Today in the Second World War

Greetings on this May 28th, as we embark on yet another day of exploring the pivotal events of World War II. Today, we delve into the historical intricacies of King Leopold III of Belgium's controversial surrender in 1940, a decision that shaped the future of his nation and sent ripples through the Allied world. Simultaneously, in the Pacific theater, audacious strategies and deceptive maneuvers underlined the war's complexity. Through these explorations, we aim to shed light on the multi-faceted narrative of this transformative era. Join us as we continue to unravel the complex threads of courage, strategy, and humanity that bind together the tapestry of World War II.

"Germany must either be a world power or there will be no Germany" - Adolf Hitler

A Country Betrayed

The situation involving King Leopold III of Belgium during World War II is a complex and controversial aspect of Belgian history.

King Leopold III ascended to the throne in 1934 following the assassination of his father, King Albert I. When the Battle of Belgium began in May 1940 as part of World War II, Leopold III was both the king of Belgium and the commander-in-chief of the Belgian Armed Forces. He was personally involved in the defensive operations and remained with his troops while his government left for France.

As the German forces overwhelmed the Belgian army, Leopold III decided to surrender, believing that it was the best decision to protect the lives of his soldiers and civilians. He announced his intention to surrender to the German forces on May 28, 1940, without consulting his government or the Allied powers. This decision was met with significant backlash from the Belgian government, which felt that the fight should continue and was not in agreement with his decision to surrender. Moreover, the fact that the decision was made without consulting the government or the Allies led to perceptions of unilateral action, further exacerbating the political fallout.

Following the surrender, Leopold III was taken prisoner by the Germans and remained a captive for the rest of the war, while the Belgian government operated in exile from London. After the war, the controversy over his decision to surrender — known as the Royal Question — became a significant political issue in Belgium. Some viewed his decision as an act of bravery and pragmatism in a desperate situation, while others saw it as a betrayal and an act of collaboration with the enemy.

This controversy divided the country along linguistic and political lines, leading to several years of debate and tension. Eventually, in 1950, a referendum was held to decide whether Leopold could return to the throne. The results were in favor of his return, but ongoing political unrest and strikes in the more anti-Leopold Wallonia region eventually led him to abdicate the throne in favor of his son, Baudouin, in 1951.

Leopold III's actions during the war and the subsequent political fallout remain a topic of intense discussion among historians and within Belgium even decades after the events.

Dunkerque Evacuation Underway

In France, 11,874 Allied personnel were evacuated from Dunkerque harbor and 5,930 from the nearby beaches; the latter was possible due to the arrival of many small fishing boats and pleasure craft. At Lille, seven German Divisions trapped the 40,000-strong French First Army. At Abbeville, the crew of French Char B1 Bis tank "Jeanne d'Arc" gallantly fought on against a German attack despite receiving 90 hits. Across the front lines, between eighty and ninety British prisoners of the 2nd Warwickshire Regiment, the Cheshire Regiment, and the Royal Artillery were murdered by members of No. 7 Company, 2nd Battalion SS Liebstandarte at Wormhoudt, France. 

Another Evacuation

The evacuation of British and Commonwealth troops from Crete, Greece began before dawn; the evacuation centered around Sphakia on the southern coast of Crete, while Colonel Laycock commanded a rearguard force to guard the evacuation. British cruisers HMS Ajax, HMS Orion, and HMS Dido and destroyers HMS Decoy, HMS Jackal, HMS Imperial, HMS Hotspur, HMS Kimberly, and HMS Hereward departed Alexandria, Egypt for Heraklion, Crete to help with the evacuation; German aircraft damaged HMS Ajax (killing 6, wounding 18, and forcing her to turn back) and HMS Imperial (wounding 1); the force, less Ajax, arrived at Heraklion at 2330 hours.

Clever Deception

Seaplane tender USS Tangier conducted a small raid on Tulagi in the Solomon Islands; during the attack, she transmitted radio messages that were purposefully composed as if she was a fleet carrier, thus giving the Japanese a false impression that the US was still operating fleet carriers in the South Pacific when in actuality all fleet carriers had been shifted back to the Hawaiian Islands.

Photo of the Day

US Marine Staff Sergeant A S. Barnacle shaving in his camp on Okinawa, Japan, ignoring the heavy flooding due to rain, 28 May 1945.

As we conclude our journey through the events of World War II on this day, May 28th, we pause to reflect on the profound impact of these moments in history. From King Leopold III's controversial surrender that echoes through Belgium's past, to the audacious maneuvers in the Pacific theater, we've explored the multi-layered narrative of this significant era. These stories not only help us understand the complexities of war but also underscore the enduring human spirit that navigates through adversity. We thank you for your company on this voyage of discovery and look forward to further explorations tomorrow. Until then, let us carry forward the lessons of our shared past.

If you ever have any recommendations feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]

Have a great weekend :)

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