Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! On April 28th, significant events took place including the sinking of two American LSTs by German E-boats off the coast of England and the execution of former fascist leader Benito Mussolini and his mistress by Italian partisans. Additionally, the Japanese troopship Kamakura Maru was sunk by an American submarine in the Sulu Sea resulting in the largest POW loss of life. Join us as we explore the historical significance of these events.

“This is a very serious business.” - Photographer Robert Capa on Omaha Beach

Tragedy for Allied POWs

During World War II, the Pacific Theater was a critical battleground for the Allied and Axis powers. In this context, the sinking of the Kamakura Maru was one of many naval engagements that occurred during the war.

The Kamakura Maru was originally built as a passenger liner in 1922, but was requisitioned by the Japanese Navy in 1941 to serve as a troop carrier. The ship had a displacement of 17,526 tons and was capable of carrying up to 3,000 troops. It was intended to be used to transport Japanese soldiers to various fronts throughout the Pacific.

On April 28, 1945, the Kamakura Maru was sailing unescorted in the Sulu Sea, which is located between the Philippines and Borneo. The USS Gudgeon, which was a Balao-class submarine, spotted the Japanese vessel and fired four torpedoes at it from a range of 3,200 yards. Two of the torpedoes struck the Kamakura Maru on its starboard side at the No. 4 hold, which contained fuel and vehicles. The resulting explosions caused a fire that rapidly spread throughout the ship.

Despite the severity of the damage, the Kamakura Maru did not sink immediately. It began to list heavily to one side, and the crew attempted to launch lifeboats. However, the ship eventually capsized and sank by the stern, taking many of the crew and passengers with it.

The USS Gudgeon passed through the area where the Kamakura Maru had sunk and reported seeing a dozen lifeboats, floating debris, and many people in the water. However, the Japanese crew had failed to send out a distress signal before the ship sank, so no one suspected its loss until May 3, 1945.

The sinking of the Kamakura Maru was a significant loss for the Japanese Navy, as it was the largest troopship sunk by the Allies during the war. Over 2,000 lives were lost in the incident, making it one of the deadliest naval engagements of the war.

Further Tragedy for Allied Planners

In April 1944, the Allied forces were preparing for the upcoming D-Day invasion of Normandy. As part of their preparations, they conducted a series of large-scale training exercises along the south coast of England, including at Slapton Sands in Devon. These exercises involved numerous landing craft and vessels, as well as live ammunition and other military equipment.

In the early hours of April 28, a group of German Schnellboote, or E-boats, launched a surprise attack on the Allied ships participating in the exercise. The German boats, which were fast and heavily armed, were able to penetrate the Allied defenses and launch torpedoes at the ships in the bay.

The two American LSTs that were sunk in the Slapton Sands disaster, LST-507 and LST-531, were both hit by torpedoes fired by the German E-boats during the night attack. LST-507 was hit on the port side, causing a massive explosion that broke the ship in two and sent it to the bottom of the bay within minutes. The ship carried a crew of 103 sailors and soldiers, of whom only 13 survived.

LST-531 was hit on the starboard side, causing it to capsize and sink within minutes. The ship was carrying a crew of 145 sailors and soldiers, of whom only 50 survived. Many of the crew members who perished were trapped below deck and were unable to escape before the ship sank.

The sinking of the LSTs was a tragic loss of life and equipment for the Allied forces, particularly given that the vessels were carrying valuable cargo and personnel that were vital to the upcoming D-Day invasion. The loss of the ships and the men on board was keenly felt by the Allied forces and was a sobering reminder of the risks and dangers involved in the war effort.

In the aftermath of the disaster, the Allied forces undertook a number of measures to improve their defenses and prepare for future attacks. This included improving communication and coordination between the various units involved in the training exercises, as well as developing new tactics and strategies for dealing with fast attack craft like the German E-boats.

Despite the setback, the Allied forces were ultimately able to recover and move forward with their plans for the D-Day invasion. The lessons learned from the Slapton Sands disaster helped to shape the Allied strategy and approach to the conflict, and ultimately played a role in the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany.

Himmler’s Plan Falls Apart

Heinrich Himmler's attempt to negotiate peace with the Western Allies was part of a broader effort within the Nazi regime to seek a way out of the war. As the tide of the war turned against Germany in the final months of the conflict, some senior officials began to realize that defeat was inevitable and that the country faced the prospect of total destruction. Many also feared for their own lives and futures, as they knew that they would likely face harsh retribution from the Allies if they were captured.

In this context, Himmler saw an opportunity to negotiate a separate peace agreement with the Western Allies that would spare him and other top Nazi officials from the worst consequences of defeat. He believed that he could persuade the Allies to allow a separate peace with Germany in exchange for a commitment to fight against the Soviet Union, which was still seen as the main enemy of the Western powers.

Himmler initially sought to establish contact with the British through a number of intermediaries, but his efforts were unsuccessful. He then decided to send a personal envoy, SS General Karl Wolff, to negotiate directly with British officials in Switzerland. Wolff was given a letter from Himmler to deliver to the British, in which Himmler offered to surrender unconditionally to the Western Allies in exchange for a separate peace.

The British were initially skeptical of Himmler's offer, but eventually decided to explore the possibility of a negotiated settlement. However, the negotiations were complicated by a number of factors, including the reluctance of the Western Allies to enter into a separate peace agreement, the ongoing fighting on the Eastern Front, and the deep divisions within the Nazi regime over the direction of the war.

Himmler's attempts to negotiate peace were discovered by Adolf Hitler on April 28, who was furious at what he saw as a betrayal of the Nazi cause. Hitler stripped Himmler of all his titles and ranks, effectively dismissing him from his positions of power and authority within the Nazi regime. Hitler also ordered for Himmler's arrest and demanded that he be brought to justice for his treachery.

Despite Hitler's orders, Himmler was able to evade capture for a short time, and attempted to flee to safety in Allied-controlled territory. However, he was eventually captured by British forces near Bremervörde, Germany, on May 22, 1945. Himmler initially tried to pass himself off as a soldier named Heinrich Hitzinger, but was eventually identified by his dental records and taken into custody.

Ultimately, the negotiations came to nothing, as the Allies refused to agree to Himmler's demands and insisted on the unconditional surrender of Germany. Hitler's discovery of the negotiations also led to a further breakdown in the already fragile relations between Himmler and the Führer, and helped to contribute to the chaos and confusion that characterized the final days of the Nazi regime. In the end, the war would come to an end only with the complete defeat of Nazi Germany and the capture of its leadership by the Allies.

The End of Mussolini

After years of fascist rule in Italy, Benito Mussolini was overthrown in 1943 and placed under arrest by the Italian government. In 1945, with the end of World War II in sight, Mussolini was freed from prison by German forces and established a puppet government in northern Italy. However, as Allied forces closed in on the region, Mussolini and his supporters were forced to flee southward.

On April 27, 1945, Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were captured by Italian partisans near Lake Como in northern Italy. They were attempting to flee to Switzerland, but were intercepted by a group of resistance fighters. Mussolini and Petacci were taken into custody and transported to Milan, where they were held in a building that had been used by the fascists as a prison.

On April 28, Mussolini and his mistress were taken out of the building and shot by firing squad. Their bodies were then transported to Milan and hung upside down from a metal girder in a public square, where they remained on display for several days. Mussolini's death marked the end of fascist rule in Italy and the beginning of a new era in Italian history.

In the days that followed Mussolini's capture and execution, a number of his cabinet members were also rounded up and killed by Italian partisans. These included Guido Buffarini Guidi, the minister of justice; Alessandro Pavolini, the minister of culture; and Achille Starace, the secretary of the Fascist Party. All were sentenced to death by partisan courts and executed.

The execution of Mussolini and his supporters was seen by many as a moment of catharsis for the Italian people, who had suffered greatly under fascist rule. However, it also sparked debate and controversy, with some arguing that the killing of Mussolini violated principles of due process and the rule of law. Nevertheless, the execution of Mussolini and his associates remained a significant moment in the history of Italy and the broader context of World War II.

Photo of the Day

Soviet and US officers near Elbe River, Germany, 28 Apr 1945; note left Soviet officer's TT-33, center Soviet capt's Luger in belt, right US lieutenant's holstered Colt 1911 and in-hand Walther P38.

As we reflect on the events of April 28th, it is clear that they had a significant impact on the outcome of World War II and the course of history. The sinking of the American LSTs by German E-boats, the execution of Mussolini and his cabinet members, and the sinking of the Kamakura Maru all represented major turning points in the war and helped to shape the post-war world. Join us again tomorrow for more stories and insights from the fascinating and complex history of World War II.

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