Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! On this day in 1945, significant events took place that would bring the end of the war in Europe closer. Italian partisans captured former Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, marking the end of the fascist regime in Italy. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, an unfortunate incident occurred during a practice amphibious assault when friendly fire killed an estimated 400 American soldiers. In Germany, Heinrich Himmler, the head of the SS, attempted to negotiate a peace settlement with the western Allies, but his efforts were ultimately in vain. Join us as we delve deeper into these events and their impact on the final days of the war in Europe.

“Where they burn books, at the end they also burn people” - Heinrich Heine

Incredible Bravery

Sergeant Norman Cyril Jackson was born on 8th May 1919, in Nottingham, England. He was a member of the Royal Air Force's Bomber Command during World War II and served as an air gunner in No. 106 Squadron.

On the 27th of April 1944, Sergeant Jackson was flying as part of a bombing raid on the German city of Schweinfurt. His Lancaster bomber was attacked by a German nightfighter and sustained damage, causing a fire to break out on the starboard wing. The pilot, Flight Lieutenant J.B. Watters, ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft.

However, Sergeant Jackson noticed that his crewmate, Flight Sergeant R.W. Savage, was trapped in the rear turret of the aircraft. Without hesitation, he climbed outside the bomber with a parachute and a fire extinguisher to try and put out the fire and rescue his comrade.

As the Lancaster bomber was traveling at a speed of approximately 200 miles per hour and an altitude of 20,000 feet, Sergeant Jackson had to hold onto the aircraft with one hand while attempting to put out the fire with the other. He managed to partially extinguish the flames, but the aircraft suddenly made a turn, throwing him off the bomber.

Sergeant Jackson fell to the ground and landed in a snow-covered forest near the town of Anklam, in northeastern Germany. Miraculously, he survived the fall, but he had broken his ankle, his jaw, and several ribs. He was discovered by German troops and taken prisoner.

After spending the rest of the war as a prisoner of war, Sergeant Jackson was released and returned to England. In recognition of his bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Sergeant Jackson retired from the Royal Air Force in 1967 as a Flight Lieutenant. He passed away on 26th March 1994, in Nottingham, England. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Tragedy at Slapton Sands

Operation Tiger was a large-scale exercise designed to simulate the conditions of the upcoming D-Day landings, which were planned for June 1944. The exercise was conducted by the US military, which meant that the majority of the participants were American soldiers.

The exercise involved the use of live ammunition, including artillery fire from ships stationed offshore. The objective was to give Allied troops experience in landing on a beach and facing enemy fire, so they would be better prepared for the actual invasion of Normandy.

The exercise took place over several days, from April 22 to 30, 1944, at Slapton Sands, a beach in Devonshire, England. The beach had been cordoned off for the purpose, and the nearby villages had been evacuated to allow the military to conduct the exercise without interference.

The exercise was divided into two parts: a rehearsal and a full-scale assault. During the rehearsal, troops were ferried to the beach and practiced their landings under simulated combat conditions. During the full-scale assault, the troops were landed on the beach and advanced inland, facing simulated enemy fire.

The exercise was fraught with problems from the beginning. Communication between the participating units was poor, and the exercise was plagued by logistical and equipment issues. As a result, the exercise did not go as smoothly as planned, and many of the troops became disoriented and confused.

On the morning of April 27, the second wave of American troops was making its way to shore when they were unexpectedly hit by live artillery fire from American ships. The troops had been given no warning, and as a result, many were killed or injured in the attack.

The exact number of casualties remains unclear, as records from the time are incomplete and some of the injured soldiers died later from their wounds. However, it is estimated that between 639 and 946 soldiers were killed or injured in the attack, with the most commonly cited figure being around 749.

After the attack, the survivors were instructed to keep quiet about what had happened to prevent the news from affecting morale. The incident was kept secret for many years, and it was only in the decades that followed that the full story of the Slapton Sands disaster became known.

The incident was a tragic reminder of the dangers of friendly fire and the importance of communication and coordination in military operations. Today, a memorial stands on the beach at Slapton Sands to commemorate the American soldiers who lost their lives during the exercise. The memorial serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought in World War II and the need to remember the lessons of the past.

Mussolini’s Time is Running Out

On April 27, 1945, Benito Mussolini, the former Italian dictator and leader of the Fascist Party, was captured by Italian partisans. Mussolini had been on the run since July 1943, when he was deposed from power by the Fascist Grand Council and arrested by the Italian government.

After being freed from prison by a German commando unit in September 1943, Mussolini was installed as the leader of the Italian Social Republic, a puppet state set up by the Germans in northern Italy. Mussolini's regime was unpopular with many Italians, and he was increasingly isolated in his mountain retreat in the town of Dongo.

In April 1945, as Allied forces advanced on northern Italy, Mussolini attempted to escape to Switzerland with his mistress, Clara Petacci. They were stopped at a roadblock by Italian partisans who were loyal to the Italian Resistance movement.

After being recognized by one of the partisans, Mussolini and Petacci were taken into custody. They were brought to the nearby village of Mezzegra and held in a small farmhouse.

Mussolini's capture was a significant victory for the Italian Resistance and the Allies. It marked the end of the Fascist regime in Italy and dealt a blow to the Germans, who were losing their grip on northern Italy.

However, Mussolini's capture would ultimately be short-lived. Just a few days later, on April 28, Mussolini and Petacci were executed by Italian partisans on the orders of the National Liberation Committee, the provisional government that had been set up by the Italian Resistance.

The capture and execution of Mussolini marked the end of one of the most brutal and oppressive regimes in European history. It also symbolized the triumph of democracy and freedom over dictatorship and tyranny.

Himmler Looks for a Way Out

On April 27, 1945, Heinrich Himmler made a personal attempt to negotiate a peace settlement with the western Allies. He contacted Count Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish diplomat who had previously secured the release of prisoners from German concentration camps, and asked him to arrange a meeting with the British.

Bernadotte agreed to help and contacted the British Foreign Office, who sent a reply indicating that they would be willing to meet with Himmler under certain conditions. The British demanded that any meeting take place in a neutral location and that Himmler be accompanied by an officer of the International Red Cross.

The meeting was arranged for May 6, but the news of the negotiations leaked out, and the Allied leaders, including Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt, were furious. They believed that Himmler's offer was a last-ditch attempt to divide the Allies and prolong the war.

The Allies refused to consider any peace negotiations that did not involve the complete and unconditional surrender of Germany. They also rejected the idea of a separate peace with any faction of the German government, as they believed that the only acceptable outcome was the total defeat of Nazi Germany.

The news of the negotiations had serious consequences for Himmler, who was the head of the SS and responsible for many of the worst crimes of the Nazi regime. Hitler saw the negotiations as an act of betrayal and ordered Himmler's arrest. Himmler was captured by British soldiers on May 22, 1945, while attempting to disguise himself as a German soldier.

Himmler's attempted negotiations for peace were ultimately futile, as the western Allies were determined to achieve a total victory over Nazi Germany. The war in Europe would come to an end a few days later, with Germany's unconditional surrender on May 7, 1945.

Photo of the Day

British motor merchant vessel Beacon Grange sinking after being struck by German submarine U-552, south of Iceland, 27 Apr 1941.

That concludes today's edition of the Hidden History Newsletter. April 27th, 1945 was a day of mixed fortunes. While the capture of Mussolini was a significant milestone in the fight against fascism, the tragedy at Slapton Sands was a stark reminder of the harsh realities of war. Himmler's attempts at peace negotiations, too, were a reflection of the desperation of the German leadership in the final days of the conflict. Join us again tomorrow as we continue to explore the events and stories of World War II.

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