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- Today in the Second World War
Welcome to your daily dive into the riveting pages of history with our June 3rd edition of the Hidden History Newsletter. Today, we journey back in time to unravel the intricate narratives, heroic tales, and pivotal strategies that marked this day. From frontline skirmishes to homefront resilience, our concise yet comprehensive coverage ensures that you'll gain new insights into one of the most transformative periods of human history. So, settle in with a cup of your favorite morning brew and let's embark on this captivating historical exploration together.
"As a soldier he is a bad politician and as a politician is an equally bad soldier.." - Adolf Hitler on Churchill, May 1941
Operation Dynamo
The last group of British troops at Dunkirk, France was evacuated before the break of dawn. At 1050 hours, Royal Navy Captain William Tennant signaled the completion of Operation Dynamo, but he was overruled by this superiors as there were still some French troops in Dunkirk. During the day, the British Admiralty acknowledged that 222 British naval vessels and 665 other craft were employed for the Dunkirk evacuation; 6 destroyers, 24 small armed vessels, and 226 other ships were lost. British ships returned to Dunkirk after night fall. By this time, German troops were only 2 miles away.
Evacuated troops arrive in Dover, June 1940.
Civilians Caught in War
A German He 111 bomber encountered a British de Havilland Dragon aircraft en route back to France and shot it down. The aircraft turned out to be a civilian joy-riding aircraft from St Mary's island of the Isles of Scilly off the tip of southwestern England, United Kingdom. The pilot and all 5 passengers were killed.
de Havilland DH.84 Dragon
No Surrender
German General Rommel sent French General Kœnig a hand-written note, urging the surrender of Bir Hakeim in Libya to avoid needless bloodshed: "To the troops of Bir Hakeim. Further resistance will only lead to pointless loss of life. You will suffer the same fate as the two Brigades which were at Got el Ualeg and which were exterminated the day before yesterday - we will cease fighting as soon as you show the white flag and come towards us unarmed". Kœnig ignored the request.
Erwin Rommel and Fritz Bayerlein near Bir Hakeim.
Battle of Midway Looming
In the morning, US PBY Catalina aircraft discovered the location of the Japanese transports west of Midway Atoll. At 1230 hours, nine Midway-based B-17 bombers launched from Midway, reaching and attacking Japanese transports 660 miles to west at 1830 hours, inflicting no damage; meanwhile, US Navy Task Forces 16 and 17 changed course in an attempt to gain a more favorable battle for the upcoming battle. On the Japanese side, submarines arrived to form a cordon to detect American warship movements from the Hawaii Islands toward Midway Atoll; they did not realize that the American carriers had already passed. Far to the north, aircraft from Japanese carriers Ryujo and Junyo bombed Dutch Harbor, US Territory of Alaska; one of the Zero fighters sustained damage and unsuccessfully crash-landed on Akutan Island. In response, US Navy dispatched a task force of 5 cruisers and 4 destroyers to counter the Japanese attacks in the Aleutian Islands.
Leslie Howard
More Tragedy
German forces discovered 150 Jews hiding in a bunker in the Warsaw ghetto in Poland. They went on to destroy the bunker and killed all people within.
Sleeping quarters in a bunker prepared by the Jewish resistance for the Warsaw ghetto uprising.
Photo of the Day
Japanese Navy Flight Petty Officer Tadayoshi Koga's A6M Zero fighter damaged by anti-aircraft fire over Dutch Harbor, US Territory of Alaska, 3 June 1942.
As we close today's journey through the riveting era of WWII on this June 3rd edition, we hope that the narratives and insights shared have enriched your understanding of this crucial time in history. Remember, these stories aren't merely about dates and battles, but reflections of human resilience and heroism. We appreciate your company and look forward to unraveling more historical narratives with you tomorrow. Don't hesitate to share this knowledge-rich voyage with others and always keep the curiosity alive.
If you ever have any recommendations feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]
Have a great week :)
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