Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! On this day in 1942, US Army General William Sharp surrendered all American and Filipino troops under his command on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, marking the end of organized resistance in the southern Philippines. In Europe, German bombers launched their final major raid on London, causing extensive damage to the Houses of Parliament. Read on for more details on these and other significant events from this day in WW2 history.

"They sowed the wind, and now they are going to reap the whirlwind" - British Air Marshal "Bomber" Harris

War is Here

Germany invaded the Allied nation of France and the neutral Low Countries. In France, Luftwaffe aircraft destroyed many French aircraft on the ground. German tanks crossed into neutral Luxembourg with relative ease, reaching the edge of the Ardennes Forest; the royal family of Luxembourg was evacuated to the south. In the Netherlands, German paratroopers quickly secured key bridges and airfields around Rotterdam and the Hague, but the plan to land troops at the Ypenburg airfield to capture the Dutch political leaders was foiled when Dutch fighters shot down 18 German Ju 52 transport planes; German tanks penetrated more than 10 miles into the Dutch border by the end of the day. In Belgium, 10 gliders landed 78 German airborne soldiers atop Fort Ebel Emael at the crossings of the Albert Canal and the River Meusse, pinning down the 700 Belgian defenders. British and French leaders enacted the Dyle Plan in response to the invasion, moving troops toward the Dyle River in Belgium where they were to form a defensive line.

A Shocking Action

Rudolf Hess's flight to Scotland on May 10, 1941 has remained a subject of controversy and speculation in the years since the end of World War II. There are many different theories as to why Hess made the flight, and what his true intentions were.

One theory is that Hess was attempting to negotiate a separate peace between Germany and the United Kingdom. By May 1941, the war in Europe had been raging for almost two years, and both sides had suffered significant losses. It's possible that Hess saw an opportunity to end the conflict and save lives by brokering a peace deal.

Another theory is that Hess was acting on his own initiative, without Hitler's knowledge or consent. There is some evidence to support this theory, including the fact that Hess made the flight alone and did not inform other high-ranking Nazi officials of his plans. Some have suggested that Hess may have been motivated by a desire to become a hero in his own right, or to position himself for a power grab within the Nazi party.

Yet another theory is that Hess was attempting to gather intelligence on the British military and political situation. By making contact with high-ranking British officials, Hess may have hoped to learn more about the state of the war effort and the likelihood of a successful German invasion of the UK.

Whatever Hess's true motivations may have been, the flight had significant consequences for both Hess and the wider war effort. Hess was immediately taken into custody by the British and charged with crimes against peace. He was held in prison for the remainder of the war, and was later sentenced to life imprisonment at the Nuremberg Trials.

The flight also had broader implications for the Nazi leadership and the war effort more generally. Hitler denounced Hess's actions and made it clear that he had not authorized the mission. This led to speculation that there may have been a split within the Nazi leadership, or that Hess was acting as part of a conspiracy against Hitler. However, subsequent evidence has suggested that Hess was acting alone and that there was no wider plot against Hitler's rule.

Overall, the story of Rudolf Hess's flight to Scotland remains a fascinating and controversial episode in the history of World War II, and one that has inspired many different theories and interpretations.

The End of the Blitz

The Baby Blitz of May 10-11, 1941, was a significant event in the history of the air war over Britain during the Second World War. It marked the end of a sustained period of German bombing raids on London, which had begun in September 1940 during the Battle of Britain.

During the Baby Blitz, the Luftwaffe launched a major raid on the city, using a combination of high-explosive bombs, incendiary bombs, and parachute mines. The bombers targeted a number of different areas, including the City of London, the West End, and the East End, causing extensive damage and fires.

One of the most significant buildings damaged during the raid was the Houses of Parliament, which suffered damage to the Commons chamber. The iconic tower of Big Ben was also damaged, and the clock was stopped for several weeks as a result. Other notable buildings damaged included St. Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London, and the British Museum.

Despite the severity of the raid, the damage caused was less than in previous bombing raids on London. This was partly due to the effectiveness of the RAF's air defense system, which had improved since the start of the war. During the Baby Blitz, the RAF shot down a significant number of German planes, and the Luftwaffe lost more aircraft during the raid than on any previous night of the bombing campaign.

The Baby Blitz marked a turning point in the air war over Britain. The sustained bombing campaign against London had failed to break British morale or cripple the country's ability to continue the war effort. By contrast, the damage caused by the Baby Blitz was less severe, and the RAF's improved defenses had proven effective in intercepting and shooting down German planes.

The end of the sustained bombing campaign against London also marked a shift in German strategy. Hitler and the Nazi leadership began to focus more on the Eastern Front, where they were engaged in a brutal war of attrition against the Soviet Union. This allowed the Allies to gain a foothold in Europe and ultimately launch the D-Day landings, which played a crucial role in the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.

The Fall of the Philippines

General Jonathan Wainwright was the commander of all US and Filipino forces in the Philippines, and General William Sharp was his subordinate, commanding the Visayan-Mindanao Force, which was tasked with defending the southern Philippines.

As Japanese forces advanced through the Philippines in the early stages of the war, American and Filipino forces were gradually pushed back. By the spring of 1942, the Japanese had captured Manila and most of the main islands of Luzon and Corregidor. However, there were still significant pockets of resistance on the southern islands of the Philippines, including Mindanao.

By early May 1942, General Sharp's forces on Mindanao were under heavy attack from Japanese troops. Despite fierce resistance, Sharp realized that his forces were outnumbered and outgunned, and that further resistance would only result in unnecessary casualties. On May 10, he received orders from General Wainwright to surrender his troops to the Japanese.

Sharp complied with the order and surrendered his 13,000 troops to the Japanese. The surrender was a significant blow to American and Filipino morale and marked the end of organized resistance in the southern Philippines.

Following the surrender, the Japanese subjected the prisoners of war to brutal treatment, including forced labor, torture, and execution. Many of the American and Filipino troops who surrendered on Mindanao were subsequently transported to prison camps in Japan, where they endured years of captivity and suffering.

The fall of the Philippines was a major defeat for the Allied forces in the Pacific, and it was several years before they were able to launch a successful counteroffensive against the Japanese. The surrender of General Sharp and his troops on Mindanao was a significant event in this larger context, representing a major setback for the Allied war effort in the Pacific theater.

Photo of the Day

German troops with a camouflaged 3.7 cm PaK 36 anti-tank gun in Belgium, May 1940.

That's all for today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter. We hope you found the coverage of today's events informative and engaging. Join us again tomorrow for more stories from the second World War. As always, we encourage you to continue learning and exploring the history of this momentous conflict, as we strive to remember and honor those who lived and died during these turbulent times.

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

Have a great week :)

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