Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! On this day in WWII, several significant events occurred that shaped the course of the war. One of the most notable was the attempted assassination of General Charles de Gaulle, the leader of the Free French forces, who were committed to fighting against the Nazi occupation of France. We'll delve into the details of this event and its implications for the war effort, along with other significant events that occurred on this day. So, let's take a closer look at the events that took place on April 21st and their impact on the ongoing conflict.

 "The people of England will curse themselves for having preferred ruin from Churchill to peace from Hitler." - William Joyce AKA Lord Haw-Haw

America’s First Casualty

Robert Losey was born on September 28, 1908, in Ludington, Michigan. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1931 and joined the Army Air Corps, where he became a military attaché to the Nordic countries, stationed in Oslo, Norway.

When Germany invaded Norway on April 9, 1940, Losey's duties included monitoring the conflict and reporting back to the United States. On April 21, 1940, he was in Dombås, Norway, observing a German bombing raid on a railway junction when he was hit by shrapnel and killed instantly.

Losey's death caused shock and sadness in the United States, as he was the first American military casualty of World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a letter of condolence to Losey's family, expressing his gratitude for Losey's service and his sympathy for their loss.

After Losey's death, Naval Attaché Lieutenant Commander Ole E. Hagen was sent to Norway to retrieve Losey's remains. Hagen had to negotiate with German authorities to obtain Losey's body, which was eventually returned to the United States.

Losey was buried with full military honors at West Point Cemetery in New York. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, and the Norwegian Order of St. Olav for his service and sacrifice.

Losey's death served as a reminder of the dangers faced by military personnel during wartime, even those who are not directly involved in combat operations. It also highlighted the importance of military attachés in gathering intelligence and reporting back to their home countries.

Attempt to Silence de Gaulle

The attempted assassination of General Charles de Gaulle on April 21, 1943, was a significant event that highlighted the challenges faced by the Free French forces during World War II. De Gaulle was the leader of the Free French forces, which had been formed after France's surrender to Nazi Germany in 1940. The Free French forces were made up of French soldiers who had escaped to Britain and other Allied countries after the fall of France and were committed to fighting against the Nazi occupation of France.

The attempt on de Gaulle's life was the work of a French mechanic named Georges Regairaz, who had sympathies with the Vichy regime, which was the French government that had collaborated with the Nazis. Regairaz had been working on the Wellington bomber that was scheduled to take de Gaulle to Glasgow, and he had cut the elevator cables on the plane just before takeoff.

The sabotage was discovered just in time, and the flight was aborted, and the investigation that followed concluded that Regairaz had acted alone. However, the incident highlighted the danger faced by de Gaulle and other leaders of the Free French forces, who were often targeted by assassination attempts and other forms of sabotage.

Despite the danger, de Gaulle continued to lead the Free French forces and played a crucial role in the eventual Allied victory in World War II. He also became the leader of France after the war and played a significant role in rebuilding the country and establishing its position on the world stage. The attempted assassination on April 21, 1943, was a reminder of the challenges faced by de Gaulle and the Free French forces during the war and the risks they took to fight for the liberation of their country.

The Last Counter-Attack

The Soviet Union had been pushing steadily westward since the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942, and by 1945, they had reached the eastern borders of Germany. Berlin, the capital of Nazi Germany, was the ultimate objective of the Soviet advance. On April 21, 1945, Soviet infantry finally reached the outskirts of Berlin after months of fighting.

As the Soviet army closed in on Berlin, Adolf Hitler became increasingly isolated and delusional. He had retreated to his underground bunker in the city and was surrounded by a small group of loyal followers. He refused to believe that the war was lost, and he still believed that Germany could somehow turn the tide of the conflict.

Hitler's plan for a counterattack at Berlin was a desperate attempt to stave off the Soviet advance. However, the German forces were severely weakened after years of fighting, and they were no match for the well-equipped and highly motivated Soviet army. Many of the German soldiers were exhausted, starving, and suffering from disease, and their morale was at an all-time low.

SS General Felix Steiner, who was tasked with leading the counterattack, realized that the plan was doomed from the start. He was unable to gather enough troops to launch a significant assault, and the German forces were quickly pushed back by the advancing Soviet army.

As the situation in Berlin grew increasingly desperate, Hitler became increasingly erratic and unstable. He began lashing out at his followers, accusing them of treachery and cowardice. He also ordered the destruction of much of the city, hoping to deny the Allies the spoils of victory.

In the end, the fall of Berlin marked the end of the war in Europe, and the defeat of Nazi Germany. Despite Hitler's desperate attempts to rally his forces, the overwhelming military might of the Allies proved too much to resist, and the German forces were forced to surrender unconditionally on May 7, 1945. The war had been a devastating and costly conflict, and its impact would be felt for many years to come.

Model Takes the Easy Way Out

Field Marshal Walter Model was a highly decorated German commander who had gained a reputation for tactical brilliance during the war. He had fought on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, and had earned the nickname the "Lion of the Eastern Front" for his successes in battles such as the Battle of Kursk.

However, by 1945, the war had turned against Germany, and Model's position was increasingly untenable. His Army Group B was tasked with defending a wide front in the Netherlands, Belgium, and parts of Germany, and was severely weakened after months of fighting against the Allied forces.

Despite the grim situation, Model refused to surrender and instead ordered his troops to fight to the death. He was determined to hold out as long as possible, hoping to inflict as much damage on the Allies as he could before the inevitable defeat.

As the Allied forces closed in on his position, Model became increasingly isolated and despondent. He realized that the war was lost and that his fate was sealed. On April 21, 1945, he ordered his staff to destroy all of his papers and then shot himself in the head.

Model's death was a significant blow to the German war effort. He was one of the few remaining experienced commanders left in the Wehrmacht, and his tactical expertise and leadership would be sorely missed. His death was a sign of the desperation and hopelessness of the German situation at that point in the war.

Despite the bravery and sacrifice of individual soldiers and commanders, Germany was unable to resist the overwhelming military might of the Allied powers. The war in Europe would soon come to a close, and Model's death was just one more indication of the devastating toll that the conflict had taken on the German people and their military.

Photo of the Day

RAF Mustang MK IIIs of No 19 Squadron based at Ford, Sussex painted with white nose and white stripes to prevent misidentification as Me 109s. Apr 21, 1944.

That concludes our coverage of the significant events that took place on April 21st during World War II. From the attempted assassination of General Charles de Gaulle to the Soviet advance towards Berlin and the loss of a prominent German military leader, these events had a significant impact on the course of the war. Join us again tomorrow for more stories from the Second World War as we continue to explore the people, places, and events that shaped this monumental conflict.

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Have a great weekend :)

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