Today in the Second World War

The 30th of August

Hidden History
August 30, 2023

Welcome to the August 30th edition of the Hidden History Newsletter, your go-to source for daily insights into World War II history. Thank you for joining us in this ongoing journey of discovery.

"In the burning and devastated cities, we daily experienced the direct impact of war. It spurred us to do our utmost...the bombing and the hardships that resulted from them (did not) weaken the morale of the populace." - Albert Speer - Chief of the German War Economy (Speaking after the War)

Mobilization

1939: Poland refused to dispatch a delegation to Germany to negotiate over the topics of Danzig and the Polish Corridor. Polish Commander-in-Chief, Marshal of Poland, Edward Rydz-Smigly ordered the mobilization of the army.

Edward Rydz-Smigly

Japanese Keep Coming

Japanese aircraft attacked and sank destroyer transport USS Colhoun in the Savo Sound north of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands at 1400 hours; 51 were killed, 95 survived. Overnight, Japanese destroyer transports landed 1,000 troops on Guadalcanal.

USS Colhoun (APD-2) off Guadalcanal, in August 1942.

No Cooperation

1943: Danish Prime Minister Erik Scavenius refused to work for the German occupation.

Erik Scavenius

The Return

A British battle squadron led by the aircraft carrier Indomitable entered Hong Kong to reoccupy the Crown Colony.

Fireworks display during the victory celebration in Hong Kong, 30 Aug 1945.

Photo of the Day

Nazi Party honor guard standing before the rostrum on which Adolf Hitler was addressing a rally, Nürnberg, Germany, 30 Aug-3 Sep 1933.

Thank you for joining us for today's edition of the Hidden History Newsletter. We hope you found our exploration into the intricacies of World War II both informative and engaging. Stay tuned for tomorrow's issue as we continue to delve into the moments and figures that shaped this defining era. Until then, keep learning and never forget.

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

Have a great week :)

Recommended Books:

The Allies Strike Back, 1941-1943 (The War in the West): Holland, James

Following the acclaimed first volume of his trilogy, The Rise of Germany, and offering frank assessments of successes and failures on both sides, James Holland has crafted a masterful and gripping narrative of the events that ultimately determined the outcome of World War II.

The Second World War: Beevor, Antony

A masterful and comprehensive chronicle of World War II, by internationally bestselling historian Antony Beevor.

Operation Underworld: How the Mafia and U.S. Government Teamed Up to Win World War II: Black, Matthew

Never has the saying “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” had more truth than when the US government and the criminal underground joined forces to defeat the Nazi menace. For the first time ever the full story of how Charles “Lucky” Luciano—the U.S. Mafia boss who put the “organized” into organized crime—was recruited by U.S. Naval Intelligence in 1942 to aid the Allied war effort in the U.S. invasion of Sicily, a turning point in WWII.

The Apprentice of Buchenwald: The True Story of the Teenage Boy Who Sabotaged Hitler’s War Machine (Holocaust Survivor True Stories): Schneider, Oren

Alexander Rosenberg was a smart and curious teenager who spoke many languages, collected stamps, played the violin, and lived a pampered life with his affluent parents in a tranquil Czechoslovakian town. The rise of fascism and Nazi Germany causes his protected existence to collapse, alongside the illusion of secular Jewish assimilation in 1930s Europe.

Lost at Sea: Eddie Rickenbacker's Twenty-Four Days Adrift on the Pacific-A World War II Tale of Courage and Faith: Wukovits, John

The forgotten story of American war hero Eddie Rickenbacker's crash landing in the Pacific during World War II, and his incredible twenty-three-day crusade to keep his crew alive.

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