Today in the Second World War

The 13th of February

Author

Hidden History
February 13, 2024

Today, February 13th, we bring you pivotal moments and untold stories from the Second World War. As we navigate through the events that shaped this day in history, we honor the courage, strategy, and endurance of those who contributed to the war effort. Join us in this brief journey through time as we reflect on the past to glean insights for the future.

”I will break into Leyte Gulf and fight to the last man…would it not be shameful to have the fleet remaining intact while our nation perishes?” -1944 - Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita

Extortion

1943: The Jews of Djerba, Tunisia were ordered to pay 10 million Francs to the local German occupation administration.

Jews of Djerba in 1920

No Luck

1944: Acting on intelligence intercepts, the Hunter-Killer group centered around escort carrier USS Card concentrated their search efforts to an area in the mid-Atlantic 750 miles west of the Canary Islands where a northbound Japanese submarine was supposed to be meeting with two German submarines. With day and night extended air searches, as well as searches by the surface ships, fresh oil slicks were noted but no submarines were located.

USS Card (CVE-11), in 1943

Photo of the Day

Japanese paratroopers descending on Pangkalan Benteng airfield or Pladju refineries in southern Sumatra, Dutch East Indies, 13 Feb 1942

As today's edition of World War II Daily comes to a close, we thank you for joining us in commemorating the events of February 13th. The stories of courage and perseverance we've explored serve as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. We hope these narratives inspire reflection and a deeper understanding of our shared history. Stay tuned for more insights and stories as we continue our journey through the annals of World War II. Until then, let the lessons of the past guide us toward a more compassionate and informed tomorrow.

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

Have a great week :)

Recommended Books:

At Dawn We Slept by Gordon W. Prange

Revisit the definitive book on Pearl Harbor in advance of the 78th anniversary (December 7, 2019) of the "date which will live in infamy".

Judgement at Tokyo by Gary J. Bass

A landmark, magisterial history of the trial of Japan’s leaders as war criminals—the largely overlooked Asian counterpart to Nuremberg.

The Things Our Fathers Saw by Matthew A. Rozell

How soon we forget. Or perhaps, we were never told. That is understandable, given what they saw. But, it happened.

Operation: Snare Drum: A WWII Submarine Adventure Novel by Scott W. Cook

December 7, 1941 - America is attacked by the Japanese and dragged into a worldwide struggle for power unlike anything ever seen on Earth.

Pacific Sniper: A World War II Thriller by David Healey

In December 1941, the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor plunges the United States into war. Fresh from the hardscrabble mountains of Appalachia, Deacon Cole joins the fight against Imperial Japan.

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