Today in the Second World War

Welcome to today’s edition of the Hidden History Newsletter! Today, we remember the significant events that took place during the Second World War on May 13th. Throughout the course of the war, this day saw a number of notable moments that impacted the conflict and its outcome. From important battles and offensives to strategic operations and significant events, we will explore the key events of May 13th during World War II. Join us as we take a journey through history and remember the sacrifices, heroism, and strategic decisions that shaped the course of the war.

"Before Alamein, we had no victories. After Alamein, we had no defeats." - Prime Minister Winston Churchill

Naval Code Breaking

Joseph Rochefort's cryptanalytic team in Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii intercepted a radio message of Japanese warships requesting navigation charts of the Oahu, Hawaii area. Some time later, the team intercepted a message ordering aircraft transport ship Goshu Maru to embark the seaplane unit at Emidj island, Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands and sail to Saipan, Mariana Islands to join the AF campaign. Realizing that AF must already have a seaplane base or was a good location for a future seaplane base, Rochefort further confirmed that AF was Midway Atoll. Later in the evening, he sent this report to Chester Nimitz and the naval leadership in Washington DC, United States.

Top Secret Mission

The idea for the operation was hatched by a group of British intelligence officers, including Lieutenant Commander Ewen Montagu and Flight Lieutenant Charles Cholmondeley. They wanted to deceive the Germans about the location of the Allied invasion of Europe, which was planned for 1943.

The plan involved creating a fictitious identity for a Royal Marine officer named William Martin and using his body to carry false documents that would indicate that the Allies were planning to invade Greece instead of Sicily. The idea was to make the Germans believe that the Allies were not planning to invade Sicily and divert their attention away from the actual target.

The task of finding a suitable corpse fell to a British submarine, HMS Seraph, which was commanded by Lieutenant Norman Jewell. Jewell was tasked with finding a body that matched Martin's description and had died recently enough to make it plausible that the documents found on him would be current.

Eventually, the body of Glyndwr Michael was chosen, as he had recently died from ingesting rat poison. The body was dressed in a Royal Marine officer's uniform and the false documents were placed in a briefcase chained to his wrist. The body was then released into the sea near the coast of Spain, where it was discovered by a Spanish fisherman.

The Spanish authorities were initially suspicious of the body and the documents, but were eventually convinced that they were genuine. The documents were then passed on to the German intelligence services, who believed that they had gained valuable information about Allied plans.

The success of Operation Mincemeat was a major boost for British morale and a significant blow to the Germans' intelligence efforts. The operation has been the subject of numerous books and movies, including the 1956 film "The Man Who Never Was".

Prisoners

The North African Campaign during World War II saw Allied forces, mainly consisting of British and American troops, pitted against Axis powers, led by Germany and Italy, in the region of Tunisia. The campaign lasted from November 1942 to May 1943, when the Axis forces in North Africa finally surrendered to the Allies.

The battle was fought over a vast area of desert terrain and was characterized by brutal tank battles, amphibious landings, and fierce infantry engagements. The Allies, led by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, were ultimately able to defeat the Axis forces, led by General Erwin Rommel.

By the time the Axis forces surrendered in Tunisia on May 13, 1943, the British and Americans had taken over 230,000 prisoners, including around 130,000 Germans. This was the first time during the war that the number of German prisoners in Allied captivity exceeded the number of Allied prisoners in German captivity.

The victory in North Africa was a significant turning point in the war, as it gave the Allies a foothold on the continent and paved the way for the invasions of Italy and the rest of Europe. The defeat of the Axis forces in North Africa also demonstrated the effectiveness of Allied combined arms tactics, which combined tanks, artillery, and infantry in a coordinated manner.

Overall, the North African Campaign was a significant Allied victory, and the surrender of the Axis forces in Tunisia marked a major milestone in the war.

Gurkha Tough

Gurkha Rifleman Lachhiman Gurung and two comrades manning a forward observation post at Taungdaw, Burma, were attacked by more than 200 Japanese. Twice Gurung threw back grenades that were lobbed into their trench but a third went off in his hand blowing away his fingers, shattering his arm and causing other severe wounds to his body. His two comrades were also badly injured. Nevertheless, Gurung fought on, loading his rifle with his good left hand and propping the gun against the parapet to take aim. He held off the enemy for four hours, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. For his outstanding bravery, Gurung was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Photo of the Day

German Schnellboot S 204 at coastal forces base HMS Beehive, Felixstowe, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, 13 May 1945.

That concludes today's edition of the Hidden History newsletter. May 13th will forever remain an important date in the history of the Second World War, marked by a significant Allied victory in the North African Campaign. We hope that this edition has provided valuable insights into the events that took place on this day and the impact they had on the course of the war. Join us again tomorrow as we continue to explore the rich history of World War II and honor the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom and democracy.

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Have a great weekend :)

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