Today in the Second World War

The 23rd of August

Hidden History
August 23, 2023

Welcome to the August 23rd edition of the Hidden History Newsletter. As we step back into the pages of history, we spotlight the pivotal events and untold stories of this day during the world-altering years of 1939-1945. Join us in commemorating the sacrifices and heroism that defined an era and continue to shape our world today. Dive in, as today's digest brings the past into sharp focus.

”In case opportunity for destruction of a major portion of the enemy fleet is offered, or can be created, such destruction becomes the primary task.” - Admiral Chester Nimitz - In his order to Halsey, prior to the Battle of Leyte Gulf - October 1944

Pact of Steel

1939: Italy sent a message to Germany noting that when the two nations negotiated the Pact of Steel, article 3, which obliged one nation to go to join in any war the other nation engaged in, the two had the understanding that Italy would not be ready for war until 1943. Should Germany invade Poland before 1942, Italy would not be ready.

Galeazzo Ciano, Adolf Hitler and Joachim von Ribbentrop at the signing of the Pact of Steel in the Reichskanzlei in Berlin.

Know Better

Adolf Hitler rejected Heinz Guderian's advice to attack Moscow, Russia; instead, he moved troops to the south.

Hitler and Guderian

Capture Stalingrad

The attack on Stalingrad in southern Russia opened with massive air raid lasting 48 hours involving more than 4,000 sorties while German ground units continued to reach the Volga River north and south of the city. At Chebotarevskiy 115 miles to the northeast, 700 Italian horse-mounted cavalry troops overran a Soviet artillery position by surprise, capturing 500 troops, 4 guns, 10 mortars, and 50 machine guns.

German and Romanian command personnel consult in a field position near the Don River, August 1942.

Peak

In what amounted to little more than a publicity stunt, the German 1.Gebirgsjäger Division soldiers hoisted the Reichskriegsfahne flag on Mount Elbrus, which was the highest point in the Caucasus Mountains.

German Mountain troops with the Swastika flag on Mt. Elbrus.

Photo of the Day

Stalin and Ribbentrop shaking hands after the signing of the German-Soviet non-aggression pact, Moscow, Russia, 23 August 1939.

As we conclude our journey through the events of August 23rd during World War II, we're reminded of the resilience and sacrifice that defined this era. Each story, no matter how small, forms a pivotal piece of the greater tapestry of history. Thank you for joining us today. Let's continue to remember, learn, and honor the past. Until tomorrow, keep history alive in your hearts.

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

Have a great week :)

Recommended Books:

The Auschwitz Photographer: The Forgotten Story of the WWII Prisoner Who Documented Thousands of Lost Souls by Luca Crippa

The Nazis asked him to swear allegiance to Hitler, betraying his country, his friends, and everything he believed in. He refused.

The Last Hill: The Epic Story of a Ranger Battalion and the Battle That Defined WWII by Bob Drury

Bob Drury and Tom Clavin's The Last Hill is the incredible untold story of one Ranger battalion's heroism and courage in World War II.

Into Enemy Waters: A World War II Story of the Demolition Divers Who Became the Navy SEALS: Dubbins, Andrew

Into Enemy Waters: A World War II Story of the Demolition Divers Who Became the Navy SEALS [Dubbins, Andrew] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Into Enemy Waters: A World War II Story of the Demolition Divers Who Became the Navy SEALS

World War II at Sea: A Global History by Craig L. Symonds

Author of Lincoln and His Admirals (winner of the Lincoln Prize), The Battle of Midway (Best Book of the Year, Military History Quarterly), and Operation Neptune, (winner of the Samuel Eliot Morison Award for Naval Literature), Craig L. Symonds has established himself as one of the finest naval historians at work today. World War II at Sea represents his crowning achievement: a complete narrative of the naval war and all of its belligerents, on all of the world's oceans and seas, between 1939 and 1945.

Lost at Sea: Eddie Rickenbacker's Twenty-Four Days Adrift on the Pacific--A World War II Tale of Courage and Faith by John Wukovits

The forgotten story of American war hero Eddie Rickenbacker's crash landing in the Pacific during World War II, and his incredible twenty-three-day crusade to keep his crew alive.

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