Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter. As we continue to explore one of the most significant periods in human history, we reflect on the events that occurred on this day during World War II. From the early days of the war to its conclusion, each day played a crucial role in shaping the course of history. Join us as we explore the many battles, strategies, and political maneuvers that took place throughout the war and examine their impact on the world we live in today.

"The knowledge not only of the enemy's precise strength and disposition, but also how, when, and where he intends to carry out his operations brought a new dimension to the prosecution of war." - Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander

Antwerp Falls

German troops captured Antwerp, Belgium; meanwhile, the German government re-incorporated into its borders the territory that Germany ceded to Belgium per the Versailles Treaty. In France, Erwin Rommel's German 7th Panzer Division reached Cambrai where it halted to consolidate his supply lines; in the past 5 days the division advanced 85 miles and captured 10,000 French prisoners and tanks, suffering only 150 casualties. The French called the German 7th Panzer Division the "Ghost Division" for its ability to strike in unexpected and vulnerable places. Elsewhere in France, German troops captured Petonne and Amiens.

Operation Rheinübung

The departure of the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen from Gotenhafen (Gdynia) on the night of May 18, 1941 was a significant event in World War II as it was part of Germany's plan to disrupt Allied shipping in the North Atlantic. The mission was led by Admiral Günther Lütjens, who was an experienced naval officer and a veteran of World War I.

The Bismarck was one of the largest battleships in the world at the time, and her departure was closely monitored by the Allies. The ship was 251 meters long, had a displacement of over 50,000 tons, and was armed with eight 38cm guns, numerous smaller guns, and anti-aircraft defenses.

The Prinz Eugen was a cruiser that was to provide support to the Bismarck during the mission. The ship was armed with eight 20.3cm guns, a number of smaller guns, and anti-aircraft defenses.

The two ships were joined by a number of other vessels, including destroyers and supply ships, to support the mission. The German plan was to break out into the North Atlantic and attack Allied shipping, causing chaos and disruption.

The Bismarck and Prinz Eugen departed Gotenhafen on the night of May 21-22, 1941, and headed into the Baltic Sea. They then made their way through the Kattegat and Skagerrak, which are narrow passages between Denmark and Sweden, before entering the North Atlantic.

The British Navy was closely monitoring the Bismarck's movements and had deployed several ships, including the HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales, to intercept the German fleet. On May 24, 1941, the two fleets met in the Denmark Strait, a narrow body of water between Greenland and Iceland.

In the ensuing battle, the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen engaged the British ships. The HMS Hood, a battlecruiser, was hit by a shell from the Bismarck and exploded, sinking within minutes. Only three crew members survived. The HMS Prince of Wales was also damaged and forced to withdraw from the battle.

The Bismarck was hit by several shells from the British ships, causing significant damage and slowing the ship down. The following day, British aircraft attacked the Bismarck, causing more damage and making the ship unable to continue.

With the ship disabled, the German crew scuttled the Bismarck to prevent it from falling into enemy hands. Over 2,000 German sailors lost their lives in the sinking of the Bismarck.

The Prinz Eugen managed to escape the battle and continued to operate in the North Atlantic for several more months. The ship was involved in a number of skirmishes with Allied ships before returning to Germany in February 1942.

German Counterattacks

In the spring of 1943, the German army launched a counteroffensive against Soviet forces in southern Ukraine, aiming to recapture territory lost in the previous year. The 14th and 16th Panzer Divisions were among the units involved in this operation.

On May 18, 1943, the German forces encountered a large Soviet armored unit near the towns of Izium and Petrovskaia. In the ensuing battle, the Germans claimed to have destroyed 130 Soviet tanks, although the exact number is disputed by some historians. Regardless, the German victory allowed them to continue their advance westward, and Soviet forces were forced to evacuate their forward airfields.

Around the same time, the Soviet army, under the command of Semyon Timoshenko, was engaged in an offensive near the city of Kharkov. After the German counteroffensive, Timoshenko requested permission to withdraw his forces, but Joseph Stalin refused, insisting that the Soviet troops continue their westward push. This decision was a costly one, as the Soviet forces suffered heavy losses and were eventually forced to retreat.

Overall, the battle for southern Ukraine was a significant turning point in the war on the Eastern Front, as it weakened the Soviet army and allowed the Germans to gain ground. However, the tide of the war would eventually turn against the Germans, and the Soviet army would eventually emerge victorious.

Greyhound

The Buckley-class destroyer-escort USS England's encounter with the Japanese submarine I-16 was a remarkable achievement during World War II. It marked the beginning of a series of successful attacks on Japanese submarines by the ship.

On May 18, 1944, the USS England, under the command of Commander W. B. Pendleton, was on patrol in the Pacific Ocean near the island of Okinawa. The ship's sonar operator detected an enemy submarine, and the USS England immediately began to close in on the target.

The Japanese submarine, I-16, was a type B1 submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy. It was armed with six torpedo tubes and was capable of carrying up to 18 torpedoes.

As the USS England closed in on the I-16, it dropped 11 depth charges. The attack was successful, and the USS England reported a large oil slick on the surface of the water, indicating that the submarine had been sunk.

This was the first of six enemy submarines to be sunk by the USS England over a twelve-day period. The ship's success was due in large part to its innovative use of sonar and depth charges, as well as the skill of its crew.

The USS England's attacks on Japanese submarines were a significant achievement, as they disrupted Japan's efforts to resupply its troops in the Pacific and helped to turn the tide of the war in favor of the Allies.

The crew of the USS England was awarded numerous commendations for their actions during this period, including the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with six stars. The ship itself was also awarded the Navy Unit Commendation.

Photo of the Day

USS Missouri moored in Apra Harbor, Guam, Mariana Islands, 18 May 1945. Note hospital ship USS Hope behind Missouri and two Casablanca-class escort carriers at right.

That's all for today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter. We hope you enjoyed this brief glimpse into the events that took place on this day during the war. Each day brought new challenges, triumphs, and tragedies that would ultimately shape the outcome of the war and the world we live in today. Join us again tomorrow as we continue our journey through the history of World War II and explore the many stories that make it one of the most significant events in human history.

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