Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! On this day, May 7th, we commemorate several significant events that occurred during the war. It was on this day in 1942 that British forces secured a foothold in Madagascar, after landing at Antsirane and slowly advancing towards Diego-Suarez. Meanwhile, on May 7th, 1945, General Jodl signed the unconditional surrender of all German forces to the Allies, to take effect on the following day, ending years of fighting in Europe. Additionally, German occupation forces in Norway surrendered on May 7th, 1945, marking the end of German occupation in the country. Join us as we explore the details of these historic events and their significance in the context of World War II.

“Like so many of our people, we have now had a personal experience of German barbarity which only strengthens the resolution of all of us to fight through to final victory.” - King George VI

Pearl Harbor Becomes a Target

As tensions between the United States and Japan began to escalate in the late 1930s and early 1940s, the US military began to reassess its strategy in the Pacific. Prior to this, the US Navy had been divided between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, with the Pacific Fleet based primarily in San Diego and Pearl Harbor.

In 1940, Admiral James O. Richardson, commander of the US Pacific Fleet, expressed concern that the fleet was vulnerable to attack in Hawaii, which was located far from the US mainland and lacked adequate air and sea defenses. Richardson recommended that the fleet be based further west, in the Philippines, where it would be closer to Japan and more easily defended.

However, President Roosevelt and other military leaders were opposed to this idea, as they believed that it would be difficult to defend the Philippines against a potential Japanese attack. Instead, they opted to strengthen the US military presence in Hawaii, which was already an important naval base and air station.

On May 7, 1941, Roosevelt approved a plan to base the entire Pacific Fleet in Hawaii, rather than splitting it between Hawaii and the West Coast. This decision was made as part of a larger strategy to prepare for the possibility of war with Japan and to deter Japanese expansionism in the Pacific.

Despite concerns about the vulnerability of Pearl Harbor, it was felt that having the fleet stationed there would serve as a visible sign of American strength and would deter potential aggressors. In addition, basing the fleet in Hawaii would allow for quicker response times in the event of an attack, as the fleet would be closer to potential conflict zones.

However, the decision to keep the fleet in Pearl Harbor was not without controversy. Some military leaders continued to express concerns about the vulnerability of the base, and there were debates about the best way to defend it against attack. Unfortunately, these concerns were not enough to prevent the surprise attack by Japan on December 7, 1941, which devastated the US Pacific Fleet and brought the United States into World War II.

A Trip to Madagascar

On May 7th, 1942, British Royal Commandos landed at Antsirane in Madagascar and secured a beachhead. Over the next few days, British forces, supported by naval and air power, slowly advanced towards Diego-Suarez. Meanwhile, French coastal guns at the Orangia Peninsula continued to fire at British warships.

On May 7th, the British battleship HMS Ramillies fired warning shots at the coastal gun batteries, prompting them to cease firing. Later that day, British warships entered Diego-Suarez Bay, allowing British troops to land and secure the area.

The campaign in Madagascar was part of the larger Allied effort to secure key strategic locations around the world and deny them to Axis forces. The campaign was controversial, as it involved fighting against French forces who were technically part of the Allied coalition, but who had surrendered to German forces in North Africa in 1940 and were now under the control of the Vichy regime.

Overall, the campaign in Madagascar was successful, and the island was secured by the Allies in late 1942. The campaign demonstrated the willingness of the Allies to take bold and controversial actions in pursuit of victory in the war.

Unconditional Surrender

The unconditional surrender of Germany on May 7th, 1945, was the culmination of years of fighting and marked the end of World War II in Europe. The surrender document was signed by General Alfred Jodl, who was the chief of the operations staff of the German armed forces, and was one of the most senior German military officials remaining in Germany at the time.

The signing ceremony took place at Eisenhower's headquarters in Reims, France, which was the location chosen by the Allies for the surrender. The document was signed in the presence of several high-ranking Allied officers, including General Walter Bedell Smith, who was Eisenhower's chief of staff.

While the Soviet Union was represented at the signing ceremony, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin was not satisfied with the terms of the surrender, which he believed did not give the Soviet Union enough credit for its role in defeating Germany. As a result, Stalin insisted on a second signing ceremony, which took place in Berlin on May 8th, in the presence of Soviet officers and officials.

The surrender of German forces in Norway was also a significant event, as it marked the end of German occupation in the country. The German forces in Norway had been cut off from the rest of Germany by the Allied advance and were unable to offer much resistance. As a result, negotiations between the German commander, General Franz Böhme, and the Norwegian resistance were relatively straightforward.

The surrender of German forces in Norway was accepted by Norwegian General Carl Gustav Fleischer, who had been appointed commander of the Norwegian forces in 1940, following the German invasion. The surrender allowed Norway to begin the process of rebuilding and recovering from the damage caused by the war and occupation. Overall, May 7th, 1945, was a momentous day in the history of World War II, as it marked the end of the war in Europe.

Photo of the Day

Japanese pilot Nishizawa flying his A6M3a Model 22 Zero fighter in the Solomon Islands area, 7 May 1943.

That concludes our coverage of the significant events that occurred during World War II on May 7th. From the Allied campaign in Madagascar to the surrender of German forces in Europe and Norway, these events shaped the course of the war and its eventual outcome. As we continue to remember the sacrifices made and the lessons learned during this pivotal period in human history, we invite you to join us tomorrow for another edition of the Hidden History newsletter, as we explore the events that occurred on May 8th. Thank you for reading, and we'll see you soon.

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Have a great weekend :)

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