned-out college field in the heart of North Carolina. Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, and Johnny Sain were among a cadre of fighter-pilot cadets who wore the Cloudbuster Nine baseball jersey at an elite Navy training school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won: Hanson, Victor Davis

A "breathtakingly magisterial" account of World War II by America's preeminent military historian (Wall Street Journal)

MacArthur Reconsidered: General Douglas MacArthur as a Wartime Commander: Ellman, James

James Ellman digs deep, connects the dots, and concludes that General Douglas MacArthur was decidedly not a military genius.

Recommended Books:

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