Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! As we mark the date of May 4th, we take a moment to reflect on the events that occurred on this day during one of the most significant conflicts in human history. From the battles fought on the frontlines to the political decisions made in the war rooms, our daily newsletter aims to provide you with a comprehensive look at the events that shaped the course of World War II. Join us as we delve into the past and uncover the stories, people, and events that made May 4th an important date in the history of the Second World War.

“It isn’t just my brother’s country, or my husband’s country, it’s my country as well. And so the war wasn’t just their war, it was my war and I needed to serve in it.” - Beatrice Hood Stroup Major, Woman’s Army Corps

Jewel of the West Bombed

Before dawn, 90 German bombers attacked the ancient city of Exeter, England, United Kingdom. This, the third raid on the "Jewel of the West" in ten days, caused extensive damage, devastating 30 acres of the city with many if its historic buildings smashed or incinerated by high explosive and fire bombs. The 15th-century cathedral was badly damaged, while many of the Tudor, Georgian and Victorian landmarks were lost forever. The city library was burnt down losing an estimated 1 million books and historic documents (which took Exeter more than 20 years to recover). Over 1,500 houses were completely destroyed with a further 2,700 more seriously damaged. Some 400 shops, 150 offices, over 50 warehouses plus 36 pubs and clubs were also lost. Additionally 156 civilians had been killed and 563 others injured. During the day, the Nazi propagandist Lord Haw-Haw broadcast to British listeners "We have destroyed that jewel and the Luftwaffe will return to finish the job"

Heroic Stand by Polish Destroyer

On the night of 4–5 May 1942, ORP Błyskawica was instrumental in defending the Isle of Wight town of East Cowes from an air raid by 160 German bombers. The ship was undergoing an emergency refit at the J. Samuel White yard where she had been built and, on the night of the raid, fired repeated rounds at the German bombers from outside the harbour; her guns became so hot they had to be doused with water from the River Medina. Extra ammunition had to be ferried over from Portsmouth. This forced the bombers to stay high, making it difficult for them to target properly. The ship also laid down a smokescreen hiding Cowes from sight. The town and the shipyard were badly damaged, but it is generally considered that without this defensive action, it would have been far worse. In 2002 the crew's courage was honoured by a local commemoration lasting several days to mark the 60th anniversary of the event. In 2004 an area of Cowes was named Francki Place in honour of the ship's commander. The Isle of Wight Council approved the idea of having Błyskawica return to Cowes in 2012 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the event and the 75th anniversary of the ship's commissioning.[12] There were large celebrations commemorating the 70th anniversary of Cowes's defence in 2012 lasting several days and attended by Polish warship ORP Toruń. Another large event to commemorate Błyskawica's 75th anniversary was organised by Friends of the ORP Błyskawica Society in May 2017, the Polish Navy minelayer ORP Gniezno arrived at the port to take part in the celebrations.

Refugee Tragedy

In 1939, when the European War began, Kurmark was among the first to be acquired by the German Navy for military service. She was commissioned into service as the auxiliary cruiser Orion in Dec 1939. On 6 Apr 1940, she departed Germany under the guise of Dutch ship Beemsterdijk, under the command of Korvettenkapitän Kurt Weyher on her first raiding mission. Her guide became the Russian ship Soviet once she entered the Atlantic Ocean. In the Atlantic, she intercepted and sank British ship Haxby. In May 1940, now as Greek ship Rocos, she rounded Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America, entering the Pacific Ocean. In Jun 1940, she entered into territorial waters of New Zealand and proceeded to lay mines off Auckland during the night of 13 to 14 Jun; these mines would later sink or damage four ships. Between Jun and Oct 1940, she captured one ship (Norwegian ship Tropic Sea carrying wheat; Tropic Sea would later be captured by British submarine Truant on her journey to Germany) and sank three other ships in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. On 20 Oct 1940, she made rendezvous with another raider, Komet, and was replenished by the supply ship Kulmerland. In late 1940, Komet and Orion together sank 7 ships. In early 1941, German naval attaché in Japan Vice Admiral Paul Wenneker purchased an E8N float plane from Japan; the aircraft was brought by German ship Munsterland to Orion at Maug Island in the Mariana Islands on 1 Feb 1941. Orion became the only German ship in WW2 to operate a Japanese-built float plane; the E8N joined the Ar 196 floatplane that was already used by Orion. Between Feb and Jun 1940, she operated in the Indian Ocean but failed to produce any sinkings. In Jul 1941, en route back to Germany, she captured the ship Chaucer in the South Atlantic. On 15 Aug, she entered Spanish territorial waters and disguised herself as the Spanish ship Contramestre Casado. She was soon escorted by German submarines and aircraft on the final leg of her trip home. She arrived in Gironde, Bordeaux, France on 23 Aug 1941. This 510-day 235,828-kilometer voyage would prove to be Orion's only war time mission. She sank 10 ships totaling 62,915 tons on her own, and claimed a further 2 sinkings totaling 21,125 tons together with Komet.

In 1944, Orion was renamed Hektor and served as an artillery training ship. In Jan 1945, she was renamed to Orion once again and was used to evacuate refugees from East Prussia to northern Germany and Denmark. On 4 May 1945, en route to Copenhagen, Denmark, she was hit by bombs off Swinemünde (now Swinoujscie, Poland) and sank, killing all but 150 of her over 4,000 passengers.

Photo of the Day

D4Y3 Suisei special attack aircraft diving at USS Sangamon as part of Operation Kikusui No. 5, off Kerama Retto, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, 4 May 1945.

As we come to the end of today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter, we hope that you have gained a deeper understanding of the events that occurred on May 4th and their impact on the course of the war. From the bravery of the soldiers on the frontlines to the strategic decisions made by military leaders, every aspect of the war played a crucial role in shaping history. We invite you to join us again tomorrow as we continue to explore the stories and events that defined the Second World War. Thank you for reading, and we look forward to sharing more with you soon.

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