Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! In this issue, we'll be covering the fall of the German defensive Gustav Line in Italy, the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp by British troops, and other significant events that occurred on April 15 during World War II. From the front lines to the home front, we aim to bring you the latest updates and insights into one of the deadliest conflicts in human history.

"Today we are crushed by the sheer weight of the mechanized forces hurled against us, but we can still look to the future in which even greater mechanized forces will bring us victory. Therein lies the destiny of the world." - General Charles de Gaulle

Sarajevo Falls

The surrender of the Yugoslavian 2nd Army in Sarajevo was a major blow to the Yugoslavian resistance against the Axis powers. The Germans had launched a massive invasion of Yugoslavia on April 6, 1941, and despite the Yugoslavian army's best efforts, they were unable to withstand the onslaught. Sarajevo would fall to the Germans on this day. The Yugoslavian government had signed an armistice with the Germans on April 17, effectively ending the country's resistance.

After the Yugoslavian surrender, many fighters refused to lay down their arms and instead fled into the mountains to continue the fight as guerrillas. These guerrilla fighters, known as the Partisans, would later form the core of the Yugoslavian resistance movement, which would play a significant role in the Allied victory in the Balkans.

In Greece, the German bombing of the British RAF airfield at Larisa on April 15 was a devastating blow to the Allied forces. The loss of 10 Blenheim aircraft on the ground severely weakened the Allied air power in the region, leaving them vulnerable to future attacks.

The German troops' move to isolate the Greek Epirus Army was a significant strategic victory for the Axis forces. The move exposed the flank of the Allied Mount Olympus Line, which had been established by the British to protect their retreat towards Athens. The abandonment of the Mount Olympus Line marked a significant retreat for the Allies and left them vulnerable to further German advances.

The decision by British Admiral Cunningham to begin considering a general evacuation from Greece marked the beginning of the Battle of Crete. The evacuation involved the withdrawal of Allied forces from mainland Greece to the island of Crete, where they could regroup and continue the fight against the Axis powers. However, the evacuation was met with heavy resistance from the Germans, and it resulted in significant losses for the Allies.

Overall, the events of April 15, 1941, marked a significant turning point in the Balkan and Greek campaign of World War II. The Axis powers gained more ground, and the Allied forces were forced to retreat and regroup, setting the stage for future battles and strategic maneuvers in the region.

The Gustav Line Begins to Crumble

The Gustav Line had been one of the strongest defensive positions held by the German army during World War II, and it had been designed to slow down the Allied advance in Italy. The line consisted of a series of interlocking fortifications, including bunkers, machine gun nests, and artillery emplacements. The terrain itself also provided natural defensive barriers, such as rivers and mountains. The Allies had been attempting to break through the line since the beginning of 1944, but had been met with heavy resistance from the Germans.

However, on April 15th, 1944, the Gustav Line began to fall as the Allies launched a major offensive known as Operation Diadem. The offensive involved a coordinated attack by the British Eighth Army, the US Fifth Army, and the French Expeditionary Corps. The Allies were able to break through the Gustav Line and push the Germans back.

The offensive was a major victory for the Allies and opened up the way for them to advance further into Italy. The fall of the Gustav Line also forced the Germans to withdraw their troops from other parts of Italy, which weakened their overall position in the country.

The Italian Campaign would continue for another year, but the fall of the Gustav Line was a significant turning point that gave the Allies a major advantage in the fight against the Germans.

Another Grim Discovery

On April 15, 1945, British troops entered the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in northern Germany and liberated the remaining prisoners, who numbered around 40,000. The prisoners were found in horrific conditions, with many suffering from disease, malnutrition, and abuse.

Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was originally designed as a prisoner-of-war camp in 1940 but became a concentration camp in 1943. The camp was located near the town of Bergen in Lower Saxony, Germany, and was established to hold prisoners who were seen as undesirable by the Nazi regime, including Jews, Roma, and political dissidents.

Conditions in the camp were horrific, with prisoners forced to live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with little food or water. The camp lacked basic sanitation and medical facilities, and as a result, many prisoners died of disease and malnutrition. Many of the prisoners had been transported there from other camps as the Nazis retreated from Allied forces. The camp had been in operation since 1940, and an estimated 70,000 prisoners died there.

The liberation of Bergen-Belsen by British troops on April 15, 1945, was a complex and challenging operation. The camp was in chaos, with thousands of sick and dying prisoners still trapped inside. After the liberation of the camp, efforts were made to care for the survivors and bring them to safety. Many of the prisoners were too weak or sick to leave immediately, and they were cared for by medical personnel and relief workers. British soldiers worked tirelessly to care for the prisoners, providing food, water, and medical assistance to those who needed it.

Among the prisoners at Bergen-Belsen were Anne Frank and her sister Margot. The two sisters, along with their family, had been living in hiding in Amsterdam until they were discovered by the Nazis in August 1944. They were sent to Auschwitz and later to Bergen-Belsen.

Anne and Margot both contracted typhus at Bergen-Belsen and died within days of each other in March 1945, just weeks before the camp was liberated by British forces. Their father, Otto Frank, was the only member of their family to survive the Holocaust.

The discovery of Anne Frank's diary, which she wrote while in hiding in Amsterdam, has become an iconic symbol of the Holocaust and a testament to the human spirit in the face of adversity. Her writings provide a unique and personal account of the experiences of those who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazis.

The liberation of Bergen-Belsen was a powerful reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and the need for justice and accountability in the aftermath of war. The legacy of Anne Frank and other victims of the Holocaust continues to inspire efforts to promote human rights, tolerance, and understanding around the world.

Photo of the Day

US Army DUKWs on the beach at Anzio, Italy, 15 Apr 1944.

That's all for today's edition of the daily WW2 newsletter. We hope you found it informative and insightful. Join us again tomorrow for more updates on the events that shaped the course of World War II. Remember to never forget the sacrifices made by those who fought and lost their lives during this tumultuous period in history.

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

Have a great weekend :)

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