Today in the Second World War

November 9th emerges from the annals of World War II history as a day of profound significance, bearing tales of valor, sacrifice, and strategic mastery. As we delve into this day's narrative, we are reminded of the unpredictable course of war and the countless lives forever changed by its tides. Let's embark on today's chronicle with reverence and curiosity, eager to understand the deeper layers and stories that the 9th of November has bequeathed to us.

"Had Clark given more heed to Juin's views...the savage battles of Cassino would probably never have been fought and the venerable house of St Benedict would have been unscathed" - Rudolf Böhmler - 1st Fallschirmjäger Division - 1944 (After the bombing of Monte Cassino)

The Beginning

1938: Kristallnacht began in Germany; Jewish shops and synagogues were smashed, looted, burned, and destroyed throughout the country.

There is to be War

1939: In Moscow, Russia at 1800 hours, Finnish diplomats Paasikivi and Tanner met with Joseph Stalin and Vyacheslav Molotov in the final attempt to avoid war. They did not reach an agreeable conclusion.

Fellow Countrymen

1940: Free French forces entered Libreville, Gabon, French Equatorial Africa, engaging in street fighting with Vichy French forces. Off Libreville, Free French sloop Savorgnan de Brazza sunk Vichy sloop Bougainville by gunfire (they two were sister ships of the same class), while Free French sloop Commandant Domine prevented Vichy armed merchant cruiser Cap Des Palmes' crew from scuttling the ship and captured her.

Almost

1942: German Abwehr spy, Werner Janowski, landed from a submarine on the Gaspé peninsula in Quebec, Canada. Janowsky, a thirty-eight-year-old former French Foreign Legionaire had a wife living in Canada and knew the country well. He was swiftly apprehended by the Canadian police after arousing suspicion by trying to pay a New Carlisle hotel bill with time-expired Canadian currency. Janowsky would survive the war in British captivity.

Photo of the Day

Installation of a gun of No. 2 turret of battleship North Carolina, New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, United States, 9 November 1940.

With the closing lines of today's edition, we put to rest another day's account of World War II's vast and intricate saga. The events of November 9th remind us of the ever-present echoes of history that still resonate in our world today. As we take a moment to honor the legacies and lessons gleaned from this day, we anticipate the stories yet to be told and the histories yet to be explored. Thank you for joining us in today's remembrance and reflection. We look forward to continuing our shared journey into the past on the morrow.

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Have a great week :)

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